Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 114
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Andrew Jackson Fantastic ALS about the Creek War: "... Cattle was carried away by the Indians ... The Spanish guard was surprised & captured & six Indians killed ..."
Andrew Jackson Fantastic ALS about the Creek War: "... Cattle was carried away by the Indians ... The Spanish guard was surprised & captured & six Indians killed ..."
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Description:

Jackson Andrew Autograph Letter Signed “Andrew Jackson” 3p, 8.25” x 12.75”, on two conjoined sheets. Hermitage, February 3, 1823. Addressed by Jackson on fourth page to “Richard K. Call Esqr / Pensacola / Mail}” Light partial “NASH.T. FEB 5” postmark. Minor flaws. Scattered soiling, infill, strengthened at folds. Very Good condition.

Jackson had served in the Creek War of 1813 as commander of Tennessee forces. His victory in the Creek War brought him a commission as Major General in the U.S. Army in May 1814. He led his army to victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815. Here he writes to his Aide at New Orleans, now a Pensacola lawyer, about.

In part, “Dear Call I have just recd your letter of the 22nd Decbr last, and of yours of the 15th of the same month accompanying one from Mr. Manuel, with his memorial and affidavits. These I have prepared to forward to Major Eaton although I have just recd his letter advising me that he has recd one from you on the subject of those claims, and?stating that it is useless to forward them. - in looking over the letters & reports of Sept. Octbr & November 1814, and Col. Bentons [later Sen. Thomas Hart Benton communications who in Sept. & October commanded at Ft. Montgomery - Capt. Bayles & Mr Collins came up under the pretext of buying Cattle; about that time, all the Cattle in the neighbourhood?of Chrispo Cowpens west side of the Perdedo was carried away by Indians, and great quantities from Alabama River above Ft. Montgomery. Two persons exerted that Mr Collins & Bayles were endeavouring to obtain supplies for the Indians & British - Bayles was confined & sent to Mobile, and I believe Collins was also detained, as it was reported--he was contractor for furnishing Pensacola with Beef ‾

“On my march to Pensacola a fresh trail of Cattle was discovered diverting its course toward Pensacola, The Spanish guard at Capt. Bayles was surprised & captured & six Indians killed, and Bayles taken by me as a guide - There we received information that this drove of Cattle had been secreted in a bend of the Perdedo on the East side, a detachment was sent after them with orders to pursue the trail, collect and bring them in - This order was executed - the cattle delivered to the contractor with orders to kill for the army - such as - might be & to issue it to the army on proper returns, to keep the marks & brands, and pay the owners for the beef slaughtered, and return the stock cattle to the proper owners - The greater part of those cattle were claimed by citizens of the United States, returned to them, and those slaughtered paid for by the contractor or reported to me; These cattle having been drove from the Territory of the U. States, their trail followed & regained, should any of Mr. Manuels Cattle have been found with them, and slaughtered, the contractor having got full returns for the Beef & ordered to pay for it, will have to be looked to for remuneration - all these facts are before congress if the call is made & Col. Benton in the Senate ‾ Therefore I have no idea that the claim will be admitted. ‾

“Major Blue commanded the Indians, I never heard that a solitary horse had been brought away by them - and indeed it is not likely that the?red sticks [Red Sticks were Creek Indians - would leave any Horses west of the escambia When they?had so much use for them, and when they had sole control & possession of that country so long. from these facts you can say to Mr. Manuel all I can do is to send?them to Major Eaton, my report of these facts, one in the hands of the Government.”

An expedition was led by Major Uriah Blue, 39th U.S. Infantry, into West Florida in December 1814 to January 1815. Their mission was to roam the Escambia River in search of refugee Creek warriors who escaped Jackson's capture of Pensacola from the Spanish on November 7, 1814. Blue’s troops suffered from lack of supplies, especially beef ‾ the subject of this letter. Their rendezvous point was Fort Montgomery and at the end of the war they were in the vicinity of Baton Rouge, where they were waiting to go to New Orleans to participate in the campaign there.

Jackson now turns to politics. In 1822, he had been nominated for President by the Tennessee legislature. He was concerned with his support in Alabama since Georgian William H. Crawford was a leading candidate in the 1824 presidential election. On March 4, 1823, a month after writing this letter, Jackson was sworn in as U.S. Senator from Tennessee.

“Before this reaches you, you will have been advised that King & Kelly?are elected senators for Alabama - I regret that our friend Colo. King could not have been brought in. - Walkers resignation was kept secret - and Kelly only heard?of it & repaired to the assembly and arived there only three days before the election The plan to favour the views of the Secretary of the Treasury has failed but it was a hard contest. Still I believe many votes were given for Crawford & McKinly by men not in the support of the Sec. of the Treasury.”

Upon the admission of Alabama as a State into the Union in 1819, William R. King and John W. Walker were elected as Democratic Republicans to the United States Senate and were sworn in on December 14, 1819, King for the term ending March 3, 1823. King was reelected as a Democratic Republican and as a Jacksonian in 1822, 1828, 1834, and 1841, and served from December 14, 1819, until he resigned in 1844, having been appointed Minister to France. Walker served until December 12, 1822, when he resigned due to ill health. He was only 39 when he died on April 23, 1823, ten weeks after Jackson wrote this letter. On December 12, 1822, the Alabama State Senate elected William R. King to succeed Walker. John McKinley, a member of the Alabama State House of Representatives, lost by one vote; McKinley, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1826, was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by Van Buren in 1837. King, later Pierce’s VP, served from December 12, 1822, to March 3, 1825. William H. Crawford was Madison and Monroe’s Secretary of the Treasury from 1816-1825.

Jackson concludes, “I am happy to hear of your success in your profession. I really hope that?our friend Easter may meet with equal success. I hope he will abandon every thing?but his profession and pursue that with attentive industry - if he does this he will?& must succeed - should he ever return to disopation [sic he ius gone to ruin ‾ I write him to day - I have been gratified by being informed, that he is attentive?to business, and sober - a continuation in this prudent course will ensure him wealth & respectability - Should you see in him any symtoms of a departure from this, as my friend & his friend, I pray you admonish him, but I trust & hope that his own prud[ence will guide him right. We have calculated on seeing you in this country next fall - Mrs. J & the little Andrews request to be presented to you affectionately - present me to Mgr Nicholas, Colo. Miller, Mr. Overton if with you, Mr. David[son and all friends?and accept assurances of my [friendship & Esteem ‾ Andrew Jackson”

In the War of 1812, Richard Keith Call was a Special Aide to Major General Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. Promoted to Captain in 1818, he resigned in 1822 and settled in the Territory of Florida. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Pensacola. A member of the Territorial council in 1822, he was Brigadier General of the West Florida Militia in 1823. He was Delegate to Congress (1823-1825) and Governor of the Territory of Florida (1835-1840, 1841-1844).


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000