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to clear the way for the wagon. He stopped once to cut away some saplings
that were obstructing the road, when the cow and( calf went on, passed over a hill;
going on after them he discovered the trail of a large body of Indians who a few
minutes before crossed the road and finding the cow and calf, had driven them
away with them. They were at once abandoned a(nd it was thought a fortunate
escape. A draft was immediately ordered by the President for men to fight the
Creeks. My father was drafted by drew out and( commenced making up a
volunteer company. General Jackson went out with sixty days men and fought
the battles of Talladega, Hickory Ground, Heighlts of Muckfaw and Muckfaw
Creek, aiind fell back, and another draft was made for four months men for
reinforcements. My father was again drafted, and as his coml,any wa's not
ready he went out as a volunteer, in the regiment of Colonel Pickard, in the
brigade of General Coffee. The sixty days men were detained eight days to
fight the battle of the Horseshoe. The Fort was at the upper end of the heel of
the Bend. General Jackson went around the Bend and crossed Coosa river
just above the Falls, guided by James Fife, Chinerly and old Mr. Quarles.
General Jackson marched down and commenced cannonading the Fort. Gen.
Coffee went around the Bend to prevent the Indians from crossing the river and
making their escape. In this battle my father, Drury Middleton, participated
actively, being in the thickest of the fight. Going forward at the command of
General Coffee, with two men from each company to act as an advance and
give information of the enemy, he was separated from the main command, and
remained upon the battle field and fought until he was the last or among the
last to leave the ground. The line of march was then taken up for home, when
the men were discharged.
The first battle fought at New Orleans was on December 23, 1814 at night,
and of the volunteers from Tennessee, the killed and captured were sixty-three.
The soldiers on their return from New Orleans were distressed for salt and
bread, meat being plenty. I rode and carried on a pony, three bushels of
meal 200 miles, for their relief.
This much I have thought proper to mention in relation to my ancestry,
that it may be seen that I have inherited love of country and devotion to her
laws; and now in the closing years of a long life filled with peril and adventure,
among scenes wild and civilized, in society of every sort, in peace and in
danger, I have sought only to be worthy the brave and patriotic men who had
gone before, and by devotion to my country, upholding its laws and advancing
the best interests of society in endeavoring to sustain its morals and religion, to
deserve the name I bear.
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