Autographs
1813 “Old Hickory” Document Signed “Andrew Jackson / Major Genl” Orders a Day’s Rations for his 519 Soldiers
ANDREW JACKSON (1767-1845). Seventh President of the United States (1829–1837), a Politician and Army General who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814), and the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1815).
March 8, 1813-Dated War of 1812 Period, Manuscript Document Signed, “Andrew Jackson / Major Genl” and “John Coffee” as Col Cavalry, 1 page, measuring 7.75” x 13” at Camp Jackson [Natchez, Mississippi Territory], Choice Very Fine. Well written and presented on watermarked laid paper expertly restored and conserved. Overall expected light age tone and original folds. “Provision return for the Regiment of Tennessee volunteer / Cavalry under the command of Col. Coffee a part of the / detachment under the Command of Major Genl Jackson / for the 8th Day of March 1813.”

General Jackson orders a day’s rations for 519 soldiers. Boldly penned and ruled in tabular format, headed: “Camp Jackson / Companies &c,” ten Companies are listed by Captain, plus “pack house Man,” and, in columns, are listed the numbers of “Men,” “rations per day,” and “days,” and “Total No of rations.” Signed beneath the table “John Coffee” as Col Cavalry. Boldly Signed. “Andrew Jackson / Major Genl” beneath manuscript “The Contractor will issue five hundred & nineteen / complete rations agreeable to the above return.” Captains listed are Coleman, Byrn, Bradly, Motten, Setton, Baskerville, Kavenaugh, Smith, Terrell, and McKeen. An exellent War of 1812 Document vividly Signed by Major General Andrew Jackson measuring 3.25” long at its conclusion.
John Coffee (1772-1833) commanded troops under Gen. Jackson in the Creek wars (1813-1814) and the Battle of New Orleans. President Jackson appointed Coffee and Secretary of War John Eaton to negotiate treaties with southeast American Indian tribes to accomplish removal, a policy authorized by the Indian Removal Act of 1830. He also negotiated treaties with the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes. Coffee was married to Mary Donelson, a niece of Mrs. Jackson.

In November 1812, Tennessee Governor Willie Blount had ordered the Tennessee Militia, under the command of Major General Andrew Jackson, on an expedition to Natchez. The expedition left Nashville January 7, 1813, and proceeded to Natchez. On February 15, 1813, Jackson and his soldiers arrived at Natchez where they found Col. John Coffee’s regiment and joined them on the sixteenth. A letter from Gen. James Wilkinson, at New Orleans in command of the Southern Military District, was waiting for him. Wilkinson ordered him to halt where he was and await further instructions.

After almost a month of waiting and ordering daily rations for his men from Natchez, six days after signing the document here offered, on March 14, 1813, Jackson received the following letter, dated February 6, 1813, from Secretary of War John Armstrong: “Sir: - The causes of embodying and marching to New Orleans the corps under your command having ceased to exist you will, on the receipt of this letter, consider it as dismissed from the public service, and take measures to have delivered over to Major-General Wilkinson all the articles of public property which may have been put into its possession. You will accept for yourself and the corps the thanks of the President of the United States.”

The next day, on March 15, 1813, Jackson wrote to President Madison, telling him that he considers the part of the order directing him to give up his tents and other equipment a mistake, informing him that he would disregard it. Jackson also wrote to Tennessee Governor Blount, in part, ““I had on yesterday my feelings more awakened than I have ever had before. It was on the receipt of the enclosed extraordinary Order from the Secretary of War ordering the dismissal of the Detachment under my Command. The Order was addressed to me at the city of New Orleans, presuming that I had marched my Detachment there according to your order. What do you think of the justice of Government to make a requisition of so many men, have them assembled in an inclement season, and marched more than a thousand miles amidst ice and snow and the dangers of the river, and then desert them without making provision for their return? … I have, however, from the necessity of the case determined to keep some of the tents and to march the men home in as good order as possible, and I will make every sacrifice to add to their comfort … I have required of the contractor here twenty days rations which take my men to Colberts, and I must trust in Providence and your exertions to furnish them with supplies from there to Nashville … Arrangements will also have to be made for the payment of my troops when they arrive at Nashville…”

It was during this 500 mile return march to Nashville, during wintery weather, that more than one of his soldiers spoke of the General as “tough,” then “as tough as hickory.” Jackson walked most of the way, much of it uphill, at times through deep snow, to allow ailing soldiers to ride his horse. By the end of the march, Andrew Jackson was “Old Hickory.”