nt, nursed it with sugar and water, took it eventually with him
to the Hermitage, and brought it up as his son. He gave the boy the
name of Lincoyer. He grew up a finely formed young man, and died of
consumption at the age of seventeen.

Jackson was a very stern man. The appeals of pity could seldom move his
heart. Still there were traits of heroism which marked his character.
On the return march, a half-starved soldier came to Jackson with a
piteous story of his famished condition. Jackson drew from his pocket a
handful of acorns, and presenting a portion to the man, said:

"This is all the fare I have. I will share it with you."

Beneath one of the houses was found quite a large cellar, well stored
with potatoes. These were eagerly seized. All the other stores of the
Indians the insatiable flames had consumed. Starvation now began to
threaten the army. The sparsely settled country afforded no scope for
forage. There were no herds of cattle, no well-replenished magazines
near at hand. Neither was there game enough in the spreading wilderness
to supply so many hungry mouths. The troops were compelled to eat even
the very hides of the cattle whom they had driven before them, and who
were now all slaughtered.

While in this forlorn condition, awaiting the arrival of food, and
keeping very vigilant guard against surprise, one night an Indian,
cautiously approaching from the forest, shouted out that he wished to
see General Jackson, for he had important information to communicate.
He was conducted to the General's tent. The soldiers knew not the news
which he brought. But immediately the beat of drums summoned all to
arms. In less than an hour a strong party of cavalry and infantry, in
the darkness, were on the march. General Andrew Jackson was one of the
most energetic of men. The troops crossed the Coosa River to the
eastern shore, and as rapidly as possible pressed forward in a
southerly direction toward Talladega, which was distant about thirty
miles. Gradually the rumor spread through the ranks that General
Jackson had received the following intelligence: At Talladega there was
a pretty strong fort, occupied by friendly Indians. They had resolutely
refused to take part in the war against the Americans. Eleven hundred
hostile warriors, of the Creek nation, marched upon the fort, encamped
before it, and sent word to the friendly Indians within the palisades,
that if they did not come out and join them in an expedition