In 1805 Aaron Burr appeared in the southwest and easily enlisted Jackson in his plans for war with Spain, the seizure of Mexico, etc. A ball was given in Burr's honor, and Jackson, in full military costume. introduced the guest to his hosts. In Nov. Jackson supplied Burr with boats and provisions; hut a few days later, having cause to suspect the 'adventurer, he ordered that no further dealings should be had with him, at -the same time writing to Burr and demanding the truth. He also wrote to goy. Claiborne of Orleans territory (now Louisiana) and to president Jefferson Yet he was Burr's friend, and during the trial of the latter at HichmOnd, although summoned as a witness, he was zealous in his defense. Jackson favored the nomination of Monroe for president; but for some years be avoided politics, living quietly at the Hermitage and attending solely to the raising of crops and cattle.
The declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812 brought to the hero of that war his opportunity. As soon as he heard the news he offered his own services and the co-operation of 2,500 under his control, The proposition was gladly accepted, and in Oct. the governor of Tennessee was requested to forward 1500 men to New Orleans. Jackson assembled the men at Nashville, and 2.000 infantry and cavalry were equipped. Early in Dn. the infantry were sent down the river in boats, while the cavalry made their way overland. The forces reassembled at Natchez, where they remained under orders from Feb. 15, Near the last of Mar. orders came from Wash ington to dismiss the men, but Jackson conducted them back to Tennessee before obeying the order. It is said that in consequence of his courage and endurance at this time his men gave him the soubriquet of "Hickory," which was the origin of the "Old Hickory" of later years. The men were dismissed in May, after another tender of service to which Jackson received no answer. He had assumed responsibility for the transportation of his men, but the government permitted his paper to go to protest, and he was on the verge of financial wreck. when a friend, Thomas Hart Benton, afterwards , the great Missouri senator, came to his rescue, and, by appealing "from the justice to the fears" of the party in power, finally seemed justice. The next incident in the stirring life of Jackson was the Benton fracas. A friend of Jackson named Carroll had ; a quarrel with and sent a challenge to Jesse Benton, a brother of Thounis II.; Jackson became Carroll's second, and for a time put of the contest. The.challenged party sent to his brother in Washington an account of the affair, which was intended to, or at least did, create prejudice against Jackson in the mind of his especial friend. A fiery correspondence followed between Thomas H. Benton and Jackson, and in the course of oral comment Benton used some of the strongest language of which he was master, all of which was made known to Jackson, who was wrought up to the highest pitch of passion. Ile declared that he would horsewhip Benton on sight. Early in Sept.
Jackson and col. Coffee met the two Bentons 'n the street at Nashville. Jackson called to Benton to defend himself, and mad...! a movement towards him, while Benton tried to get hold of a pistol. Jackson got his pistol soonest and took aim, his antagonist retreating and he following to the rear door of a hotel, where Jesse Benton fired and put two or more balls into Jackson's left shoulder. Jackson fell; Coffee fired, but missed Benton; then turned upon Thomas H. Benton, when the latter fell down a flight of steps. A nephew of Mrs. Jackson, named Hayes, then mingled in the fray, making a desperate attack upon Jesse with sword-cane and dagger, finally throwing him down and wounding him in a number of places. The interference of an outsider saved Jesse's life, and the light ended. The physicians decided that Jackson's arm should be taken off, but he would not listen to them, and his resolution saved that member of his body to hold the bridle iu many a more honorable encounter.
Ever since the earliest attempts to remove the Georgia Indians from their territory there had been intermittent wars. Emboldened by the war with England, the Creeks in 1813 made further trouble and committed many.outrages, the chief of which was the massacre at Fort Minims, Aug. 30. Intense excitement followed, and the whole south west was aroused. The Tennessee legislature called for volunteers, and resolved to exterminate the troublesome tribe. Jackson was in bed, nursing his shattered shoulder, but he dictated addresses and was in spirit in the field. Although his wound still caused intense pain, he joined his division Oct. 7, and on the 11th they marched. and for 32 in. at the rate of five and one-third miles an hour, to overtake the Indians, which, however, they failed to do. Nov. 3 col. Coffee defeated the Indians, and on the 9th Jackson gave them a crushing blow at Talladega. But the commissariat was badly managed, and Jackson's men were almost in mutiny, from which cause these victories were of much less consequence than they would have been under favorable conditions. In Jan., 1814, Jackson, with less than 1000 men, invaded the Indian territory, winning two important victories before the ('lose of the month. In both fights his skill and courage were conspicuous. In Feb. he had a new force of 5,000 men. with whom lie followed the Indians, who had made their final stand at Tohopeka on the Tallapoosa, on a small peninsula called the Horseshoe. The position was strong, but the Indian force was weak; Jackson captured the place Mar. 27, and of the KO 'Indians 750 were killed, the white loss being 201. This defeat was the end of wars with the Creeks, and thereafter the Indians of Georgia and Alabama submitted to fate and removed to the territory set apart for them w. of the Mississippi. A few months later Jackson and col. Hawkins made with the Indians the treaty of fort Jackson, on which occasion the leading chiefs desired to present Jackson with a tract of nearly 6,000 acres of land, but congress would not permit him to accept.