[3966) [JACKSON to BLAIR]
Private
Hermitage, August 12, 1836. My dear sir, As you will have seen from the Public Journals I reached home on the evening of the 4th exausted with bad roads and continued rains and my horses broke down. I am fearful that my fine lead horse will never get over his situation. it cost me as much for horse shewing and mending carriage as for other expenees, we average about three shews a day until all my horses feet was torn to the quik and left almost without hoofs, but I am hear, mended much on the journey until the continued dampness gave me a bad cold and cough which I am now labouring under, and the pain in my side has returned also, and I fear I will have to use the lancet soon. I found all the family in improved health-say to mrs. Blair that there never were such a change in any one as in little Rachel, Sarahs. Emilys Rachel is not so well. we all Join in kind salutations to you, Mrs. Blair Miss Elisabeth and present our kind congratulations to your son and his Lady-the two little Rachels send their kind thanks to Miss Lissy for her presents to them. I have duly noted your letter. Who give Genl Scott Genl Jessups letter will be a subject of Enquiry when I return-however it is immaterial-the delay of Genl Scott at Columbus, with his unacountable order to Jessup to halt when near to the Indians, when one hours delay might have been the cause of the Indians escape was sufficient proof of his want of capacity to fight Indians, and was sufficient ground to recall him from the command against Indians, indeed he reported himself sick at augustus and had permission to return to N. York, when Genl Jessup was ordered to the command of the Georgia and alabama Troops, and Scott ought to have retired and not have obtruded himself on the command assigned to Jessup, but when he did, he ought to have acted with Promptness and put this puny Indian war down in ten days. Genl Scott had ought to know, I had no hostile feeling towards him-the shameful proceedings in Florida, with the panic that pervaded every where which had tarnished the reputation of our army ought to have induced every military man to have exerted themselves to have regained the armies lost military character. the enquiry will be, has Genl Scott so acted, if so, he will stand acquitted, if not, he will stand condemned. The reply you have made to the Neapolitan was just. could any christian countenance the horid treachery and massacre of Fanning, and his men, after seducing them to surrender
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