Officers and men joined together in a renewal of the petition, giving their reasons in detail. In great anger the commander again refused.
“We were sent out to subdue the hostile Creeks,” said he, sternly, “and until that is done we shall not turn our backs upon the wilderness!”
Finding him unyielding, the militia now became mutinous; they broke ranks and doggedly prepared to take the trail back to the border. But like lightning Jackson acted.
“Forward, volunteers!” he cried, drawing his sword. “We shall see who is commander here.”
The volunteers threw themselves across the path of the dissatisfied militia with ready rifles. Seeing that blood would be shed, and not desiring any such extreme action, the militia officers advised their men to give up their purpose. Sullenly the militia obeyed, and so the first of the mutinies at Fort Strother was at an end.
A little later discontent broke out once more; this time it was the volunteers, and it was the militia, now loyal to the commander, who were called upon to put the outbreak down.
Some time after the settling of this second uprising of the hungry soldiers, Jackson received word that a large store of supplies had arrived at the depot on the Tennessee. Feeling sure that they would at once be forwarded, the general said to his officers:
“Food is at hand; if it is not here in two days, I will consent to fall back.”
But in counting upon the promptness of the contractors, Jackson made a mistake. The supplies did not reach Fort Strother upon the day set; and bitterly disappointed he was forced to give the word to take the border trail. But even then he had not entirely given up.
“I remain behind if only two men will stay with me.”