Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to William B. Lewis

Dear Sir Headquarters Camp Jackson
March 13th 1813

My last mail I had the pleasure of receiving your two several letters of the 2nd. of March - yours of the 22nd. which you [illegible]ome me forwarded to New Orleans, I shall receive tomorrow, as I have directed all my letters to be forwarded to me that has been sent on to that place, and which when recd Shall be carefully attended to as requested by you -
When I write Col. Anderson I shall with pleasure name to him the Justice you have Done him in your letter to me of the 2nd of this month - I have here barely to remark, that I was sorry to see made use of in your publication any remarks as it respected the supplies of provision at Clarksville - There are no men I have a greater Esteem for than those concerned in the contract at Nashville and I am free to confess, that I believe Mr. Woods, confidently is expected the supply wanted, and for which the different captains had due bills for at Clarksville, but the part is that there was not half the quantity of flower [inserted: acquired & that three miles distance from Clarksville]; And the pork not half packed or sotted when we - arrived and not sott to secure it - by which means we were detained a whole day and two nights and a great part of the provisions should for the want of sott & hung put up onto whiskey barrels - and it is a fact that in several barrels were found seven hogs heads I mean sculls - this is an open violation of the laws of this head-on the subject of Hays I never recollect of hearing that he had joined the 2nd . Regiment, until I was at Clarksville, Colo. Benton there I believed [illegible] that he had intruded himself into Capt. Gibb[text loss] company, and that as soon as he come up he would have him put out - this is all I know or heard of Hays until I saw your publication - he never was discharged by my order nor had he joined with my knowledge or consent, and when Col. Benton named the thing to me at Clarksville I did heartily desopprobate the act of Hays being permitted to be with the Volunteers -
I have now to draw your attention to another - subject - (2) If Governor Blount is with you by applying to him for a sight of the correspondence [struck: you] between me and the opertunt D 2. Master of this Department - you will find that my situation as it regards supplies from this department is not the most pleasant - The fact is the such must be taken care of the such of the Cavalry on their March, was obliged to be left on the road, they were to be supplied and to procure this Colo. John [illegible] was obliged to become bound to the individuals of -whom houses they were left that there bills on him for the expence of the such should be paid - The quarter Master says this expence oppertouns to your department and to meet this expence Colo. Coffee this day has dried two Bills on you one for one hundred dollars in favour of James Lauderdale, the other for two hundred dollars in favour of John Gollorpin - These two bills it is supposed will bring the such up they are on their way and the gentlemen in whom favour the Bills are drawn has advanced the cash and you must honor and pay them if there should be any thing left overpaying the expence of the such it shall be faithfully accounted for if not enough [struck: there] to fully meet the expence you shall be duly notified - to be without funds medicine and a number such is an unpleasant situation - we are here without any orders or advices, from any quarter, fed Sometimes on the poorest beef on earth - and without any necessity for us being here - But no discontent prevails - perfect harmony - and I will stay here untill the government orders us to March to some point without murmur or complaint, if we were on the North West we could be of some service, here none - and we would with cheerfulness March tomorrow to cumody of government ordered us - The mode of supplying the army must be altered, or it never can act with expedition or affect - it will be always badly supplied and with bad provisions - when I receive yrs of the 22nd. I shall write you, I am busily engaged preparing my troops for the field - who progress in discipline faster than any troops I ever saw & has the fixed ammunition ever reached Nashvilles or where [3] is it, what shall my Detachment do for munitions [inserted: of war] and supplies of medicine - I am buying medicine here at my own risqué - My men shall not die, if my credit or purse can prevent it - I am truly astonished that the governor has not wrote me - I have not recd' a single line from, The Secretary of War, or Member of Congress, and here I am with 2000 of the finest troops in the world inactive and eating the publick beef- without service when men are so much wanted to the North West - Our Government must act with more energy, activity, and system - or they are lost, and the Liberties of our country gone - disgrace will bring on general disgust - the expense will create a National debt and heavy taxes - and the inquiry will be made how all this expense and no service done - I can answer for one; I am sent where there is no enemy - nothing to do, and where there never existed in fact sufficient ground of alarm to have authorized
In being sent here - but the voice of my [text loss] I have and will obey, It is my duty to [text loss] duty of the President to order - we have [text loss]
funerals since we disembarked -
give my Compliments to all friends [paper torn]
believe me to be sincerely your friend
Andrew Jackson
William B. Lewis Esquire.
A.D.J. Master -

[address leaf]
publick service
Andrew Jackson
William B. Lewis Esqr
A.D. quarter master
Nashville Tennessee
[docket]
Letter from Gen
Jackson March
13th 1813