Life of Col. David Crockett

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Author's Preface

Fashion is a thing I care miglity little aboutj except when it happens to run just exactly according to mj own notion ; and I was mighty nigh sending out my book without any preface at all, until a notion struck me, that perhaps it was necessary to explain a little the reason why and wherefore I had written it.

Most of authors seek fame, but I seek for justice, — a holier impulse than ever entered into the ambitious struggles of the votaries of th.a,t Jlckle, JUrting goddess.

A publication has been made to the world, which has done me much injustice ; and the catchpenny errors which it contains, have been already too long sanctioned by my silence. I don't know the author of the book — and indeed I don't want to know him : for after he has taken such a liberty with my name, and made such an effort to hold me up to public ridicule, he cannot calculate on anything but my displeasure. If he had been content to have written his opinions about me, however contemptuous they might have been, I should have less reason to complain. But when he professes to give my narrative (as he often does) in my own language, and then puts into my mouth such language as would disgrace even an outlandish African, he must himself be sensible of the injustice he has done me, and the trick he has played off on the public. I have met with hundreds, if not with thousands of

8 author's preface.

people, who have formed their opinions of ray appearance, haDits, language, and ever^^thing else from that deceptive work.

They have almost in every instance expressed the most profound astonishment at finding me in human shape, and with the countenance, appearance, and common feelings of a human being. It is to correct all these false notions, and to do justice to myself, that I have written.

It is certain that the writer of the book alluded to has gathered up many imperfect scraps of information concerning me, as in parts of his work there is some little semblance of truth. But I ask him, if this notice should ever reach his eye, how would he have liked it, if I had treated him so ? — if I had put together such a bundle of ridiculous stufi", and headed it with his name, and sent it out upon the world without ever even condescending to ask his permission ? To these questions, all upright men must give the same answer. It was wrong; and the desire to make money by it, is no apology for such injustice to a fellow man.

But I let him pass ; as my wish is greatly more to vindicate myself, than to condemn him.

In the following pages I have endeavored to give the reader a plain, honest, homespun account of my state in life, and some few of the difficulties which have attended me along its journey, down to this time. I am perfectly aware, that I have related many small and, as I fear, uninteresting circumstances ; but if so, my apology is, that it was rendered necessary by a desire to link the different periods of my life together, as they have passed, from my childhood onward, and thereby to enable the reader to select such parts of it as he may relish most, if, in • deed, there is anything in it which may suit his palate.

I have also been operated on by another consideration. It is this : — I know, that obscure as I am, my name is making a considerable deal of fuss in the world. I caa't tell why it is, author's preface. 9

nor in wliat it is to end. G-o where I will, everybody seems anxious to get a peep at me ; and it would be hard to tell which would have the advantage, if I, and the " Government,'' and " Black Hawk," and a great eternal big caravan of loild varmints were all to be showed at the same time in four different parts of any of the big cities in the nation. I am not so sure that I shouldn't get the most custom of any of the crew. There must therefore be something in me, or about me, that attracts attention, which is even mysterious to myself. I can't understand it, and I therefore put all the facts down, leaving the reader free to take his choice of them.

On the subject of my style, it is bad enough, in all conscience, to please critics, if that is what they are after. They are a sort of vermin, though, that I sha'n't even so much as stop to brush oflP. If they want to work on my book, just let them go ahead ] and after they are done, they had better blot out all their criticisms, than to know what opinion I would express of tliem, and by what sort of a curious name I would call tliem, if I was standing near them, and looking over their shoulders. They will, at most, have only their trouble for their pay. But I rather expect I shall have them on my side.

But T don't know of anything in my book to be criticised on by honorable men. Is it on my spelling? — that's not my trade. Is it on my grammar ? — I hadn't time to learn it, and make no pretensions to it. Is it on the order and arrangement of my book ? — I never wrote one before, and never read very many; and, of course, know mighty little about that. Will it be on the authorship of the book ? — this I claim, and I'll hang on to it like a wax plaster. The whole book is my own, and every sentiment and sentence in it. I would noo be such a fool, or knave either, as to deny that I have had it run hastily over by a friend or so, and that some little alterations have been made in the spelling and grammar; and I

10 author's preface.

am not so sure that it is not the worse of even that, for I despise this way of spelling contrary to nature. And as for grammar, it's pretty much a thing of nothing at last, after all the fuss that's made about it. In some places, I wouldn't suflfer either the spelling, or grammar, or anything else to be touched ; and therefore it will be found in my own way.

But if anybody complains that I have had it looked over, I can only say to him, her, or them — as the case may be — that while critics were learning grammar, and learning to spell, I and "Doctor Jackson, LL.D." were fighting in the wars; and if our books, and messages, and proclamations, and cabinet writings, and so forth, and so on, should need a little looking over, and a little correcting of the spelling and the grammar to make them fit for use, its just nobody's business. Big men have more important matters to attend to than crossing their ^'s — , and dotting their i's — , and such like small things. But the " Government's" name is to the proclamation, and my name's to the book ; and if I didn't write the book, the " Government" didn't write the proclamation, which no man dares to deny I

But just read for yourself, and my ears for a heel tap, if before you get through you don't say, with many a good-natured smile and hearty laugh, " This is truly the -^ry thing itself— the exact image of its Author,

DAVID CROCKETT."

Chapter I. Pagh

Crockett's descent — His father a soldier in the Revolutionary War — Fought at the battle of King's Mountain — Settles in Tennessee — Crockett's grandparents murdered by the Indians — One uncle wounded and another captured by the Indians — Birth of David Crockett — Early recollections — Narrow escape of his brothers from drowning — Shooting a man instead of a deer — His father's removals — Keeps a tavern — Davy hired to a Dutchman — Escapes from him in a snow storm — Mr. Dunn's kindness— David returns home 19

Chapter II

David goes to school — Flogs a schoolmate and plays truant — Gets found out — Runs away — Hires himself to Jesse Cheek — Leaves him — Goes with Myers — Afraid to go home — Works for John Gray — Goes to Baltimore — Agrees to go to sea — Made prisoner — Escapes — Befriended by a wagoner — His kindness— David " hires out" to Cald^aell — Works for GriflSth, the hatter — His master breaks — He starts for home — Perilous adventure in a canoe — Meets his brother — Reaches home — His reception 31

Chapter III

David at home — Works out a debt for his father — Hires out with an old Quaker — Gets paid in a note of his father's — David falls in love with a Quakeress — Disappointed — Goes to school — Falls in love again — Goes to a shooting match— Gets jilted — Sick at heart 43

?AGE

Chapter IV

Crockett goes a hunting — The Dutch widow — Ugly daughter — Crockett goes to a reaping — The old Irish woman — Crockett dances with her daughter — Makes love to her — A rival — Crockett lost in the woods — Meets his lady love — Opposition of her mother to the marriage — Crockett married — Mother-in-law reconciled — Two sons horn — Removal to Lincoln county — Removal to Franklin county 51

Chapter V

The Creek war — Massacre at Fort Mimms — Crockett volunteers — Joins Captain Jones' company of mounted volunteers — Beaty's Spring — Major Gibson — Crockett goes out as a scout with George Russell-^— Scouting adventures — Crockett returns, and reports to General Coffee — Express sent to General Jackson — His arrival in camp 61

Chapter VI

Crockett sent off with a detachment — Burning of Black Warrior's town — Crockett goes a hunting to supply provision for the detachment — His success — Rejoins the main army — Battle with the Indians — Return to Fort Strother — Famine in the camp — Expedition to Fort Taladega — Battle of Taladega — Famine — Mutiny — Crockett goes home with the other volunteers — Rejoins the army — Skirmish near Horse Shoe Bend — Another Battle — Courage and skill of General Carroll ... 71

Chapter VII

Crockett joins the army for the Florida campaign — Passes near Fort Mimms — Arrival at Pensacola — General Jackson leaves for New Orleans — Crockett returns with his regiment to Fort Mimms — Description of the fort and the massacre — March towards Pensacola — Preparations for a battle — Creeks killed — Expedition of Major Russell — Return to Pensacola 85

Chapter VIII

Start for Chatahachy — Famine in the camp— Burning of town on the Chatahachy — Famine again — Crockett goes a hunting — His success — Arrival at Fort Decatur — Crockett buys corn with bullets — March to Fort Williams — Pass the battle-ground of Taladega — Pass the Coosa river — Crockett starts for home — Returns home — Joy of his family — Crockett's sentiments on the warrior career — Close of the war 95

Chapter IX. Faqb

Death of Mrs. Crockett — His family — Crockett courts a soldier's widow — Marries again — New family — Emigrates — Perilous journey — Sickness — Returns home — Second sickness — Crockett settles on Shoal Creek — Regulators — Crockett a magistrate — Amusing account of his proceedings — Learning how to make out written warrants, and keep a docket — His success as a magistrate 103

Chapter X

Captain Matthew's intrigue — Crockett a candidate for military office — Matthew's artful dodge — Detected by Crockett, who defeats him, and is elected colonel — Crockett a candidate for the Legislature — On the stump — Electioneering — Hunting party — Speech-making tough work — Tells anecdotes — Gains his election — Colonel Polk— The judiciary — Loss of property — Failure — Gives up all to his creditors 112

Chapter XI

Colonel Crockett emigrates again — Difficult journey — Visit to Mr. Owens — Boating — Hunting — Planting — The Fall's hunt — Perilous winter journey to get a cask of powder — Success 119

Chapter XII

All hands turn out for a hunt — Colonel Crockett goes after bear — Kills two wild turkeys — Encounters a very big bear — Three shots fired — Bear killed — Weighs 600 pounds — Difficulty in getting him homo — Colonel Crockett supplies his family with provisions by hunting 130

Chapter XIII

Colonel Crockett sells his peltry — Meets influential politicians at Jackson — Is invited to become a candidate for the Legislature — Declines — Is advertised for the office without his consent— Determines to run — Meets his opponent — His amusing and characteristic description of his manner of electioneering — Two other candidates proposed — Colonel Crockett is elected — Votes against General Jackson for Senator — Colonel Crockett proposed as a candidate for Congress — He is defeated — Proposed again for the next Congress 134

Chapter XIV. Fa61

Colonel Crockett engages in a lumber speculation — Boat building — Bear hunting — Tlie grubber — More bear hunting — Bear attacked in a cane brake — Bear attacked in a hollow tree — Three bears killed — Cutting up the bears and salting them 141

CHAPTEE XV.

More bear hunting — Shooting a bear — Crockett benighted in the woods — Night encounter with a bear — Crockett nearly frozen to death — Dreadful earthquake — Ten bears killed during this hunt 150

Chapter XVI

Colonel Crockett attends to his lumber speculations — Goes down the Mississippi with his lumber — Difficult navigation — Boats swamped — Narrow escape of the Colonel from drowning — Result of the speculation a total loss 15S

Chapter XVII

Colonel Crockett enters on a new canvass for Congress — A friend supplies " the sinews of war" — Electioneering — A stump speech — Incident of the guinea-fowls turned to a good account — Crockett elected — Serves in Congress during Adams' administration — Re-elected to Congress — Votes against the Indian bill — Political persecution — Crockett proposed for Congress again — Defeated — Crockett's district Gerrymandered to keep him out of Congress — He is elected 163

Chapter XVIII

Colonel Crockett commences his tour to the Northern States — Entertained at Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore — Passage to Philadelphia — Crockett's toast — Grand reception at Philadelphia — Arrival at United States Hotel — Crockett's speech — Walk round the Quaker City at night — Visited by distinguished citizens — Visit to the Water Works, the Mint, and the Asylum for the Insane — Crockett's speech at the Exchange — Great applause — Goes to the Walnut Street Theatre — Crockett presented with a watch-seal and rifle— Visits the Navy Yard — Takes a ride with Colonel Reeside — Takes a supper with Mr. Dorrance, and makes a call on Colonel Saint 171

CHAPTER XIX. PAGa

Colonel Crockett starts for New York — The passage — Grand Reception — Committee of young whigs invite him to go to the American Hotel — Goes to the Park Theatre — Sees Fanny Kemble — His opinion of that actress — The Colonel goes to a fire — Makes a Speech at the Exchange — Goes to Peale's Museum and the City Hall — Dines with Col. Draper— Invited to a supper by the young whigs — Has a ride with Col. Jackson — Visits the Five Points — His opinion of the strange sights there — Introduced to Albert Gallatin — Preparations for building the Astor House — Celebration at the Battery — General Morton — Gideon Lee — Castle Garden — Goes to the Bowery Theatre — Colonel Mapes — Grant Thorburn — Rifle shooting — The Colonel gives a specimen 183

Chapter XX

The Colonel starts for Boston — Passes Hell Gate and Point Juda — First impressions of New England scenery — Captain Silsbee — Arrives at Tremont House — Mr. Boyden — Visit to the gallery of the artist, Chester Harding — Sits for his portrait — Faneuil Hall — Gen. Davis — Quincy Market — India-rubber factory — Colonel Perkins — Carpet factory — Sups with the young whigs — Bunker Hill — Whig dinner — Chantrey's statue of Washington — Asylum for the blind 195

Chapter XXI

Colonel Crockett is invited to visit Harvard University — Is afraid they will make him a Doctor of Laws, and declines going there — Visits the Tremont Theatre — Visit to Lowell — The Colonel is delighted with the factories and the factory girls — His remarks on free labor — The sea-serpent — The tariff — The South — Mr. Lawrence presents the Colonel with a suit of broadcloth of Lowell manufacture, from Mississippi wool — The Colonel dines with the young gentlemen of Lowell — New England hospitality — The Colonel returns to Boston — Spends an evening with Lieutenant-Governor Armstrong — Returns to Providence, New York, and Philadelphia — Visit to Camden, New Jersey — Loses his pockei-book and money — Returns to Baltimore and Washington.. 209

Chapter XXII

Breaking up of Congress— Crockett at Philadelphia— Presentation of the rifle— The Colonel's speech— Visit to the Fish House— Celebration of the Fourth of July— The Colonel's speech at Chesnut Street ThepAcn

atre — Present of gunpowder from Mr. Dupont — Crockett at Pittsburg — His advice to Tennessee — Conversation with Captain Stone — Passage to Cincinnati and Louisville — Speech at Louisville — Return home — Shooting for beef 222

Chapter XXIII

Electioneering — Stump speech — Price of popularityT— Treating — The j coon-skin trick — The Yankee merchant outwitted — Offer of compensation on the part of the Colonel refused — Adam Huntsman, the Colonel's opponent ; 239

Chapter XXIV

The Colonel loses his election — How it happened — Political persecution and corruption — The Colonel's opinions and sentiments on political affairs — Where the public money goes — Anecdote — The Colonel's parting blessing to his constituents — He resolves to go to Texas, and engage in the war for its independence — Specimen of the Colonel's poetry 246

Chapter XXV

The Colonel starts for Texas — Amusing incident of the man fighting with his own shadow — Crockett arrives at Little Rock — The puppet showman — Disappointment — Threats of lynch law — The bookseller who becomes fiddler to the puppet show — Moral of a puppet show.... 255

Chapter XXVI

Crockett offered a public dinner by the citizens of Little Rock — Thinks he will decline — The landlord shows him his larder — The Colonel accepts — Rifle shooting — Cute trick — The dinner — The Colonel's speech i— He tells the Little Rock politicians how to get office — A jolly evening 268

Chapter XXVII

Western hospitality — The Colonel takes leave of his Little Rock friends — Escorted on his way towards Texas — Tries for recruits for the Texan war, without success — Whimsical adventure of the fiddling bookseller — Great utility of fiddling — Account of Arkansas — Eloquence of the parson — The parting — Specimen of impertinent curiosity baffled — Job Snelling — Arrival at Pulton. ...\ 27*

Chapter XXVIII. Faqs

Departure from Fulton — Game of thimblerig on the steamboat — Sleight of hand — The Colonel makes Thimblerig treat the company — The Colonel's toast — His speech — His opinion of Van Buren — Great applause 291

Chapter XXIX

Thimblerig relates the events of his life to the Colonel — Thimblerig courts a planter's daughter — Gets a very broad hint to leave — Becomes a play-actor — Refuses to perform the hind legs of the elephant, because it is not a speaking part — Gets discharged — Becomes marker in a- gambling house at New Orleans — Quits — Becomes a professional blackleg — Goes to Natchez under the hill — His description of that place — A murder — Punishment of the murderer — Punishment of a gambler for cheating — Arrival of the Colonel at Natchitoches 302

Chapter XXX

Account of Natchitoches — The Colonel advises Thimblerig to reform and join the Texan patriots — Thimblerig decides to do so — Curious incident of the yellow boy — The singer and the politician — A brisk conversation — The singer thrashes the politician — The Bee Hunter — He joins the patriots — The Colonel, Thimblerig, and the Bee Hunter set out for Nacogdoches on their way to Texas 314

Chapter XXXI

Route to Nacogdoches — Accomplishments of the Bee Hunter — Story of Andrew Tumlinson — His death — Society in Texas — Arrival at Nacogdoches — Account of that place — Scene between the Bee Hunter and his lady-love — Departure from Nacogdoches 327

Chapter XXXII

Incidents on the road — Tricks upon travelers — The mad dog hoax — Another curious trick — Cane brake — Wolves and game — The party joined by one of Lafitte's pirates and an Indian hunter — Scene at the dinner table — Sudden disappearance of the Bee Hunter — The party encounter an immense herd of bufixiloes — The Colonel gives chase — Gets lost — Falls in with a herd of mustangs — A race with the mustangs — Reaches the Navasola river, where the mustangs leave him... 338 2

Chapter XXXIII. Pagb

The Colonel's mustang apparently very ill — The Colonel has a hard fight with a cougar, and kills him — Passes the night in a tree — Loses his mustang — Breakfasts on roast goose — Falls in with a party of Cumanches — Ride with them — Singular recovery of his mustang — A prairie on fire — Politeness of the Cumanches — Meeting with Thimblerig — Re-union of the whole party — Meeting with a band of Mexicans — A fight — The Mexicans beaten and put to flight — Arrival at the Alamo , 354

Chapter XXXIV

Description of the Alamo fortress and Bexar — Capture of the Alamo by the Texan army — Account of Colonel Bowie — His stratagem for deceiving the Cumanches — News of the approach of Santa Anna — History of Texas — Account of Santa Anna — His ambition — Anecdote — Siege of a convent 368

Chapter XXXV

Thimblerig on a spree — The mule train — News of Santa Anna — The ragged hunter — Unsuccessful attack on Tampico — Fate of the assailants — Approach of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — Siege of the Alamo commenced — Raising the Texan flag — Colonel Travis sends to Colonel Fanning for reinforcements — Reinforcements arrive — Thimblerig wounded — His revenge on the Mexicans — Colonel Bowie — The Bee Hunter cannonading — Provisions brought in — General Sesma's movements — Sharpshooting — Declaration of Independence — A sortie from the Alamo — End of Colonel Crockett's MS 378

Chapter XXXVI

Assault on the Alamo directed by Santa Anna — Desperate fighting — Six Americans survive — Crockett one of the number — Death of Thimblerig — Castrillon takes the prisoners to Santa Anna, who directs the massacre of the whole — Death of Col. Crockett — Of Col. Bowie — Of Col. Travis — Loss of the Mexicans at the Alamo — Battle of Goliad — Surrender of Col. Fanning — Massacre of the American prisoners — Ravages of the Mexicans on their march to San Jacinto — General Houston — Battle of San Jacinto — Total defeat of the Mexicans and capture of Santa Anna — Death of Col. Fanning 395

LIFE OF

COLONEL DAVID CROCKETT

Chapter I

Crockett's descent— His father a soldier in the Eevolutionary War — Fought at the battle of King's Mountain — Settles in Tennessee — Crockett's grandparents murdered by the Indians — One uncle wounded and another captured by the Indians — Birth of David Crockett — Early recollections — Narrow escape of his brothers from drowning — Shooting a man instead of a deer — His father's removals — Keeps a tavern — David hired to a Dutchman — Escapes from him in a snow storm — Mr. Dunn's kindness — David returns home.

As the public seem to feel some interest in the history of an individual so humble as I am, and as that history can be so well known to no person living as to myself, I have, after so long a time, and under many pressing solicitations from my friends and acquaintances, at last determined to put my own hand to it, and lay before the world a narrative on which they may at least rely as being true. And seeking no ornament or coloring for a plain, simple tale of truth, I throw aside all

20 Crockett's family.

hypocritical and fawning apologies, and according to my own maxim, just "^c* ahead.'' Where I am not known, I might, perhaps, gain some little credit by having thrown around this volume some of the flowers of learning ; but where I am known, the vile cheatery would soon be detected, and like the foolish jackdaw, that with borrowed tail attempted to play the peacock, I should be justly robbed of my pilfered ornaments, and sent forth to strut without a tail for the balance of my time. I shall commence my book with what little I have learned of the history of my father, as all great men rest many, if not most, of their hopes on their noble ancestry. Mine was poor, but I hoj)e honest, and even that is as much as many a man can say. But to my subject.

My father's name was John Crockett, and he was of Irish descent. He was either born in Ireland or on a passage from that country to America across the Atlantic. He was by profession a farmer, and spent the early part of his life in the State of Pennsylvania. .The name of my mother was Rebecca Hawkins. She was an American w^oman, born in the State of Maryland, between York and Baltimore. It is likely I may have heard where they were married, but if so, I have forgotten. It is, however, certain that they were, or else the public would never have been troubled with the history of David Crockett, their son.

I have an imperfect recollection of the part which I have understood my father took in the revolutionary war. I personally know nothing about it, for it happened to be a -little before my day; but from himself,

Crockett's family. 21

and many others who were well acquainted with its troubles and afflictions, I have learned that he was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and took part in that bloody struggle. He fought, according to my information, in the battle of King's Mountain, against the British and tories, and in some other engagements, of which my remembrance is too imperfect to enable me to speak with any certainty. At some time, though I cannot say certainly when, my father, as I have understood, lived in Lincoln county, in the State of North Carolina. How long I don't know. But when he removed from there, he settled in that district of country which is now embraced in the east division of Tennessee, though it was not then erected into a State.

He settled there under dangerous circumstances, both to himself and his family, as the country was full of Indians, who were at that time very troublesome. By the Creeks, my grandfather and grandmother Crockett were both murdered in their own house, and on the very spot of ground where Bogersville, in Hawkins county, now stands. At the same time, the Indians wounded Joseph Crockett, a brother to my father, by a ball, which broke his arm ; and took James a prisoner, who was still a younger brother than Joseph, and who, from natural defects, was less able to make his escape, as he was both deaf and dumb. He remained with them for seventeen years and nine months, when he was discovered and recollected by my father and his eldest brother, William Crockett ; and was purchased by them from an Indian trader, at a price which I do not now remember ; but so it was, that he was delivered up to i:-^ CROCKETT S FAMILY.

them, and they returned him to his reLatives. He now lives in Cumberland county, in the State of Kentucky, though I have not seen him for many years.

My father and mother had six sons and three daughters. I was the fifth son. What a pity I hadn't been the seventh ! For then I might have been, by common €07ise7it, called doctor, as a heap of people get to be great men. But, like many of them, I stood no chance to become great in any other way than by accident. As my father was very poor, and living as he did, far bach in the back ivoods, he had neither the means nor the opportunity to give me, or any of the rest of his children, any learning.

But before I get on the subject of my own troubles, and a great many very funny things that have happened to me, like all other historians and biographers, I should inform the public that I was born, myself, as well as other folks, and that this important event took place, according to the best information I have received on the subject, on the 17th of August, in the year 1786 ; whether by day or night, I believe I never heard, but if I did, I have forgotten. I suppose, however, it is not very material to my present purpose, nor to the world, as the more important fact is well attested, that I vfas born ; and, indeed, it might be inferred, from my present size and appearance, that I was pretty ivell born, though I have never yet attached myself to that numerous and worthy society.