CHAPTER 14
OLD HICKORY TAKES A LITTLE TRIP
The Spanish Empire was collapsing. In Mexico, a new dictator was uniting the warring factions under his control. But meanwhile, the situation in the Southron lands was coming to a head in August of 1827. Virginian President Henry Clay was refusing to back down in Cuba and claimed he was doing his "neighborly duty" by "defending Cuba in its time of need." Once more, on August 12, Chancellor Jackson asked President Clay to withdraw his troops and bring about "a negotiated international occupation force until the time at which Cuba is ready to enter the circle of sovereign Southron republics."
This whole situation was a
nightmare for Caesar Napoleon. He was now not only dealing with the collapse of the entire Spanish Empire and trying to keep an eye on every single new nation popping up, including the upstart "Mexican Napoleon" trying to build an empire in Mexico, but now having to settle a dispute between formerly good and loyal allies. Now, while sending troops to South and Central America and Hispaniola, he worried that they would have to pass through a war-torn Gulf. This was the last thing he wanted, and French envoys in Charlotte appeared before Chancellor Jackson, Colonel Calhoun, and the House of Citizens, begging Jackson to stand down.
"Gentlemen of the Carolinas, remember your kinship! Remember the Old South! Remember how you are brothers. Your fathers fought the Revolution, with France's help. In the memory of Lafayette, we implore you to stand down!"
-Ambassador Manuel Mallette
Jackson, in turn, rose and spoke to the ambassadors:
"Gentlemen of France, I understand our peoples fought alongside one another in the past. I understand you do not want to see blows come between us. But I fear our ancient friendship is over, a relic of the past. France perverted international justice by giving the damnyankees Canadian dirt, and Virginia is perverting international justice by colonizing the Republic of Cuba without any consultation of its allies. This problem is at its zenith, and I expect the only way down is war. The Carolinas do not seek war with France. Though the Canadian Folly was not a healthy result for the Confederation, we do not feel any need to combat France in any way. In the event of war, we will respect French sovereignty and trade just as before, but any ships carrying Virginian supplies or cargo may be seized as we see fit. This is an unfortunate situation which the fair lands of our Confederation did not ask. I have personally begged the President of Virginia to remove his troops from Cuba. He has refused. If there is not some confirmation that Virginia is withdrawing those same troops by September, the Carolinas and the Republic of Virginia are at war. God help us all, and may God bless our fair lands."
Disheartened, the French envoys left. All present knew Clay wasn't going to stand down now and look weak. Jackson was too power-hungry a man to let have his way in such affairs. If given an inch, he would take a mile and soon start bossing Virginia around in all matters, at least the politicians in Richmond said.
Fervor in the CoCaro was palpable, and flags adorned every porch. Thousands of men from the cities and the far backwoods rushed to the colors of the moon and stars, ready for war. The people loved Jackson, and saw Virginia failing to back down as a personal slight against their own honor and the honor of their nation. In town squares, shako-wearing officers, resplendent in their finest uniforms, recruited off the streets. Drummers beat the tunes of ancient battle hymns and the sound of horses trotting on cobblestones rang loud and clear. It was a nation on the brink of war.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, the people also flocked to the colors, though many were wary of going to war with the CoCaro when they shared a border with the Republican Union. Henry Clay was a very popular president, but many feared the whole Cuba ordeal was becoming a fiasco. If Virginia went to war with Jackson, Cuba would almost certainly rebel, forcing them to fight a two-front war. Even worse, Georgia, with its large Caribbean holdings, was refusing to take a side and asked both Clay and Jackson to respect their neutrality. If not for the very Cuban holdings they were fighting over, Virginia would likely win handily. But having to supply men and ships to Cuba would mean a two-front war, one less likely to end in a favorable result. In the end, many just said their prayers and readied their muskets for the defense of Old Virginia.
Carolinian troops circa 1827
Virginian troops circa 1827
Jackson wasn't a stupid man, and knew full-well that by creating a two-front war, he might be able to rapidly thrust for Richmond. If he even laid siege to Richmond he knew Virginia would ask for terms. He would probably accept them, but a part of him really did want to storm Richmond and hang Henry Clay. He also knew his people would follow him to the death, following his orders unblinkingly and without hesitation. At last, September dawned, and the Virginian troops remained in Cuba. On September 5, 1827, the Confederation of the Carolinas declared war upon the Republic of Virginia.
Immediately, as soon as the declaration of war was read to the men, 10,000 well-trained but green Carolinian troops crossed the border from Murfreesboro, North Carolina, to assault Virginian static fortifications at Boykins, Virginia. Out west, skirmishers and light cavalry crossed from the greater Nashville region of West Carolina to make a drive at Bowling Green. Their job was not to capture Bowling Green, but to harass the Virginian army there and to make them think a two-pronged attack was coming. In reality, Kentucky was a backwater to Jackson. He wanted Richmond.
When the armies of Virginia and the Confederation met for the first time at Boykins, the two sides faced each other over an open field, in the timeless European way. Trumpets blared, drums were beating, and men cheered as officers galloped past, waving their bicornes and wide-brimmed hats in the air. Both sides stared each other down. Artillery dotted the field, surrounded by crude stakes to deter cavalry attacks. The commanding officers of the Virginian Army, led by General Winfield Scott, trotted out to the Carolinian ranks under a flag of truce. The Carolinian commander, General Horatio Fox, accepted their truce and met peacefully. After a brief conversation and a shot of whiskey all around, Scott and his officers returned to their lines.
With a voice like raspy thunder, Scott bellowed to his men, "Fix bayonets! The Gentlemen of the Army will advance and face the enemy! You same gentlemen are expected to hold your ground. C'mon boys! For Old Virginia!" Hooting and hollering, drums beating, the gray-uniformed troops of the Virginian army marched ahead.
The Confederation's lines stood motionless, a palpable fear hung over the greener recruits. The older troops stood stoic, expressionless. Finally, General Fox raised his sword in the air and instructed his men, "Men of the Confederation! Fix bayonets and prepare for volley fire! God speed!" The hordes of green and blue packed together tightly and readied to fire. The neatly-uniformed gray Virginian troops kept marching ahead, white plumes resplendent, buckles glistening in the sun. Finally, the orders came.
Fire!
Gray soldiers fell.
Fire!
More.
Fire!
Smoke filled the battlefield.
Reload!
As the cloud of gunpowder cleared in the light noontime breeze, the Carolinians could see the carnage they had inflicted. Dozens of Virginian troops lay slain. But the main force was getting
very close and was still in one piece. Just then, the Virginian field pieces opened up a vicious cannonade. Shells landed directly on the Carolinian ranks, mercilessly ripping through the men like pieces of meat. The Virginia Military Institute trained its gunners well. Next, the Virginian Army opened fire with a full musket volley. As the Carolinians desperately reloaded and withstood the artillery blasts, their numbers were rapidly dwindling as the Virginian bullets shredded through them.
Fox himself rode up to the front ranks as he could see morale was plummeting. Many of these soldiers were merely boys who idolized Chancellor Jackson. They wanted to be heroes and bring glory to his name and that of their country. But as Fox looked around, he saw the terrified faces of frightened children. One lad walked leisurely in front of him, his arm gone from a cannonball and eyes dilated. Still others he could see falling back, deserting the fight. The Virginians opened up another volley, deadlier than before. A shell whizzed overhead, bursting in the sunshine, sending shrapnel raining down and killing one of his best officers. It was a massacre. Fox was ashamed, but he knew he would have no choice but to retreat in the face of such well-trained enemy troops. They stood no chance. Even more troops were scurrying away from the fight. Virginian cavalry were rapidly approaching as well, undoubtedly about to make an attempt at cutting his line in two. This was it, he thought, retreat was the only option.
A voice rang out through the din of battle. A voice so distinct and obnoxiously Southron it couldn't have belonged to anyone else.
"C'mon, boys! The Moon and Stars don't run! SEND 'EM HELL!"
It couldn't be. But it was. Chancellor Jackson himself was bringing up the rear with his most loyal cavalry detachment, the Confederation Guard. Banners streaming, the leader of the Confederation charged forward, sword and pistol in each hand, flanked by 200 Guardsmen. They smashed in on the Virginians' left flank, catching them completely by surprise and cutting them down like straws. Screams of horror carried through the Virginian ranks.
"Old Hickory was come up from Hell to kill Virginians." The dictator was here to carry the day or die trying.
Winfield Scott tries to rally his retreating troops at the Battle of Boykins
Meanwhile, in the Carolinian ranks, morale suddenly soared. Just seeing Jackson charge into the fray was enough for some to come sprinting back to the ranks. Some men who had deserted earlier sneakily made their way around the battlefield and came up behind the Virginian artillery fieldworks and captured them. Now, they turned the guns on the Virginians' backs. In the first barrage the Virginian cavalry, who were attempting to stop Jackson' assault on the left flank, were completely exposed and annihilated by shrapnel shells. As their cavalry was decimated, the Virginian infantry started to falter. Encouraged even more, the young boys in blue and green gave them hell, thrusting with bayonets and beating with clubs and swords.
At last, the Virginians had had all they could stomach and turned and ran, their main battleflag falling on the field. General Fox captured the flag and brought it before Jackson. Now, with both his own nation's banner and the Virginians' flying high overhead, Jackson gave chase, cutting down Virginian troops all the way to Emporia. For miles, a stream of terrorized men in gray uniforms felt cold steel. It was a total rout.
As night fell, the Confederation finally stopped their pursuit and pitched camp. Jackson rode in front of his battered and bruised troops, waving his bloody sword in the air. Cheers filled the air. Men who had thought all was lost just hours earlier now had more faith than ever in their cause.
"Men! You have fought gallantly here today! Every citizen makes his country's honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defense. Gentlemen, I say to you I am willing! Are the gentlemen of the Confederation willing, by damn?"
Lifting their guns and swords in the air, a chorus of demonic screeches arose from the young troops.
"Today we defeated a force twice our size, and twice as well equipped and trained. Let's get some rest, my boys. For we have a war ahead of us. But something else lies ahead of us, too. Eternal glory and a bloody damn city by the name of Richmond!"
"HANG HENRY CLAY! HANG HENRY CLAY!" was the chant that now echoed through the army. General Fox, his face and uniform smeared in blood, found himself chanting along...
In 1827 we took a little trip
Along with Chancellor Jackson into the Empire of Virginia
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we beat the bloody Virginians all across America
We fired our guns and the Virginians kept a-comin'
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
The Chancellor rode in and they began to runnin'
And we kept marchin' up north to tell Henry Clay hello
We looked across Boykins and we see the Virginians come
And there must have been a hundred of 'em beatin' on the drum
They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring
We stood 'neath the Moon and Stars and didn't say a thing
We fired our guns and the Virginians kept a-comin'
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they began to runnin'
And we went marchin' north to lay Clay low
Old Hickory rode in and took 'em by surprise
A charge so glorious we could scarce believe our eyes
Twas then we could see we had won the day and well
we drew our swords and buckknives and sent 'em all to Hell
Yeah they ran through the briers and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't run
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Now on to Richmond to get this war done
-Popular song of the Confederation during the Virginian-Carolinian War
