revent our
crossing. But when the militia started to guard the bridge, they would
holler back to us to bring their knapsacks along when we came; for they
wanted to go as bad as we did. We got ready, and moved on till we came
near the bridge, where the General's men were all strung along on both
sides. But we all had our flints ready picked and our guns ready
primed, that, if we were fired on, we might fight our way through, or
all die together.

"When we came still nearer the bridge we heard the guards cocking their
guns, and we did the same. But we marched boldly on, and not a gun was
fired, nor a life lost. When we had passed, no further attempt was made
to stop us. We went on, and near Huntsville we met a reinforcement who
were going on to join the army. It consisted of a regiment of sixty-day
volunteers. We got home pretty safely, and in a short time we had
procured fresh horses, and a supply of clothing better suited for the
season."

The officers and soldiers ere long rendezvoused again at Fort Deposit.
Personally interested as every one was in subduing the Creeks, whose
hostility menaced every hamlet with flames and the inmates of those
hamlets with massacre, still the officers were so annoyed by the
arrogance of General Jackson that they were exceedingly unwilling to
serve again under his command.

Just as they came together, a message came from General Jackson,
demanding that, on their return, they should engage to serve for six
months. He regarded enlistment merely for sixty days as absurd. With
such soldiers, he justly argued that no comprehensive campaign could be
entered upon. The officers held a meeting to decide upon this question.
In the morning, at drum-beat, they informed the soldiers of the
conclusion they had formed. Quite unanimously they decided that they
would not go back on a six-months term of service, but that each
soldier might do as he pleased. Crockett writes:

"I know'd if I went back home I wouldn't rest for I felt it my duty to
be out. And when out, I was somehow or other always delighted to be in
the thickest of the danger. A few of us, therefore, determined to push
on and join the army. The number I do not recollect, but it was very
small."

When Crockett reached Fort Strother he was placed in a company of
scouts under Major Russel. Just before they reached the fort, General
Jackson had set out on an expedition in a southeasterly direction, to
what was called Horseshoe Bend, on t