JACKSON, Andrew (1767-1845). Autograph letter signed (''Andrew Jackson'') to Thomas L. Butler, Nashville, 12 August 1817.

JACKSON, Andrew (1767-1845). Autograph letter signed ("Andrew Jackson") to Thomas L. Butler, Nashville, 12 August 1817.

Three pages, 252 x 200mm, bifolium (light soiling, wear to extremities with a few areas of loss along mailing folds and left margin of third page, lightly reinforced on verso, separated at spine fold), with integral transmittal leaf addressed in Jackson's hand. Housed in a custom clamshell case.

Andrew Jackson accuses John Adair of "false statements" concerning the conduct of his regiment at the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson requests Butler's assistance in refuting charges published by John Adair in the Kentucky Reporter, in which he blames Jackson for allowing his men to go into battle with insufficient numbers and arms, prompting them to retreat from their position along the Rodriguez Canal during the Battle of New Orleans. Following the battle, Jackson accused Adair and his Kentuckians with cowardice prompting Adair to make the aforementioned accusations in his defense. Jackson resolved to publish a response, "but reflection induced me to think it more magnanimous, to give it to him first, let him take his stand, & shape his course." Observing that two weeks had passed with no response from Adair, Jackson promised his response would be published "in the Clarion next week. It contains facts, is pretty tough but the Genl. well deserves it, from his false statements, & double contact with me."

“In my letter to him, I have stated your report to me, 'that no arms were obtained by him from the Exempt corps, to your knowledge, untill [sic] after the Battle of the of the 8th of January,' that this corps were under your command by my order, and that they reported solely to you' – that after the Battle of the 8th of January, which placed New Orleans, as was believed, in safety; I directed you to obtain those arms from the Exempt Corps, to place them in the hands of Genl [John][ Coffee's [Tennessean] Brigade & the Kentuckians which you report to me was done – one hundred delivered to Genl. Coffee' Brigade and about 230 or 35 to the Kentuckians, that the Exempt corps amounted to from 300 or 350 thereabout. These are the facts as they occurred., these are as you have stated them to me Dr Bronaugh & Col. Butler – and as I have stated them to Genl. Adair –"

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