Broadside Regarding the Execution of Militia Men
This broadside, entitled A Brief Account of the Execution of the Six Militia Men recounts the story, as told by an eye-witness, of the six who were executed in February of 1815 under the orders of General Andrew Jackson. The broadside discusses in detail Colonel Russell's (who oversaw the execution) feelings on the matter, the pleas of Harris and Lewis, two of the militia men, and of Lewis not dying immediately after being shot. The document goes on to state that after some debate the House Committee on Military Affairs in Washington have decided to publish the documents regarding of the militia men’s cases and ends with the story of Sergeant Morrow, one of the militia men, who was pardoned by General Taylor not long before being sentenced for the same offence.
Dates
- 1828
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet
Abstract
This broadside, entitled A Brief Account of the Execution of the Six Militia Men recounts the story, as told by an eye-witness, of the six who were executed in February of 1815 under the orders of General Andrew Jackson. The document states that the House Committee on Military Affairs in Washington have decided to publish the documents regarding the militia men’s cases and goes on to describe the case of Sergeant Morrow, one of the militia men involved.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Democratic Press of Philadelphia, Penn. was a daily newspaper published from 1807 to 1829. The six militia men mentioned in the broadside were sentenced to execution for abandoning their posts in 1815 during the Creek Campaign. The sentencing, approved by General Andrew Jackson, was controversial, as the men claimed to believe that they were only obligated to serve for 3 months. In 1828, General Jackson ran for President, and many believe the documentation of this event was published by the House Committee on Military Affairs in Washington in an attempt to hurt his campaign.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
This broadside was purchased by the University of Tennessee on January 6, 2010.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository