His plan was to fall suddenly upon these settlements,
strike terror into the inhabitants, and force a peace on terms that
would guarantee the safety of the frontier populations. Supplies were
slow to arrive, and Jackson fumed and stormed. He quarreled
desperately, too, with Cocke, whom he unjustly blamed for
mismanagement. But at last he was able to emerge on the banks of the
Coosa and build a stockade, Fort Strother, to serve as a base for the
campaign.
During the months that followed, the intrepid leader was compelled to
fight two foes--his insubordinate militiamen and the Creeks. His
command consisted partly of militia and partly of volunteers,
including many men who had first enlisted for the expedition down the
Mississippi. Starvation and disease caused loud murmurings, and after
one or two minor victories had been won the militiamen took it into
their heads to go back home. Jackson drew up the volunteers across the
mutineers' path and drove them back to the camp. Then the volunteers
started off, and the militia had to be used to bring them back! At one
time the furious general faced a mutinous band single-handed and,
swearing that he would shoot the first man who stirred, awed the
recalcitrants into obedience.
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