The incidents and results of this celebrated horse-race did not in the least discredit Jackson in the estimation of the people where it occurred, as was shown long afterward. While it was difficult to exaggerate the great victory gained over the British at New Orleans by Gen. Jackson, still it was somewhat exaggerated by the time the news of it reached Jonesboro. Some few days after the first account of the battle had reached the town--in a letter from a Knoxville gentleman to a friend in Jonesboro--some court day or other public occasion had caused quite a crowd to collect in town, and the gentleman who had received the letter was requested to make a public announcement of its contents to the anxious and excited populace. This he did in front of the court-house. The excitement was at blood heat, but perfect silence and order prevailed while the gentleman was making his speech--for such it was, as he did not actually read the letter. The substance of the speech was that Gen. Jackson had killed the whole of the British army on the battle-field, except a few who were driven into the Mississippi river and drowned; that he had captured all of their arms and ships, and had taken his own army on board the vessels, and was then on the high seas on his way to take possession of England. At this point, which was the conclusion of the speech, an old man of sixty, standing near the speaker, threw his hat into the air, and jumping excitedly up and down, shouted: “Whoop-pee! hurrah for Andy Jackson, hell and thunder! I knowed, the day I seed him ride that hoss-race in Greasy Cove, that he could whup anybody!” The scene that followed was without a precedent in the history of the town, not even the return of Sevier with his conquering heroes from King’s Mountain having caused more rejoicing and celebrating. From and after that time, the exclamation of Gen. Jackson’s enthusiastic admirer became a saying in the country round about; and when news of an earthquake, the burning of a town or city, the sinking of a ship at sea with all on board, would be told to some not over-reverent citizen, he would exclaim, “Andy Jackson, hell and thunder!” as the only words adequate to express his feelings on the reception of news of such a catastrophe.