On top of this came the tidings that the brigade of troops left at Fort Strother to protect those wounded at Tallushatchee had been ordered away by the commander of another division which was also operating in the hostile country. Jackson was never a man of mild temper; and seeing the result of all his work snatched from him in this way caused him to burst into a furious denunciation of all concerned. Raging like a baffled lion he fell back on Fort Strother. Even his friends advised him to continue his retreat to Fort Deposit on the Tennessee. “You cannot maintain your army here,” he was told. “Go on falling back until you have accumulated enough supplies; then you can push on once more.” But the stubborn spirit of Jackson was aroused. Weakened as he was by his wound, haggard, worn and really in a dangerous state due to his over-exertion, still he was resolved to retreat no further. “I’ll hold my position at the Ten Islands,” declared he, “if we have to live on acorns.” Because of this inefficiency of those who were in charge of the army’s supplies, and because of the loose nature of the terms under which his men had volunteered, General Jackson was soon plunged into a series of crises which would have broken the spirit of a less powerful man. Besides the Tennessee militia, there was a body of men in his force known as the United States volunteers; these troops, because of the lack of food, demanded to be led back to the border. There is no doubt that the army was in a wretched condition, needing not only food, but clothes and shoes as well. However, General Jackson realized that if they were allowed to have their way, the chances were against the advance ever being resumed. So without hesitation he refused to sanction the demand. Officers and men joined together in a renewal of the petition, giving their reasons in detail. In great anger the commander again refused. “We were sent out to subdue the hostile Creeks,” said he, sternly, “and until that is done we shall not turn our backs upon the wilderness!” Finding him unyielding, the militia now became mutinous; they broke ranks and doggedly prepared to take the trail back to the border. But like lightning Jackson acted. “Forward, volunteers!” he cried, drawing his sword. “We shall see who is commander here.” The volunteers threw themselves across the path of the dissatisfied militia with ready rifles. Seeing that blood would be shed, and not desiring any such extreme action, the militia officers advised their men to give up their purpose. Sullenly the militia obeyed, and so the first of the mutinies at Fort Strother was at an end. A little later discontent broke out once more; this time it was the volunteers, and it was the militia, now loyal to the commander, who were called upon to put the outbreak down.