Some time after the settling of this second uprising of the hungry soldiers, Jackson received word that a large store of supplies had arrived at the depot on the Tennessee. Feeling sure that they would at once be forwarded, the general said to his officers: “Food is at hand; if it is not here in two days, I will consent to fall back.” But in counting upon the promptness of the contractors, Jackson made a mistake. The supplies did not reach Fort Strother upon the day set; and bitterly disappointed he was forced to give the word to take the border trail. But even then he had not entirely given up. “I remain behind if only two men will stay with me.” Instantly a half dozen, Jack Davis and Frank Lawrence among them, stepped forward. Jackson’s deep-set eyes glowed. “Volunteers!” he cried, sweeping the ranks with his stern gaze. “Volunteers to hold Fort Strother against the Creeks!” In a few minutes one hundred and nine men had responded; and the army to the tap of a single drum set off for the border. It now looked as though the thing were at an end; but not so. Barely a dozen miles from the fort the returning soldiers met a large herd of cattle being driven forward. This was the meat expected by the general; delighted, the soldiers halted, killed what they required and settled themselves for a feast. But when they had finished and had formed to resume their homeward march they were astonished to receive the command to face about and return to the fort. At once they rebelled. But General Jackson was on the ground, and at once took the situation in hand. “Men!” he cried, one hand uplifted, “you have the food you required. In the future things will be better. Turn back. The work the border requires of you is yet to be done.” A cry of dogged protest went up from the men; one company, in spite of its officers, started forward. With blazing eyes, Jackson rode forward, some of his followers at his side. “I’ll give you ten seconds to turn back,” he shouted, as he rushed his horse at them. Sullenly, doggedly, muttering their anger, the company fell back upon the main body. No move was made homeward by any of the others; but at the same time neither did they show any disposition to face about as ordered and march back to the fort. General Jackson threw himself from horse, the pain of his wounded arm forgotten; and he stalked among the rebellious troops with bent brows and blazing eyes.