This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

145
The Russ Place
1858
In February 1858, Samuel returned with his father to Clifton. It took them thirteen days to come from Nashville, after a brief stay in New Orleans. They had hired a schooner to take things (possibly furnishing from the Hermitage), to go to Mulatto Bayou^jjSamuel?s homecoming was marred by a disturbing event. Sometime before his trip north, Samuel had taken in two puppies. Although he found them well on his arrival, he presently heard one of them, named Bounce, barking. A snake, probably a rattler, had apparently just bitten the other dog, Dash. Samuel called Ben (the omnipresent and therefore probably senior or most trusted slave) and together they gave Dash some brandy ?but he commenced swelling very rapidly and in half an hour he was dead...I feel lonesome and lost because I cant see him. I feel as if I had lost an old friend.? [Letter reference].
This was by far not the least tragedy to befall the Jacksons in 1858, just as they were
settling on the Gulf Coast. After recounting his loss to Sarah, Samuel advised his mother that
Andrew Jr. would probably be back in Nashville before the letter arrived. He had spent only two
or three days at Clifton before going to Mobile, with plans to go to New Orleans after that. Before
leaving, Jackson had sent some of his workers to the Russ Place, with the intention of renovating
the house in preparation for Sarah?s move there./Sarah drd^av that Clifton was better than she
'	p >s pct~,
thought^ py now they clearly wanted to live elsewhere. Andrew Jr. must have been/distressed^ytC
Clifton, and perhaps the move to the Russ Place had always been in the plan.^
On March 30, 1858, Col Claiborne sent very distressing news to Samuel. From his place at Laurel Wood^ Claiborne had seen the eerie glow to the east and learned that the Russ Place was on fire. Samuel wrote first to his sister (March 31), telling of ?...the entire destruction of the Dwelling on the Russ place by fire last night. Col Claiborne had the kindness to send me word to day of the entire destruction of the Dwelling on the Russ place, by fire last night. The repairs were just compleated (sic), the Carpenters had finished their work, and the painters would have finished to day. The painters bearly (sic) saved them selves, they awakened as the roof was falling in, and escaped by jumping from the window in their night clothes, their paint clothing &c burned up. Some persons attribute the fire by accident, but it was no such thing.?
i.. >ra/
?can-get-aways? made their aasttal trek to the coastal areas.