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He then reported that they were having a fine crop of cotton, and that if all went well he would be
totally out of debt and have enough to build the new house.
The letter from Samuel to his mother dated December 1, 1858, contains a cryptic
comment about someone named ?John M.? who is by Samuel?s reckoning a ?grand scoundrel.?	/
[Letter reference], ff'Toie': In the 1861 Sheriffs sale, John Martin was awarded two judgments, in	\/
the amounts of $175 and $530.). In that regard, Andrew Jr. seems to have gone to Memphis, and
Samuel hoped ?he may be successful and every thing may be arranged satisfactory to him.?
Samuel also reported that the new building was progressing and that he was ginning the
cotton well with the old gin. The new one, however, was giving trouble. Wailes, in his 1852 visit
to Clifton, gives a detailed description of the ginning process, the gin probably being one of those
mentioned by Samuel. Wailes wrote: (Quote entire passage from p. 90, beginning :his ginning ?r	c
i	o
operation...??.)	?	"
Samuel was still optimistic about the crop. ?Our cotton I am confident will bring the first
price...? [Samuel Jackson to Sarah Jackson Clifton December 1st, 1858]. Other problems existed,
however: ?I am now giving my hands potatos <sic> instead of meal. I have but little com and
consequently have to be paring with it. And most of the mules look thin and badly they need high
feeding to get them up for spring plowing. I wish Pa could send me some com, as quick as he
can...? He then requests of his mother that she sell the ?ugliest? of his ponies as he is very much
cr	<?
in need of clothing: ?I am almost coatless, pantless, vestless, &c.? A year earlier, \yfe remember^ <>, he was still growing.
Perhaps related to the financial problems stated above was the incident, sometime in the year 1858, when Andrew Jr. had separated a slave named George from his wife, selling them to different owners. The new owner of George was one Dr. John Donelson Martin, possibly a relative of Rachel Jackson, Andrew Jr.?s adoptive mother. In order to reunite the pair, Martin bought George?s wife from Nathan Bedford Forrest, a highly successful slave dealer.223
On December 26th, Samuel was happy to inform his mother of a surprise visit to Clifton by his father, his brother and Dr. Lawrence (his brother-in-law, husband of sister Rachel). It was, however, a short visit. A comment about Andrew Ill?s military status is curious. ?I thought brother of course had resigned, when I saw him, but there is but one thing that will cause him to resign, and that you know.? It may have been that already loyalty to the government of the United States was beginning to wane.
After inquiring about his mother?s Christmas, Samuel wrote that he had been invited to ?take my dinner with judge Ogden but did not accept the invitation, they had a dance there also