Part 4

Nothing more clearly reflects Jackson's unquenchable spirit than the prompt and effective manner in which he set about arranging for the rebuilding of his home. His genius for organization--his talent for getting things done, even at a long distance from the scene of activity--here plainly manifested itself. "Let workmen be employed forthwith to repair it," he wrote Andrew; and then he sat down and wrote to his friend, Colonel Armstrong, asking him to get in behind the making of a contract for the rebuilding. Apparently Colonel Armstrong called into consultation another of Jackson's friends, Colonel Chas. J. Love, for in January, 1835, Colonel Love wrote to the President that "a contract has been made with Messrs. Rife and Hume for the rebuilding of the house at the Hermitage. Every care has been taken to have the contract made so full and plain that it can not be misunderstood. The materials are to be good and the work executed in the best possible style. Mr. Hume is now up the country to make engagements for the lumber that it may got down in time to have it well seasoned before the work is put together--then Colonel and myself will keep a strict lookout that the work is done agreeable to contract. Colonel Armstrong and myself understand the contract so well that it can not be misunderstood. It was talked over and over again and agreed on not only in writing but verbally, and all the alterations are to be made agreeable to our view of them. The house is large and we got the best bargain we could."

The "Rife and Hume" referred to in Colonel Love's letter were Joseph Reiff and William C. Hume, the carpenter-contractors who were then employed in constructing the handsome home which General Jackson was having built near by, on the Tulip Grove Farm, for his wife's nephew, Andrew Jackson Donelson. Messrs. Reiff and Hume are mentioned in Stockley Donelson's letter telling the news of the fire as having been in the Hermitage at the time it started, and it is not improbable that they were living there while the new house at Tulip Grove was being built. It would have been characteristic of General Jackson to offer them the hospitality of his home while they were engaged in the nearby work.

The agreement for the rebuilding of the Hermitage was specifically made out in the name of Andrew Jackson, junior, in deference to the General's strong desire to have Andrew assume a man's responsibility in the management of the estate; but the fine Italian hands of Colonel Armstrong and Colonel Love are to be seen in the careful phraseology of the document and the prudent safeguards thrown about the carpenters' performance. "Col. Armstrong and myself understand the contract," wrote Colonel Love; and the published correspondence reveals how faithfully Colonel Armstrong kept in behind the matter, watching all the details of building and furnishing, and carrying the whole thing through to completion.

The rebuilding agreement provides an interesting reflection of the manner in which such activities were carried on a hundred years ago, and as such is worth reproducing in full:

January 1, 1835.

Memorandum of agreement made and concluded upon this first day of January, 1835, between Joseph Reiff and William C. Hume of the one part and Andrew Jackson, Jr., of the other part, all of the County of Davidson and State of Tennessee.

Article 1st. The said Reiff and Hume, (carpenters), have undertaken to rebuild the Hermitage house and east wing of said house, to do all the carpenters' work of said house, and to find and furnish all the lumber, plank, scantling, and nails, brads, sprigs, hinges, bolts and in fact everything required to rebuild the same, except the glass, locks and copper. The lumber, flooring, etc., etc., to be done of the best quality and all well seasoned. The carpenters' work to be done in the best and most approved and workmanlike manner, for which the said Andrew Jackson, Jr., agrees to pay the said Reiff and Hume in cash the sum of $3,950, as the work progresses.

Article 2nd. The house to be rebuilt in the same order that it was before, with four rooms and passage below and four rooms and passage above. The garret rooms and the stairs from the garret to the walk on the top of the house to be finished in a plain way. The walk on the house to be the same mentioned in the plan and finished with a neat and appropriate banister or railing. The joists in all the different rooms to be bridged.

Article 3rd. Here follows an estimate of work and cost, and in case any of it should not be done or should be abandoned a deduction is to be made from the aforesaid sum of $3,800:

Bill of Carpenter's Work

2 cellar doors and frames, at $3 each $ 6.00 40 lintels for doors and windows at 25c 10.00 Framing 76 sqr joists at 75c per square 57.00 830 feet of washboards at 11c per foot 85.00 53½ sqr of poplar flooring at $2.50 per square 133.75 8 chimney pieces at $10 each 80.00 13 doors, cased with pilasters, at $12 156.00 2 large folding doors, 10 or 12 feet, at $30 60.00 2 front doors at $30 60.00 8 windows, recessed pilasters to casing, at $10 80.00 9 " not recessed, at $6 54.00 17 double boxed window frames at $4.50 76.50 17 pair of Venetian shutters at $6 102.00 408 lights of sash, 10x14 glass, at 10c 40.80 4 garret windows complete at $8 32.00 32 sqr of framing, sheeting and shingling at $2.50 80.00 128 feet of cornice, at $1 128.00 50 feet of verge boards, 12½c 6.25 Framing and laying open floor and ceiling and hand-rail 140.00 and balustrading walk on house, 60x12 or 14 feet Trap door, steps in garret and skylight 15.00 1 circular staircase, two stories high 260.00 1 private staircase 30.00 4 presses at $12 48.00 First story of front porch with 6 columns, etc. 256.00 Second " " " 75.00 One back portico 40.00

Work on Wing

Framing 22 sqr of joists at 75c 16.50 " 15 sqr of shingling at $2.50 37.50 Laying 10 sqr of poplar flooring at $2.50 25.00 180 feet of washboard at 10c 18.00 2 chimney pieces at $10 20.00 3 doors cased with pilasters at $12 36.00 4 18-light windows with shutters at $16.50 66.00 1 Venetian window 16.00 100 feet of cornice at 50c 50.00 $2,396.30 Add one-fourth for boarding 599.07 $2,995.37 See estimate of lumber 804.63 $3,800.00 Add for pulleys, weights, cord, hinges and screws 150.00 $3,950.00

Article 4th. The main stairs to be circular, or geometrical, the work to be done in the best and most approved style. A private staircase from the room below called the steward's room to the chambers above, a folding door in the rooms north as you enter the passage below, a door from the room to the President's office, with a small passage spoken of by the said Andrew not yet determined on. The front and back porch to be finished as before, the columns of the former to be fluted and the cornice and so forth to correspond with the estimate annexed. The east wing, office, steward's room and passage to the garden to be finished on the former plan. The said Andrew furnishing locks for the building, using such of the old ones as will answer for the upper story and furnishing new ones for the lower, Reiff and Hume putting on all the locks.

Article 5th. The said Reiff and Hume agree to take and put into the second story any of the old work saved that may be thought to serve to answer and pay the value of the same. They also agree to take all the lumber, plank, etc., that the said Andrew has now on hand as cash paid in part of his contract.

Article 6th. It is hereby understood that the said Reiff and Hume bind themselves to make a complete finish of the carpenters' work of the said building, pay all expenses of turning, using cedar timber where it is necessary, the contract to be fulfilled agreeable to the plan given, and to the express understanding made and agreed upon in the presence of Col. Love and Robert Armstrong.

Article 7th. The dimensions of the rooms, the size of the windows, and a minute description of work to be done is not mentioned in this article, but it is understood by the parties in the presence of the above named gentlemen.

Article 8th. It is agreed upon that when the lumber, plank, etc., is delivered the said Andrew will furnish the money to pay for the same and will continue to make payment as the work progresses.

Article 9th. The said Reiff and Hume are to purchase the lumber and commence the work immediately, and further agree that the carpenters' work shall be so forwarded as to let the plasterers in to commence their job by the first or middle of September next, so that the house can be completely finished by 25 December, 1835.

As no contract has been made for the painting, the said Andrew will have the priming done as fast as the work goes on.

It is understood that there is to be the same number of large fluted columns in front as formerly if thought necessary, and it is further understood that the said Reiff and Hume will do all and everything in relation to the carpenters' work of said building as though every item had been separately specified, making a complete finish of the carpenters' and joiners' work of said building, finding everything except the articles of locks and glass heretofore mentioned.

In witness we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 1st of January, 1835.

Joseph Reiff William C. Hume

The work was got under way at once, but the building was not declared completed until the summer of 1836--more than eighteen months after the reconstruction was started. "Hands can not be got," Colonel Armstrong wrote Jackson during the summer of 1835, "still we are doing the best we can." It was the era of inflation and easy money, and labor was scarce. So the work dragged along; and, as is not unusual in building operations, the cost of the finished job considerably exceeded the original estimate. Colonel Armstrong in his first letter expressed the opinion that the work could be done for $2,000 or $2,500; in a later letter he said "$2,500 or $3,000 will complete the whole work"; the contract with Reiff and Hume was at a figure of $3,950; and when the final settlement was made the total was $5,125--not including $900 for plastering and $400 for painting. To add to the General's troubles at this time came a calamitous failure of the cotton crop and he wrote sadly to Andrew about the necessity for economizing. "Unless the farm produces enough to pay its own expenses, my means here will be fully exhausted in paying for the finishing of the house and restoring to it the furniture destroyed."

There were a few minor changes in the plans as the work progressed including one suggested by Major William B. Lewis, Jackson's closest political friend, who expressed the view that "the stories of the house should be made higher." Colonel Armstrong wrote: "I think it would be an improvement and add very much to the appearance of the house." On this subject General Jackson wrote to Andrew: "I would be satisfied to see it restored to what it was before it burnt, but as I know I shall not be long on earth to enjoy its comforts in retirement, I enclose his letter on this point to you that you may exercise your own discretion." Major Lewis carried his point; the stories were made higher. Also during the course of the work, at the suggestion of the helpful Major, some changes were made in the size and arrangement of the windows. The new windows, he wrote Jackson, "are of very pretty size and proportions, and will look much better than the old ones." He added that in his opinion the house as rebuilt would be a great improvement over the old one, both in interior arrangement and exterior appearance.

At last, on August 2, 1836, Colonel Armstrong rendered to General Jackson a final statement of the expense of rebuilding:

Estimate of bills of the Hermitage House, with the amount paid and balances due 1 June:

For amount of Reiff and Hume bill per agreement contract $3,950 For extra work done upon change of plan 239 For work done on west wing and new kitchen, finding 186 everything For the full-length two-story porch added, finding 750 everything $5,125 To cash paid Reiff and Hume at sundry times $2,285 ditto paid 25 April 1,000 ditto paid by A Jackson in work 513 ditto paid June 24 500 $4,298 $ 827 For Amt bill Higgins plastering $900 To cash paid Higgins in part $500 ditto ditto June 24 225 725 175 For Amt bill of painting, paints, oils, etc. $400 To cash paid Horn and Wells (Horn 100) $188 do paid Horn 50 do paid Wells 25 263 137 Do paid Horn 2nd of August 1836 pd by A. J. jr. 85 $ 52

"The house is well built and convenient and in appearance greatly improved upon the old one," Colonel Armstrong wrote Jackson upon its completion; and so the old General found it when he returned to the Hermitage in June, 1836.

When the fire occurred Andrew, junior, and his family went to live temporarily at the nearby Hunter's Hill place, but later took a house in Nashville. In November, 1834, Mrs. Jackson and the children went to Washington to spend the winter in the White House, with interspersed trips to Philadelphia to visit her family and buy furniture for the Hermitage, but Andrew stayed in Nashville to look after the rebuilding work. He joined Sarah and the children for a vacation with the President at the Rip Raps in July and August, 1835, but he came back to Nashville in September.

III: RESCUE AND RESTORATION

Those who believe in special dispensations of Fate affecting human affairs must feel that there has ever been watching over the Hermitage some kindly guardian angel to protect it from the wasting touch of time and especially to frustrate the numerous and varied efforts that have been made to utilize it for some purpose which would have made it impossible to maintain it as a national shrine for patriotic Americans.

Andrew Jackson had been dead hardly ten years before it was proposed to convert his old home into a military school. Immediately following the War Between the States, during the Reconstruction period, it was suggested that it would be an ideal location for a home for Federal soldiers. Later it was selected as the proper place for a Confederate veterans' home. Then some misguided persons wanted to establish a reform school and penal farm there. Still later a movement was started to convert the plantation into a model farm for educational purposes. These were but a few of the plans advanced for making use of the Hermitage; but in every instance a benevolent Providence intervened and helped to preserve it as simply the home of the patriotic old pioneer Tennessean whose burning love for his country transcended every other emotion.

When General Jackson died in 1845 he left the entire Hermitage estate to his adopted son, Andrew Jackson, junior. When the old General made his last will in 1843 one of his closest friends, Major W. B. Lewis, who felt no restraint in volunteering his advice, offered the suggestion that for the protection of the interests of the adopted son's wife and children it might be advisable to leave a part of the estate to them in some such way as to insure their continued comfort and security "in case his son's speculations should continue to be unsuccessful." But Jackson's sense of loyalty to his adopted son was so great that he refused to entertain this suggestion. "No," he said firmly, "that would show a lack of confidence in Andrew;" and, pointing to his wife's tomb in the garden, he continued: "If she were alive she would wish him to have it, and to me her wish is law." But the General's loyalty did not exceed his frankness, and in the preamble of his will he sets forth the lamentable fact that "my estate has become greatly involved by my liabilities for the debts of my well-beloved and adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jun."

The exact condition of Jackson's estate at the time of his death was set forth in detail in a communication from a Nashville citizen which was printed in a daily paper in 1889: "At the death of General Jackson he owed but two debts of any magnitude, one of them $15,000 to Frank Blair of Washington, the other to General Planchin of New Orleans. His estate consisted of the Hermitage, then containing about 1,200 acres, on which he had about 100 negroes besides stock of all kinds. Besides this he owned his plantation in Mississippi which the adopted son and heir afterward sold with the negroes then on it for $40,000. This left the Hermitage, with the negroes and all else on it, clear and free after paying the $21,000 of debt, with a surplus of $19,000 in cash. So, to sum it all up, the estate at the General's death was worth, clear of debt, somewhere near $150,000. This was well known by those near him and was generally believed by the community. It has been repeatedly stated by his opponents that the General was deep in debt when he died in 1845, if not insolvent. This is a great mistake, as I have endeavored to show from the facts here given, which are from my own knowledge received from my intimate business relations with the adopted son and heir, Andrew Jackson, Jr."

Andrew Jackson, junior, in retrospect presents rather a pathetic picture. As the President's adopted son he had every opportunity before him; but apparently the germ of success was simply not in him. General Jackson lavished affection and attention on him throughout his childhood and youth, and a real son could not have been reared more tenderly. "I have no doubt he will take care of us both in our declining years," the General wrote Rachel in 1813. And in 1832 he wrote an old friend that "Andrew is now married and I mean to throw the care of the farm on him. I shall never more pester myself with this world's wealth." But, somehow or other, something always seemed to be going wrong with the things to which Andrew gave his attention. All accounts agree in describing him as exceptionally amiable and engaging in his personality; he was well educated, being a graduate of the old University of Nashville; he was charming socially; he was beloved and venerated by his family--but he seemed unable to develop the rugged aggressiveness and forcefulness of his illustrious namesake, and gradually the estate bequeathed him by General Jackson slipped between his fingers. Cholera took off 26 of his slaves in one year; another year there was a calamitous crop failure; ill-advised kindness led him to endorse friends' notes--with the usual result; and an unwise business venture cost him the $15,000 he had invested in it.

An estate of $150,000 was a notably large bequest back in 1845; but by 1853 the heir's fortunes were so shrunken that he was reduced to the necessity of mortgaging the Hermitage to secure a $15,000 debt, and in 1856 he was forced to the sad extremity of placing the estate on the market--having already sold off all of the land except 500 acres.

Naturally, the first prospective purchaser to whom the historic property was offered was the State of Tennessee. In fact, General Jackson seems to have foreseen some such contingency and before he died had told his son that if ever it became necessary for him to sell the Hermitage he should first offer it to his native state. The offer was made, and the state General Assembly passed the following act authorizing its purchase:

Whereas, it is good policy in a republican government to encourage the habits of industry and to inculcate sentiments of veneration for those departed heroes who have rendered important services to their country in times of danger; and

Whereas, Tennessee acknowledges no superior in feelings of patriotism and devotion to the Union in whose cause the lamented Andrew Jackson acquired so much distinction; therefore

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee that the governor of the state be empowered and it is hereby made his duty to purchase for the State of Tennessee 500 acres of the late residence of Andrew Jackson, deceased, including the mansion, tomb and other improvements, known as "The Hermitage."

Be it further enacted that whenever the said purchase is made and the title to said property secured to the state that the governor is hereby authorized to cause the bonds of the state to be issued and to endorse the same in an amount not exceeding $48,000, the proceeds of which to be appropriated by him to carrying into effect the provisions of this act: Provided, that the governor and the secretary of state upon investigation shall be satisfied said price is not exhorbitant.

Be it further enacted that the governor of the state be authorized and required to tender the said property to the General Government of the United States upon the express condition that it be used as a site for a branch of the Military Academy at West Point; and in the event the General Government does not accept the tender thus made in two years from the expiration of this session of the General Assembly, then the governor shall be authorized and required to have fifty acres laid off, including the tomb, mansion and the spring and the spring houses, and expose the balance to public sale either as a whole or in lots, on time or for cash as to him may seem best, and make his report to the legislature of 1859-1860.