LIBRARY FINDS DOCUMENT SIGNED BY ANDREW JACKSON IN OLD BOOK
by Donald Gantz, Special Collections and Archives

Thanks to the alertness of Kathy Watson, cataloging assistant in the University Library, we have found what appears to be an 1813 arrest order signed by Major General Andrew Jackson. Jackson is famous for defeating the Creek Indians and the British at New Orleans during the War of 1812 and later for becoming the seventh president of the United States.

Kathy was cataloging books acquired from the William Tyndale College library when she found this document fastened between the blank fly leaves of Augustus Buell’s 1904 History of Andrew Jackson. This brief hand-written document orders the arrest of a Sergeant Baldrige and his detention by a special guard in the fort.

The document seems to have evidence of an official seal which secured it after it was folded several times. It had “Gen’l Order, Dec 9, 1813” written on the outside after the folds, and the outside was soiled from handling. It’s placement in the book likely served to preserve it.

Kathy Watson

Our conclusions about the authenticity of the document remain to be confirmed by having it examined by an expert on historical documents. Our best transcription so far of the hard-to-read hand-scrawled document is:

The adjutant general will immediately arrest Sergeant Baldrige of Capt. Thomas Williamson’s, Company 2 Regt. V- and place him under the provost guard within the Fort,- and warn Lt. Masons who commands the provost guard of this day to attend with his guard within the Fort.

Andrew Jackson
Major Genl

Headquarters, Fort
Strother Decbr 9th 1813

1813 Arrest Order signed by Major General Andrew Jackson

The date of the document, December 9, 1813, and the location, Fort Strother, Alabama suggest it is not a routine document reflecting a routine discipline problem. At this time Jackson was commander of the Tennessee militia and the Tennessee volunteers. Both groups had already attempted defection but had been dissuaded by Jackson’s heavy-handed intervention.

The volunteers, however, were determined to leave on the next day, December 10, 1813, when their one-year enlistment expired. Jackson was equally determined that they would stay until March 10 because they had been given three months at home during that period and he was demanding twelve months of actual service. There were military lawyers in the camp telling the volunteers they had the right to leave. Given Jackson’s iron will, a confrontation was inevitable.

On December 9 (the date of the arrest order), the volunteers’ intentions to leave became clear. But before they made their move, Jackson made his. He ordered the loyal militia to line up above the road to Tennessee and do whatever was necessary to prevent the volunteers’ departure. He ordered the mutinous volunteers to be brought out to parade on the west side of the fort. Jackson then ordered the loyal artillery gunners to aim their two fieldpieces on the volunteers. He mounted his horse, rode up and down the ranks, and exhorted them not to desert. Finally, to force a decisive response, Jackson told the artillery gunners to light their matches, one small step from firing. Jackson was also in the line of fire. He said, and demonstrated, if they chose to desert, it would be over his dead body.The volunteers decided they would stay until the expected reinforcements arrived. Jackson accepted their decision and the mass mutiny was prevented.

December 9, 1813 was an unforgettable day in the military career of Andrew Jackson. It was also the beginning of a series of serious setbacks. Three days later, December 12th, 1,500 reinforcements arrived and Jackson was obliged to keep his word and let the Tennessee volunteers return home. When they had just departed he learned that all the reinforcements’ terms of service would expire within a few weeks. He was eventually left with too few men to defend the fort, which was situated deep in enemy territory, let alone finish his campaign against the formidable Creek Indians.

This period of Jackson’s military career reads like a suspense thriller, and its events leave us itching to learn more about Sergeant Baldrige and why he was arrested on that fateful day, December 9, 1813.

Additional Reading

Buell, Augustus C. History of Andrew Jackson, Pioneer, Patriot, Soldier, Politician, President. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1904.

James, Marquis. Andrew Jackson, the Border Captain. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1933.

Remini, Robert V. Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Empire, 1767-1821. New York: Harper & Row, 1977.

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Book Sale to Benefit Hurricane-Devastated Libraries

by Harold Henkel, Assistant Librarian

On January 24-25, the Library will be offering for sale thousands of books from all areas of the humanities. The books are from the William Tyndale College collection that Regent acquired last year, but which were not chosen for incorporation into the University Library. The sale will be held in the Library Atrium both days 9:00-5:00. The price of all hardcover books will be $1.25 and all paperback books 75¢. Only cash or check will be accepted, and patrons should bring their own bags.

The purpose of the sale is to raise money for libraries along the Gulf Coast that were severely damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. All money raised from the sale will be sent to three organizations working toward this end: the American Theological Library Association, the Church and Synagogue Library Association, and the Louisiana Library Association. Cash donations will also be accepted. Many libraries suffered catastrophic damage from the hurricane and flooding and are in desperate need of funds to begin rebuilding their collections. A page on the American Library Association website outlines some of the devastation suffered by libraries in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The book sale offers members of the Regent community a unique opportunity to build their personal libraries while contributing to this worthy cause.

Photographs of Libraries devastated by Hurricane Katrina:

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First Annual Library Town Hall Meeting
by Charlise Holmes, Assistant Circulation Supervisor

The Regent University Libraries are excited to announce and invite the Regent Community to the First Annual Library Town Hall Meeting. As a joint venture between the University Library and the Law Library, this event is open to all students, faculty, and staff, and will even be transmitted via video-conference to the Washington D.C. campus. Chancellor Pat Robertson will kick-off the event in the Library Auditorium with remarks and a question and answer session. This will be followed by lunch and conversation with the University and Law Librarians in the Library Atrium.

The theme of this year’s Town Hall Meeting is “Love Your Libraries.” University Library dean Sara Baron said that she hopes this event will inform the Regent Community about the many valuable resources that the libraries have to offer, including the adeptness of the University’s Library faculty.“We want the Regent community to be aware of the expertise of the staff and the knowledge and value they bring to this campus.” Dean Baron also said that this event will give participants the opportunity to offer valuable feedback concerning the services provided by the University and Law Libraries.

The First Annual Library Town Hall Meeting is scheduled at noon on February 15. For more information, contact Ian Hackmann in Library Administration at 226-4185 or at ianhac1@regent.edu.

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"The Common Read"
by Ian Hackmann, Administrative Assistant

COMMON READ:

Beginning the second week of January and running through the Spring term, the School of Undergraduate Studies at Regent is sponsoring this term’s “Common Read.” While the “common read” may have existed for centuries, it was officially introduced to the United States in 1998 by the “Washington Center for the Book,” a subsidiary of the Library of Congress, and called “One Book community-wide reading programs,” later dubbed the “Common Read.” The purpose is to foster a sense of community. As Philip Genetti, the coordinator for the Common Read and Faculty Chair for General Education in the School of Undergraduate Studies at Regent, states, “The Common Read is going to be a great way to help create a sense of unity, or identity, first among the undergrad community, but then in the larger sense, everybody in the entire Regent University community.” Rochelle Calhoun of Mount Holyoke College agrees, “The common read enables new students to discover connections with other students and to the intellectual life of the campus.”

But in addition to the sense of community on campus, Genetti also wants Regent’s Common Read to spread out into the community at large. “The organization will also help tie Regent together with the Tidewater community as students, faculty, and staff go out and lead discussion groups at settings such as public libraries and bookstores.” Christian and home schools will also be able to benefit.

During the Common Read, students will be able to benefit from weekly lectures, approximately twenty minutes in length, as well as independent discussion sessions (a sign up sheet will be disseminated in mid-January). Furthermore, all Tidewater community residents will be invited to participate in on-line blog discussions. All of the events are designed to climax with the arrival of Douglas Gresham, the stepson of C. S. Lewis, February 7-11. Gresham will be giving a series of talks throughout the week including a lecture and book signing on February 9th of his recent release Jack’s Life (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005). Gresham will also be visiting a local elementary school whose class completed a project on C. S. Lewis.

THE AUTHOR:

C. S. Lewis, born Clive Staples but later adopting the nickname “Jacksie” or Jack, was chosen as the featured author for Regent University’s first common read because his life so exemplified the mission of Regent University. Not everyone agreed with Lewis, but because he articulated his view point so well, he was universally recognized and respected as a great thinker and writer.

Ironically, C. S. Lewis’ first two publications were dismissed as average and received little acceptance. It was only after Lewis’ transformation from atheist to agnostic to Christian that both Lewis’ works and adept ability to analyze logic and philosophy became accepted and respected. Lewis, however, recognized his own precarious position and asserted that "What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects--with their Christianity latent."*

And set to writing little books, C. S. Lewis did.

After his first two failures, Lewis went on to write approximately seventy books and numerous articles. The logic of Lewis’ arguments and the ease of readability were quickly accepted. Furthermore, the diversity of Lewis’ writing appealed to a broad audience ranging from youth to avid scholars.

THE CHOSEN MATERIAL:

The two books chosen for Regent’s Common Read are The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Screwtape Letters.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Lion) was chosen primarily, and obviously, due to the recent release of the movie by the same name. The Lion represents one of the many Lewis books designed for children. In The Lion, Lewis combines many of the elements from old mythologies and folklore that fascinated him in his youth to create a Christian allegory of the life of Christ. Like any allegory, though, if pushed too far, it will fail. Still, young people and old have enjoyed this classic and will likely continue to do so in the future. The Lion is the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia series and is a masterful blend of fantasy that enraptures readers of all ages and deep philosophical undertones that continue to be a topic of discussion all while maintaining the base element of the cosmic struggle between good and evil.

The Screwtape Letters (Screwtape), on the other hand, is definitely not for children. The story itself is simple…it is a collection of letters written by a ‘head’ demon to one of his underlings giving advice on how to keep ‘his charge’ from hearing and obeying “the Enemy,” i.e., God. Lewis considered this novel one of his easiest and most distasteful to write.** Easiest, because all he had to do was turn to his baser side and let the content flow. Distasteful, because upon completion, he was woefully aware of the sin that still remained in his life and how easy it was for him to become detached from God. Today, many Christians have abandoned finishing Screwtape due to its ‘dark’ content. However, some pastors recommend that Christians read this book annually to make themselves aware of what areas in their life need adjusting.

CONCLUSION:

Choosing two of C. S. Lewis’ most popular books as Regent’s first Common Read will greatly increase the sense of community both on and off campus. Lewis’ works have broadly been recognized as classics that appeal to all ages while also greatly enriching the reader with practical knowledge and wisdom. For more information about the Common Read, please contact Philip Genetti .

* C.S. Lewis, Timeless at Heat: Essays on Theology (London: Flount, 1987).

**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screwtape_Letters

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Suggested Reading by Library Faculty Supports Regent Theme
by Donald Gantz, Special Collections and Archives

Are you “standing in excellence” after that relaxed holiday break? Would some inspirational reading help balance the academic grind before you get too far into the spring semester?

By clicking on the above logo or the one on the library home page, you’ll find lists of suggested books for each of the topics under Regent University’s 2005-2006 theme Here We Stand. All of the works listed are available in the Regent library. The lists are being created by library faculty members who have special interest in these areas:

Standing in Christ
Standing in Leadership
Standing through Storms
Standing in Excellence
Standing Together
Standing with Purpose

The topic for January is “Standing in Excellence” and for February “Standing Together.”
In addition to the suggested reading lists, special chapel messages are being presented throughout the academic year that address the Here We Stand theme.

At the October 26 university chapel, Dr. Barry Ryan gave us the historical background of the Here We Stand theme. He recounted the spiritual pilgrimage of the great reformer Martin Luther, and his words before the Diet of Worms in 1521 which resulted in Luther being declared an outlaw and a heretic, and in the banning of his literature: “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.” According to tradition, Luther is then said to have spoken these words: "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." *

*Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: a Life of Martin Luther (New York: Abingdon-Cokebury Press, 1950), 185.

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Deeper into Databases

Have you tried the database ETHNIC NEWSWATCH?

ETHNIC NEWSWATCH is a comprehensive full text database of the newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press -- African-American and Caribbean, Arab and Arab-American, Asian and Asian-American, European, Eastern European, Hispanic, Jewish, Native Peoples and Multi-Ethnic. Coverage is international. Journal titles add a scholarly perspective to the content. Continuously growing since 1991, with archival material back to 1985, ETHNIC NEWSWATCH is now a collection of nearly 630,000 full-text articles from 200 publications. More than 7,500 new articles are added each month.

Searchable in both English and Spanish, with publications in each language and more than 150,000 articles in Spanish, ETHNIC NEWSWATCH provides in-depth coverage of a wide range of current and historical topics easily accessed using free text and fielded searching. Extensive indexing, including unique fields such as Article Type and Ethnic Group of the Publication, enhances the ability to target searches quickly and generate appropriate, exciting and often unexpected results.

Many of the publications, like the “Baltimore Afro-American,” “The Cherokee Advocate,” “The Jewish Exponent” and the “Philadelphia Tribune”, have been publishing for more than 100 years. Others, like “Indian Country Today,” “A. Magazine: Inside Asian America,” “Filipinas Magazine,” “Little India,” “Ethiopian Review,” “Arab American News” and “Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education,” are newer titles that reflect the continuing dynamic growth and importance of the ethnic press in America.

ETHNIC NEWSWATCH gives you new insights on current topics, such as health care, affirmative action, local politics, sports, books, theater, the internet, foreign aid, AIDS, diversity in the workplace, education, the environment, nuclear arms control, gun control, homelessness, violence in the media, Kosovo, China, India, Nigeria, Ukraine, Ireland, Middle East, and many other social, political and international issues important to researchers.

With ETHNIC NEWSWATCH you get thousands of FULL TEXT reviews of books, movies, theater, music, art and other entertainment events -- much of which is not covered in the mainstream media. Find out about Irish rappers and Native American hip-hop, for example. All these reviews and articles are easy to access by Article Type from a pop-up window.

ETHNIC NEWSWATCH is more than a research tool. ETHNIC NEWSWATCH promotes an understanding of the history and diversity of American culture and helps break down stereotypes -- critical for the America of the 21st century.

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Library Services for Undergraduate Students
by Harold Henkel, Assistant Librarian

Have you set up your RefWorks account yet? RefWorks is a powerful research tool that can save you countless hours and possibly a few headaches in the course of your undergraduate and graduate studies. RefWorks performs two functions in the research process:

To begin using this important resource, you will need to set up a personal account. If you are off campus, you will need to enter Regent’s group code (RWRegentU) to indicate that you are from Regent University. Once you have set up your account, take the animated tutorial. The tutorial is approximately fifty minutes long and will get you started with using RefWorks.

The Library also regularly offers workshops on RefWorks, including two this month: the first will be on January 23, 4:00-5:00 in LIB 213, and second will be on January 30, 4:00-5:00 EST, given online through Horizon Wimba. If you would like to attend one of these workshops, please register online.

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Book Spotlight--The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway
Reviewed by Bob Sivigny, Librarian

The Heavenly Man is the stirring autobiography of Liu Zhenying, an evangelist and pastor with the Chinese House Church movement. At age sixteen Brother Yun heard a voice saying, ‘Yun, you shall go to the west and to the south to proclaim the gospel. You shall be my witness and will testify on behalf of my name.” Right away, Brother Yun started preaching the gospel and sharing his faith with much success. As might be expected, authorities arrested him and he was thrown into prison several times enduring great hardship, physical abuse, and torture. Nevertheless, Yun used every opportunity to share the gospel with fellow prisoners and guards. Much of the book is an account of his prison ministry, releases and subsequent re-imprisonments from 1983 to 1997.

It was Yun’s practice to never tell authorities his real name or home address for fear of endangering fellow believers. During an arrest, close to a nearby house church, Yun shouted out, ‘I am a heavenly man! My home is heaven!” Because of his loud shouting his friends in the house were able to hear what was going on and escape the police. The name, “Heavenly Man,” stuck.

During his third and harshest imprisonment, Brother Yun miraculously escaped and was eventually able to flee to Germany where he was re-united with his family who had previously also escaped from China. His time in Germany has been a precious time of healing and restoration for his whole family.

Before leaving China, Brother Yun became involved with believers from the Back to Jerusalem movement. They believe that God has called them to take the gospel back to Jerusalem on foot, along the old Silk Road trading route, preaching and starting house churches. Chinese believers have organized a training school to train missionaries for this unique task. Curriculum at the school includes, among other things, three special courses: 1.) How to suffer and die for the Lord; 2.) How to witness for the Lord particularly in the back of police vans on the way to execution; 3.) How to escape for the Lord, with special training on freeing oneself from handcuffs and how to jump out of second story buildings without injury.

Brother Yun is still very much involved with the Back to Jerusalem movement and he is asked to speak in churches around the world. “My message to the Western church is to get back to basics in order to hear again the voice of Jesus speaking to you.”

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