Britton Medlin

Born: 1780 in North Carolina

Died: 4 Apr 1845 in DeKalb County, Tennessee

Private, 2nd Reg't (Benton's) Tennessee Volunteers

10 Dec 1812 - 20 Apr 1813

The parents of Britton are uncertain. Some internet trees indicate parentage but no documentation to prove. It appears he was married at least twice. His first wife is believed to be Martha Artelia James. It is thought that they had at least three kids from 1802-1814. On 18 Nov 1812, he married Martha Peggy McDowell in White County, Tennessee. It appears they had three kids.

Britton enrolled as a volunteer in Sparta, White County, Tennessee on 6 Feb 1812 and again on 6 Jul 1812. Major General Andrew Jackson certified that Britton was called and served from 13 Dec 1812 to 20 Apr 1813 accompanying him on the campaign to the "Natchez Country" and was discharged on 20 Apr 1813.

Internet sources give the following account of this expedition.

During the period from December 1812 to April 1813, Major General Andrew Jackson was leading what is known as the Natchez Expedition—a deployment that turned out to be a frustrating military wild-goose chase, but one that cemented his legendary reputation.  

Rather than engaging in major battles, Jackson’s campaign was defined by a long river and land march down to the Mississippi Territory and a grueling trek back.  

December 1812: Organizing in Tennessee

Following the outbreak of the War of 1812, the Governor of Tennessee ordered Jackson to gather volunteers to reinforce the lower Mississippi region and protect New Orleans from potential British or Spanish threats. In December 1812, Jackson organized and mustered roughly 2,070 volunteers in Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee.  

January – February 1813: The Descent to Natchez

In January 1813, the expedition split into two routes to head south:

• By Water: Jackson personally led the infantry aboard a flotilla of boats, traveling down the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.

• By Land: Colonel John Coffee led the cavalry unit overland along the Natchez Trace.  

On February 16–17, 1813, the two forces reunited just outside of Natchez (in modern-day Mississippi) and set up camp at the cantonment in nearby Washington, Mississippi Territory.  

February – March 1813: Stranded in Mississippi

Upon arrival, Jackson was ordered to halt by General James Wilkinson (the commander in New Orleans), who claimed there were no provisions or quarters ready for the Tennessee troops, and no immediate British threat. For several weeks, Jackson’s men remained camped near Natchez, focusing heavily on military drills and camp discipline.  

March – April 1813: The Dismissal and the Return March

At the end of March, Jackson received a stunning letter from the Secretary of War dated February 6, abruptly ordering him to disband his force immediately because the threat had passed. Cruelly, the government provided no money, food, or wagons for the troops to get back home, essentially stranding them 500 miles from Tennessee. 

Furious, Jackson refused to abandon his men. He personally borrowed money to purchase wagons to haul the sick and provisions for the journey. Starting on March 25, 1813, he marched his entire army back up the wilderness of the Natchez Trace.  

The Birth of a Legend: It was during this grueling, muddy, 500-mile return march to Tennessee in March and April that Jackson's soldiers, amazed by his physical toughness and willingness to give up his own horses for the sick, began calling him "Old Hickory."

The campaign officially concluded in April 1813 when the troops safely reached Nashville and were dismissed from service. Though they never saw combat on this tour, the expedition molded the volunteer militia into a highly disciplined fighting force right before the outbreak of the Creek War later that year.

His obit indicates he died in DeKalb County while plowing his field. This is likely where he lived at the time and is likely where he is buried although I have no documentation as to his burial location. He did have a land grant on Mine Lick Creek and his two sons intermarried or otherwise "interacted" with the Richard Herren family who lived in the Dekalb County portion of lower Mine Lick Creek.