The Life and Wars of Gideon J. Pillow

7. Making Good Democratic Music

7 Making Good Democratic: Music: Before Pillow packed away his uniform and stepped into civilian life, he commissioned Washington Bogart Cooper, a painter of prominent Middle Tennesseans, to do his Mexican War portrait. Cooper had done a portrait of Gov. Billy Carroll earlier, and Pillow admired that work very much. It was also about this time that Henry S. Sadd, an English mezzotint engraver, did the engraving of Pillow (see Chapter 4) that appeared in contemporary books about the Mexican War.l One ofthese books, a correct version of the Mexican War-"a work of high authority"-was being prepared under Pillow's supervision at Clifton by Capt. Roswell Ripley, his former staffofficer. Ripley worked 7 Making Good Democratic Music Before Pillow packed away his uniform and stepped into civilian life, he commissioned Washington Bogart Cooper, a painter of prominent Middle Tennesseans, to do his Mexican War portrait. Cooper had done a portrait of Gov. Billy Carroll earlier, and Pillow admired that work very much. It was also about this time that Henry S. Sadd, an English mezzotint engraver, did the engraving of Pillow (see Chapter 4) that appeared in contemporary books about the Mexican War.1 One of these books, a correct version of the Mexican War-"a work of high authority"-was being prepared under Pillow's supervision at Clifton by Capt. Roswell Ripley, his former staffofficer. Ripley worked fast, but still Pillow fretted. He had secured a leave of absence for Ripley in May 1848, and then an extension, but time was running out. Polk would be out of office soon, and Ripley would be ordered back to his regiment, so Pillow pushed Ripley to hurry. Pillow had managed to keep knowledge of Ripley's whereabouts from Secretary of War Marcy, and he instructed Knox Walker to tell anyone in Washington who got nosy that Ripley was in Maury County "engaged in an interesting negotiation with a young lady." 2 By the end of April 1849, Ripley had completed his history and set off to New York to have it published. Pillow liked the final draft, and doubtless much of the work came from his pen, if not his mind. Gideon Pillow understood very well the political importance of getting in print quickly and creating the proper public image. He wrote his friend Cadwalader that the Pennsylvanian's role in the fighting around the City of Mexico had been done reliably and appreciatively. He contended with his inveterate exaggeration that Ripley's The War with Mexico "will in general style, & accuracy of narrative rank with Prescott & Bancroft's works, which in military criticism and description of Battles it is dearly superior to either, & will compare favourably with Napier'S." He confided to Duncan cynically that Ripley's work was '~ust & impartial in its deductions" and thus would "skin Scott not ill-naturedly, nor captiously but upon his conduct as evidenced by the documents."s Pillow was busy at Clifton, which required careful attention. He inspected every inch ofthe rear portico and the three-story kitchen that had been constructed while he was off in Mexico. Clifton required greater elegance, he thought, a new face, something in which he might see himself. So he added a "Greek Revival portico and cornice" facing north across Clifton Pike. This meant, among other things, extensive roof realignment and required that workmen construct a second roof several feet above the cedar shake origina1.4 The president came to visit on April 5. Polk had left office on March 4, 1849, and made his way home touring a number ofsouthern cities. In Columbia he was received by a huge turnout, replete with a military company from Jackson College, a brass band, and of course his old friend Pillow, who gave a long and warm welcoming speech at the Maury County Court House. The Maury Intelligencer, however, ominously noted that Polk "looks fifteen years older than when he left here four years ago. He ... has the appearance of one worn down by care and anxiety." Polk would die in Nashville two months later, one of the victims of a devastating cholera epidemic. Gen. William Worth Making Good Democratic Music : 123 fast, but still Pillow fretted. He had secured a leave of absence for Ripley in May 1848, and then an extension, but time was running out. Polk would be out of office soon, and Ripley would be ordered back to his regiment, so Pillow pushed Ripley to hurry. Pillow had managed to keep knowledge of...