Unfortunately, that bane of genius, dissipation, was poisoning his habits and undermining his reputation.  It seems that exalted genius feeds upon excitement, and in some shape must have it.  The excitement of active business at the Bar or in the halls of legislation must of necessity be temporary, and the relaxation which follows this is terrible to the excitable temperament of ardent genius.  It craves restlessly its natural food, and in the absence of all others, it seeks for this in the intoxicating bowl or the gaming-table.  How many brilliant examples of this fatal fact does memory call up from the untimely grave?  These, culled from my seniors when I was a youth, from my compeers in early manhood, from the youth I have seen grow up about me, make a host whose usefulness has been lost to the world.  Well may the poet sing in melancholy verse that genius is a fatal gift.  It dazzles as a meteor with its superhuman light, and as soon fades into darkness, lighting its path with a blaze of glory, astonishing and delighting the world, but consuming itself with its own fire.

Poindexter had won greatly upon the affections of the people of the Territory, in the active part he had taken, in connection with General Ferdinand Claiborne and General Hinds, in stimulating the people to prepare to meet the exigencies of the war of 1812 with Great Britain.  Her eastern territory was exposed to the inroads of the Creek Indians, a large and warlike tribe, who were hostile to the United States, and were in league with the English, and being armed by them.  The Choctaws and Chickasaws were on her northern frontier, and were threatening.  An invasion by the way of New Orleans by English troops was hourly expected.  It required great energy and activity to anticipate and guard against these threatening dangers.  Poindexter employed his time and his influence to prepare the people to act efficiently and at a moment’s warning.  When the threatened invasion became a reality, and General Jackson was descending the river with troops as the American commander, and when the militia were on the ground, and nothing remained to be done in Mississippi, he promptly repaired to the scene of action and volunteered his services to Jackson, who, accepting them, placed him on his staff as a volunteer aide.

In this capacity he continued to serve until the end of the campaign and the termination of the war.  It was to him the negro or soldier brought the celebrated countersign of “Beauty and booty,” found on the battle-field, and which he carried to General Jackson.  His enemies laid hold of this incident and perverted it slanderously to his injury, by asserting the note to be a forgery of his, done for the purpose of winning favor with the General, and to cast odium upon an enemy incapable of issuing such an infamous countersign.