Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-02
"REMINISCENCES or TIE LAST VAR.
MAJOR. GENERAL sCO1T

for his Head Quarters in New York lie has been very
aborously engaged here for the last weeks in dis
cussng and explaining before Beard of Officers his
system of discipline for the Army of the l. States which
ne has prepared with great care in obedience
iuon OF Congress passed the before the last The
work, OF itself, am informed will do him much honor
and will add greatly to his military fame He has been
iaborously employed in preparing Tor the Last Is or
IL months, and has brought into it many valuable pn.
ciplcs from the French. Russian German and Prussian
Au,nors, as wen as from the English 1t was ANONYMOUSLY
sanctioned by the distinguished Board of Officers to
whom il was submitted, without any alteration Among
these Officers, were Gen. Maconib the Commander in.
Chief oil the Army, Gen. Jcsup, Gen. Towson, Gen.
Roger Jones, Gen. Gibson, Gen. Fenwick Gen Wool
and Col Croghan That his military work consisting OF
Volumes should have met with the unanimous aporo-
oauon OF such men, could not have been otherwise than
extremely gratifying to him.
That it would have been well done, is what every one
expected; for what work, a soldier. did ever Scott
undertake., that was not nell performed His gallant
comrades, composing this Board who have seen him so
often IN trying circumstances when his military skill and
talents We're iully tested can answer the question His
rork, at Chippewa, surpassed in siue on this
con,inenor that of Bdgewater, the heroic energy
with which the business OF the evening despatched
The first you rccolect performed in an opcn field
on an extensive plain under clear bright sun in July
1t fair open-fe fight Of two highly disc mined
armies, led on by gallant Officers on both sides as
ever appeared upon the field of battle The skilfn mill
ary movements Of Scott, upon this plain united the
heroic courage of his officers and men whom he had
himself disciplined and drilled and prepared for battle
achieved this brilliant victory superior numbers
" Such was the battle of Chippewa, (says his biogra-
pherJ as tappearcd TO the eye of scientific soldier
But we have heard il described by others who viewed
II with an unpraciised and less military eye, as one of
the most brilliant spectacles which could well be con-
ceived The day clear and bright the sun still
high in the Heavens; the plain such as might have
bcen selected Tor parade the troops
" on both sides, though numerous admirably disci-
plned the Generals leading their columns in por-
son; the glitter of the arms in the sun; the precision
ana uisunctness o every movement all calculated
to carry the mind back the scenes of ancient story or
poetry-to the plains of Latium or of Troy and all
those recol!ccuons which fill the imagination with
images oil personal heroism and romantic valor -
This victory achieved, be emscmbercd over Brit
ish troops, highly disciplined and superioin numbers ia
uose commanded by Scott, OF more than third
This fact was fully and satisfactorily ascerianed after
the battle " was attended with the most important
" consequence III gave to the Army n confidence in
their skill and prowcss, and ssipated at once the
dread which had been inspired by the military rcputp-
ton OF their veteran antagonists 1t was TO the ARMY
what the victory of Capt Hull bad been to the Navy:
and the confidence which il thus inspired wus surely
'most justly founded for every man felt tLat The v;co
ry had been gained by superior skill and discipline: il
was not The fruit of any accidental mistake or conf-
SION In INC enemy sarmy; of of those moments
oil temporary panic ON one side, excitement on the
other which sometimes gives n victory to IRREGULAR
= courage over veteran and disciplined yalor"
In his official report Gen. Scott says of this gallant
nngaGe; mat every man and of every grade svnced
an ability TO meet a greater shock than that en-
countered, with like success This was most consp
cuous IN the very crisis of the action Conduct mi.
" yersaly good leaves little for discrimination
10 mention them in the order of their rank q know
" of other in this case) Majors I,rtp Len vcnwor,h
"and MNeil, and Capt. Towson deserve every thing
winch conspicuous skill and gallantry can hope from
"a grateful country"
90 70 have formed his troons - saws the vrer ,ha
alluded to, at once to such uniformity of excellence
to have ms it were struck a heat such perfection
OF discipline, is degree of military merit which can
gam no use from the eulogiun of the book learned
theorist When this talent is united to personal con-,
rage and with that presence of mind and qucknrss of
PeiSPt"l ana dccIsion which enable their possessor
to WELD at viii the weapons he has tfns formed there
nothing wanting to complete he character of an ac-
=" complshed General"
The inspiring effects of this victory to the American
troops was 70 days afterwards goriousy displayed
IN me celebrated and most bloody ba, of Bridgewaer
I'm o,,ltu
half his Brigade and after having horses killed nader
MN, was most severely wounded himself and was car
ricd OH the held streaming with blood He WINS shot
through the shoulder with musket ball about 10 o'cocL
al night Just before the final close of the action The
battle commenced about half an hour heGore snnse,
ana was fought principally by bright moonlight within
SOUND OF the great falls of Niagara The heroic COURAGE
oisPiayed by the troops both sides this desoerae
anu snhguinay conliictthe of artillery mnplng
with that OF the magnificent cataract-.e tune i The
evening when the battle fought all united 10 make
1t scene highly calculated to inspe GeI;nos Of
the moral sublime, than almost any oa.r that we ca n
bring before our imaginatons The following is The in,
eIeshng account given Of it by the accomplished writer
before aliuded to- After describing the PREVIOUS MOVE
ments OF the Army, he proceeds: " Notwitbsianding
Their superiority of numbers, General Scott resolved
ON an attack, waiting only to communicate this in
formation TO Tie commanding General, lac advanced
upon them and by the time the message had bsen de-
Ayered, the action had bcen commenced and Lad al
ready bccnfSe close and general time before the
remainder Of the division had crossed the Chnpewa
The enemy had already 1900 in line; the remain
der Of Drummond's army were on the march from
Fort George and arrived successfully at intervals of
10 or ~ minutes OF the line in view the left rested
on the road, between which and the r s1ehhere was
" space OF PAGES in BREADTH cC-~>zisEz2S
Jcsup, sustained by Col. Brady woy5,.J 80 81 80
trate this wood and 30 turn the cuenI"oo ~! W
he action now opened in front on the part Of Scous
artillery and his two remaining battalions The dra
" gools were not engaged either side. The enenv
hhding that he far outfanGed his right threw for
Ward TWO battaons to take army on The left These
" were promptly beaten of the field Al five sano
moment The action desperately contested in front
" by Iowson and Col Brady, whilst Jesuo co,nnla,eI,
succeeded IN turning the eneny Left TAKING nrson.,
MnJor-Gen Real and several other officers o5 t,e ro"r
and then charged back lhro' the cnenva line cn,,;
oil portion of that wing and showing bmself ayoi5
" TO ms own army IN blaze offrc. The action which
ma commenced half an hour before sunset had nov
lasted until about half after eight. The ENEMY a rigb
wing had been beaten of the frld his lei, ,r5ed
ona height considerably above the general
the ridge, and supported by nine pieces of ay,srv-
Dut, iIcsh battalions joining the enemy every
instant from hclOw. Such was the state of Tho oc;1
" when MAJOR General Brown arrived with the reserye
aier The battle had thus ragged for hour and friy
" minutes The remainder OF Tive action after Genera,
Drown iiaa assumed the command, cannot be better
" related than in bis own words
ApIehendng, says he, that these corps'' Chose OF
scout origadc) were much exhausted and knowing
that hey had suffered severely determined q, inls
pose new line with the advancing troops and ihns
9scngage Gen Scott and hold his brigade il, reserve
fOfuels were accordingly given 10 Cen. Ripley The
enemy artillery occupied hill, which paye him
great advantages, and the ksy Of the ,solr pos.
ton. 1t Yas supported by line of infantry 10 Sc.
cure Tue victory II was necessary carry the arNery
ana seize the height This daty was ASSIGNED 10 Col
nier, WHO advanced steadily and g,llantly his OBJ