The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-02-07
Major General Scott.

Major General Scott.
It gives us pleasure to transfer to our col
umns the following very earnest tribute by
the Hartford Times, "a Journal democratic in
its politics) to the military merit of the Gen.
eral commanding the army of the United
States
The Commander of the fo,ces.-It seems to
us that the merit OF Gen. Scott, in gaining the
late astounding victories before Mexico, has
not yet received its fitting tribute from the
public press His political opinions must
necessarily ever debar him from receiving the
suffrages of the democratic party for the chief
magstracy of the Union. But the circum-
stances cannot prevent us from seeing that
this great soldier has deserved exceedingly
well of the Republic, and aquired very
strong tide to the tervent gratitude of his
countrymen. Perhaps, indeed. to man
whose hairs are already silvered in the service
OF his country, the due appreciation and ac-
knowledgment of that service may prove
more acceptable reward than the highest Of
flee that could be transferred upon him. At
all events, the least that can be done is to
award just honor and praise, in no stinted or
niggardly measure, to those who have no other
remuneration to expect for their brave deeds.
The battle of Contreras and Churubusco
certainly rank among the most brilliant mill
tary achievements of the age. A band Of
eleven thousand audacous invaders have de-
feated, with immense slaughter, an army OF
thirty thousand troops, drawn up in position
OF their own choosing, on their own soil, to
defend their affairs and hearths, in the very
heart of their country. But it was not alone
the indomitable valor of our troops which
distinguished these battles. They were to
an equal degree marked with all the skill,
science, and foresight of masterely strategy.
In turning the rocky and most impregnabac
passes of Penon and Mexicalcingo, fos4iSsd
with terrific batteries, upon which the eIefN
had expended the labor of months, Gen Sect
displayed the most consummate generalsHip.
1t was not the mere avoiding or evading these
formidable posts which constituted its merit. >
1t was, that his cool and practised eye dis,
cerned at glance that a passage could be cut
through dense forests and tangled defiles, and
heaps of huge rock, where the enemy never
dreamed that such an exploit was conceivable.
1t was repetition of the same skilful ont
fanking mannuvre by which he had befere
spared so much valuable life at Cerro Gorefn;
movement which rendered all the laborious
preparations and defence of the enemy useless,
and which Santa Anna himself pronounced to
be mastery and worthy of Napoleon. 1t has
been the crowning merit Of Scott that, while
he has been every where victorious, he has
alSO SFSIy WucIc HuSUhIlueu Ills lOTCeS~ OdT-
ing and intrepid to the last degree, where
those qualities were call for, he has at the
same time been careful never wantonly to
waste the lives of his troops in unnecessary
stormings, or wreckless assaults. Under al
most any other general, his mere handful of
troops would long since have melted away
from repeated collisions with inert but over
whelming masses. With humanity not less
conspicuous than his bravery Scott has always
abstained from any indiseriminate slaughter.
even OF sanguinary and merciless foe.
1t was a great thing to have mastered the
renowned fortress of San Juan de Uloa-a
second Gibraltar-with so trif1ing a loss of
life. The victory over Santa Anna ut Cerro
Gordo, in the manner as we'll as in the magni-
tude OF the achievement, was a daring and
masterely exploit. 1t was also great thing,
sight, in fact. full of moral grandeur-when
four thousand two hundred tattered and way
worn soldiers under his command entered the
magnificent city of Puebla, and, with all the
confidence of conquerors, stacked their arms
and laid themselves down to sleep in the great
square, surrounded by hostile population of
eighty thousand.
The successive triumphs of Vera Cruz, of
Cerro Gordo, of Puebla and of Mexico, I'M
dimmed as they have hitherto been by single
reverse, have unquestionably raised the repu
tation Of the commander to very great
height, and placed it. to say the least, fully on
a level with that of the greatest generals Of
his time. Nor IS there any denying that those
victories have been of such an order that,
while they elevate the successful leader. they
Also to at least an equal degree. exalt the
character and extend the renown of his
country. Hence we cannot bring ourselves
to make any apology for what appears to be
Of $1a 81
his being Wing. A sense of gratitude for
his distinguished service in this war would
not permit us to say less. The fame of
victorious general cannot justly be held to
| belong to any party. 1t is the property of
the whole nation.