Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-04-15
miscellaneous.
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT,
BORN IN VIRGINIA, JANUARY 18Th, 1856.

Fortune associates the ma mes Of some men
with objects which are enduring. Scots
military history opens with his night victory
on the height Of Niagara, where the thunder
of his cannon mingled with the everlasting
roar of the cataract. His latest and most
glorious achievements were performed at the
other extremity Of the continent, within sight
Of the blue cone Of Popocatapctl. His early
victories on the northern frontier won for him
at the age of twenty, eight, the rank of Major
General; and they remind us of the youth Of
Washington without the gloom or glory of
Braddock's defeat. But in bis march to the
capital of Mexico, there is splendor of mil
itary achievement and romantic adventure,
which darken the hitherto undimmed lustre
Of Cortez on the same victorious path
Winfield Scott is descended from Scotch
ancestry. His grandfather---whos brother
was slain en- the field of Culloden being in
volved in the rebellion of 1745, emigrated to
Virginia, bringing with him little but lber-
al education. A respectable marriage and
eminence at the bar, however, soon restored
his fortune. He died at early age, but the
germ he planted dourished in that generous
soil. His son William married Ann Mason.
a gifted and noble woman and their young
est child is the subject of this sketch The
death of bis father, during the infancy of
Winfield, devolved the education of the fam.
lily on Mrs. Scott. who discharged her trust
with christian fidelity. She died 10 1903,
leaving Scott in his seventeenth year. After
various and successful studies under the best
masters, and at the College of William and
Mary, he was admitted to the bar in 1906
and began the practice of law He resided
with Benjamin Watkins Leigh, and enjoyed
at the time, and long afterwards, the eminent
advantages of that great mans counsel, al.
reetion and friendship. 1t is singular that
our two greatest generals were brought into
the army by the same even-the attack on
the Chesapeake, and at the same time.
In May, 1903, Scott received his commits
sion as Captain of Light Artillery, and in
1909 was transferred to the Camp at New
Orleans. A free expression of opinion on
the conduct of his late General, cost him
suspension from the army for year, which
he spent at the house of bis friend Mr.. Leigh,
engaged in the study of international law, and
the science of war. He came forth from this
transient eclipse-which had been regarded
as no dishonor fully prepared for the APP
preaching conflict. ..-..
The second war of Independence was de.
clared against England, June Is, lS12-
The following month, Scott received Lieut.
Colonels commission, and was ordered to
Niagara, where the main force Of the coming
tempest would first expend itself. The dis
astrous surrender of General Hull had cover
ed the army with shame, and the nation with
gloom. The appearance of Scott on the
frontier, at this dark period, was like the
presence of Godfrey at the head Of the dis
heartened Crusaders. The battle of Queens
town Heights although defeat, gave to
America the prestige of q victory.
In 1915, an exchange Of prisoners restored
Scott to his country. He again fastened to
the frontier, and May 9th, captured Fort
George. The brilliant victory of Chippewa,
wrested By superior skill and science on a
fair field, from the best troops of England,
excited the admiration of the veteran gener-
ais Of the old world. 0t....
Scarcely twenty days after, was gained the
decisive victory of Niagara which paralyzed
the strength of the British Army. The vic
torious general was borne from the scene of
his glory to the care of surgeons. After sew
eral weeks he could bear the motion of lit
ter, and on the shoulders of the gentlemen of
his country he was carried to the Atlantic
coast, amidst the acclamations of bis grateful
counirymen. Restored at last from bis
wounds, be was offered on the Peace, the Of
fee of Secretary of War, which be modestly
declined He was then sent to Europe, for
the restoration of his health, and to perfect
himself 10 the science Of war. In Paris he