Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-06-14
LIFE AND SERVICES
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT.
BY A SOUTHERN WIG.
TFrom the baltimore PATRIOT

1r;nrnio IN the 18th of June, in the year 1886.
| He finished his studies at the College OF william
! aud Mary. and was admitted to the bar IN 1906.
After practising law in Virginia about year, he
| emiprated to South Carolina
orr difficulties with England caused Congress
70 pass an act in April, 1903, to increase the
army. Scott applied Immediately for commits
sion in one Of the regiments about to be raised,
and in May, 1908, was appointed captain of
light artillery.
War was not actually declared until June,
1912. The interval between 1903 and the decla-
ration of war was one of great political excite
ment. Scott sided with the Democratic party,
supported the election of President Madison, and
| approved, advocated, and wrote in favor OF war
| measures.
| In July. 1872, Scott was commissioned lieuten-
ant colonel in the I'd artillery and proceeded to
the Niagara frontier. In October Of that year
Lieutenant Elliott applied to Scott for assistance
in men to capture the Adams and Caledonia,
two British vessels of war then lying under the
protection of the guns Of Fort Erie. The vessels
were both captured; but. Elliott compelled
to abandon the Adams. She got aground, and
the British attempted to retake her, but were
repulsed by the gallantry of Colonel Winfield
Scott This was the first time he had met the
enemy, and here as every subsequent engage
ment where he was first in command, he was vic
torious.
A few days after was fought the memorable
battle Of Queenstown Heights. Scott was the
hero of the day, and covered himself with glory.
The battle lasted for many hours, and was fought
on the part of the Americans with most fearful
odds against them. The British army, having
been reinforced numbered not less than thirteen
hundred men, while the Americans were reduced
to less than three hundred Finding that the
militia on the opposite shore refused, was
able to cross to their aid, and that succor was
4 hopeless Scots heroic band were at length COM
PEELED to surrender. But their gallant deeds
' upon that day carried inspiration to every Amer-
:. can heart. The disgrace of Hull's surrender
> was wiped off-the taunts Of the enemy checked
! the character Of the American army redeemed.
y Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec. While
q he was there, incident occurred which had n
i most important bearing upon the future conduct
j of the war, and is deserving of particular
q ton
y At the time Great Britain denied the right Of
repatriation: in other words, she denied the
right of any of her subjects to become citizens Of
a another country, contending that they owed to
3 her perpetual allegiance. According to this doc
"a trine, a native of Ireland Scotland. or England
IN who had emgrated to the United States, and be
come naturalized American citizen, remained
ne still subject of the British government, and
j. forfeited his life for treason if found in arms
against her The United States denied this
doctrine-r-her naturalization laws being founded
IF upon the opposite theory.
is While Scott was prisoner ut Quebec. the
Of British attempted to enforce their doctrine Of
a perpetual allegiance in regard to certain Irish
y prisoners found in the ranks Of the American
10 army at Queenstown. The following is de-
S, scrption OF the scene:
n "Scott being in the cabin Of the transport
heard hustle upon deck and fastened up.
a There he found party of British officers in the
y act of mastering the prisoners, and separating
from the rest such by confession, the accent
lac 1nx I'LL. - L. mn
object was to send them in frigate, then along
side to England, to be tried and executed for the
crime of high treason, they being taken in arms
against Informative allegiance. Twenty three had
been thus set apart when Scott reached the deck.
The moment Scott ascertained the object Of the
. British officers, he commanded his men to answer
no more questions in order that no other selec-
, tons should be made by the test Of speech He
commanded them to remain SILENT and they
: strictly obeyed This done in spite of the
threats of the British officers and not another man
5 was separated from his companions Scott was re-
, peatedy commanded to go below and high alter
cations ensued He addressed the party selected
and explained TO them fully the reciprocal obga-
tons of allegiance and protection, assuring them
that the United States would not fail to ayenge
their gallant and faithful soldiers and, finally,
pledged himself in the most solemn manner that
retaliation, and If necessary, a refusal TO give
quarter in battle should follow the execution of
any one of the party. In the midst of this ami
mated harangue, he was frequently interrupted
by the British officers, but, though unarmed
could not be silenced."
The Irishmen thus selected were sent TO Eng
land. As soon as Scott was exchanged, he pro-
ceeded to Washington and reported the whole
affair to the Secretary Of War by written COM
0 muncation. This report was transmitted to
5 Congress, and Scott, in personal interviews,
pressed the subject upon the attention of men,
An ~ xuao ~, Al o 4
of March, 1873 yesting the President with the
Z power Of retaliation. In engagement soon
!. after Scott captured n number Of prisoners
= True to his pledge given at Quebec he imme-
4 diately selected twenty-three Of the number TO
be confined in the interior Of the country there
! to abide the fate Of the twenty three Irishmen
J taken at Queenstown and sent to England for
y trial.
The result Of this firm resolution on the part
: Of Scott, and Of the legislation consequent upon
: his efforts, was, not only to save the lives Of the
twenty-three Irish prisoners, but to compel Eng
land, throughout the remainder Of the war; to re-
spect the rights of naturazed citizens by
virtually abandoning her claim to perpetual allie
glance.
just after the close Of the war, rs Gen. Scott
was walking along one Of the wharves Of New
York, he was hailed by his old Irish friends for
whom he had interfered mt Quebec. They had
just been released from the English prisons, and
now rushed TO embrace him as their deliverer
At the capture Of Fort George on the 9th Of
9 May, 1873 Scott led the advanced guard He
landed on the Canada shore Of Lake Ontario.
: formed bis command on the beach, and scaled the
banks behind which the British forces were drawn
! up, fifteen hundred strong. The action was short
i and desperate hut ended in the total rout of the
! enemy. Scott was the first man to enter the
!. fort, and hauled down the British flag with his
il own hands