Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-08-24
24, 1862.
DAILY IN'HELIlIGE EN GER.
TUEspAY,. AUlsIs1a4, 1852.
y WINFIRLD SCOTT.

l.
tant events in the life of Winfield Scott, we copy
Gently appeared. Its short and pointed, having no
party origin, but speaking the impartial language
oftruthful history. As such, we commend it to all
ofour readers as conveying, in few pages, a sum-
mary of the most military and civil oper-
ations of the country since the commencement of
the present century. Next to History, Biography
is the most profitable study for the formation of
character, and there are few of u.s. no matter what
may bejour political principles, who cannot find
much to admire and initiate in the energetic and
successful efforts of Winfield Scott.-{ED.
The lives of men who have risen to high stations
by themere arts of popularity, and who have really
never done anything worthy of remembrance, are
easily told. A single page of History is more than
they can claim. AT most, could only say ofthem
thatthey lived, and that they enjoyed great Offices
Butwhen aman has really performed dmany remark
able, and even splendid actions, it becomes yerv
difficult to relate his lEewithin so small space as
am about to take. It, can, of course, only be
done by passing very slightly over the smaller or
less necessary facts of the story, and dwelling prin-
cipally upon the greater and more interesting ones
This is the manner in which / shall endeayor to
Writea short life of the great American Command
long as it ought to be.) To write it otherwise than
simply and faithfully, there is no temptation; for
the magnitude of great part of the events is such
as to require no establishment, and their notoriety
forbids all misrepresentation.
ID HIS PARENTAGE AND EDUCATION.
WINFIELD Scorr was born on the small planta-
ion of his father, William Scott near Petersburg
Virginia. on the 18th of June, 1885, the year before
the formation of our Constitution He was the
of turn hoJ
grandfather was Scotch gentleman, who had taken
part in the rebellion of 1I45, and fought against
the King. Forced to fly his country he took refuge
in Virginia. where lie became a lawyer. Dying
early, he transmitted to his grandson probably a
larger amount of hatred to British Kings than of
property. His son became - farmer, and married
Ann Mason, young lady ofbetter family than for
tune but OF great virtues and SenSe-qualitieS for
hch she soon came to have great OCCASION for her
husband died young, leaving her the sole guardian
of FIVE children, and an estate which only high
degree Of prudence, could render sufficient for their
support and education. The excellent lady, how
ever, discharged the difficult task admirably. To
do required great industry, ugality, and orderi-
ness; and to the constant lesson of these (yet not
withoutthe still higher ones of Religion, and Of
love of honor and knowledge) young Scott was bred
up; no nuESing of ease and indulgence, but the
hardy child of difficulty and fortitude. His own ex-
ertions seconding his mother management good
education was obtained for him; and, finally, Sc
ecting his grandfather as his profession, lie atten-
ded course Of law lectures at William and Mary
College,; after which he entered lawyers office,
and in 1906 was admitted to the Bar, For year
afterwards he rode the circuit. In the mean time
he had lost his mother e-
'l'.@ HOW HE BECOMES a SOLDIER. y
In the summer of 1907 occurred the wanton at
tack of the British frgate Leopard upon our unpre
pared ship, the Chesapeake, and the seizure and
lnpttSS[st 81 crew nS Eng
lish subjects. This outrage excited violent pub
lie resentment throughout our country. Young
Scott shered' in it most ardently, and, seem
ing to be on the point OF breaking out at once,
ioineda volunteer troop of horse raised in Peters
burg to defend our coast, and marched with them
down to the shore of IiytInhaven Bay, where for
while they lookup their station in expectation of
British invasion. Neither our Government nor the
British had yet made up its minds this little cloud
ofiwara soon blew, over; and our volunteers were
called home again; buteven this short and blood
less expedition had probably been enough to rouse
in our young hero the native passion for AIMS, and
to decide his future career. Every thing, however,
looked peaceful once more, he returned for time
to his practice. But our difficulties with the pre-
tended sQueen of the Seas speedily again thcken-
ed. Mr.. Jefferson tried in vain the weak remedies
of an Embargo and Non-intercourse act. 1t be-
came clear that a Sure-enough war could not be
much longer avoided: an army, therefore, was to be
raised, aud, bill for this purpose being brought
forward in Congress at the close of the year 1907,
Scott applied for commission. The bill was pas
sed in the, April following, and in May the great
soldier that was to be, was appointed by President
Jefferson captain of light artillery. During the
rest of 1908 hewas employed on the recruiting ser
vice and in the study of his new profession. -,
QUARREL WITH GEN WILKINSON.-AND
Ea'3s' ? ITS CONSEQUENCES.
In1SO9 he was ordered TO Louisiana, and placed
for time under the command of Gen. Wilkinson,
i, 18Th,
his connt1ynen, he looked as an accomplice of
Burr conSpiSacy, and afterwards as turning nfor-
luer against his associates. Thinking SO i'll of his
commander he declined all offers of his favor, and
even made no secret of his bad opinion of him.
This coming to WilkinSon'S S ears he became bitter
ly the young soldiers enemy, and watched the op-
portunity for revenge. About this time he was re-
moved from the command there, and Gen. Wade
Hampton appointed nv his place. Upon this Scott
spoke of him openly sS ga traitor 3 as indeed he
legally might; ;fOr the tules and Articles OF War;
only forbid diSrespecuGS language or behavior to-
wards ones commanding officer, not ali ones SUI
periorS at distance, Selling upon this pretext,
and that of his having, while acting without expe-
riencc, as paymaster to the company he recruited,
Withheld for some two months about fifty dollars in
all of pay money to cover some Of their debts to a
sltler for which he had rendered himself liable,
Wilkinson brought Scott to trial before court
MARTIAL in the hope of procuring his dismissal from
the army. The court acquitted Scott Of all the
charges of ttungentlemaniy conduct and of all
fraudulent intention, but convicted hin of Ffunof
fceri like conlucf' in two points: first, in with
holding the fifty dollars, above explained; and,
secondly, in having said at public table that
stBurr and WilkmSon were the only traitors he had
ever seen;'' and that ''the latter was liar and
scoundrel." For these two facts they condemned
him to suspension from rank, pay and emoluments
for twelve months, but recommended to the PreSi-
dent the remission of nine months of that punish