Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-11
Letter from a soldier.

The following extracts from letter received by
one of Gen. ScorT's late soldiers, now resident
of this place, from former comrade still in the
service have been furnished for publication. The
writer is native of Germany, but has been In the
United States army for many years. His letter
is dated July 10Th, 1852, at one of our Military
stations. After speaking of some private matters,
he says
have also tried to assist you relating to Gen.
Scott In my opinion he deserves to be raised TO
the highest rank, and to have bestowed the great
est honors the country can bestow on him tor the
great services he has rendered his country. lie
has served her both as soldier, and statesman.
Through his cool Judgment he was always sue
cessful in battle, and by exerting his knowledge
as statesman, he was successful several times in
adjusting hostile affairs amicably. BY his superb
or knowledge as a general he was successful In
the engagements during the war with Great Brit
ain in 1926; as statesman he arranged the
difficulties with Canada and the U. ). in 1888
SO. He left Washington after having only half
hours preparation;he Immediately went to the place
ofdistlrbance at Black Rock in bitter cold winter
night and prevented the collision between the hos
tile parties assembled there. | myself have serv-
ed under his immediate command In the campaign
oflS36, in Alabama, against the hostile Greek In
dams. He treated us, that means the soldiers,
with the greatest kindness-ever attentive to our
comfort and welfare. For example, the great part
of the officers had a great deal OF baggage, using
or taking up the room in the wagons that were
allowed to the soldiers, with their trunks bedding,
&C. As soon as Gen. Scott was informed oft, he
allowed the officers just so much weight IN bag
gage believe, l5lbs, to a subatern and Captain
and the rest they had to dispose of or throw on
on the road saying that he had the wagons Tor
the accommodation of his men, not for the officers
alone He would not overrate our strength by
making long marches He likewise showed his
wisdom. when the Cherokee Indians had to be re-
moved in 1888. Under his superintendent sew
eral thousands of that tribe were moved then with
out ever gun being fired 1t was done in a short
time too, only we had to climb some steep and
high mountains sometimes,
There are some that say, that man cannot be
an accomplished genius in two different branches
that he could not be finished General and great
Statesman but has not this been proved III the
history ofthe Romans was not julius Cesar,
great warrior and general, and several others 3
Has the old General, Scott, not proved himself
such during the war with Mexico? He had to
act there both as Minister and General, and has
he not acquitted himself well of his trust AT the
same time he had enemies who tried to undermine
the fame and glory he had won, by misrcpresent-
ING his actions. Did he not always show feeling
TO his men? See with what a small less of men
he took that strong hold, Vera Cruz-how he as
sisted the starved citizens afterwards, administer
ed to their wants afterwards at Ccrro Gordo, how
well he treated the prisoners there. But at Ia
ter period when Mr.. Tr,s:, was sent out to con-
duct the affairs Of the treaty and Santa Anna
broke the articles and begun Certifying himself, and
preparing munition, then Mr. Trist, the minister,
was not blamed, but all the blame thrown on Gen.
Scott and after he had fought all the battles in
Mexico, then he was called home in disgrace, to
stand trial for ollcnc IS hcnover committed. When
he arrived in Vera Cruz to take his departure for
the L. S., he was met by the MANNED and wound
ed sick and well, and cheered upon his way
by their grateful recognition of his sevlces as cit
izen, iellow-sodicr and their General, and every
one strovc to do some little service to mark their
appreciation of his conduct This feeling pervad-
ed all.
And what load had he not on his mind constant
ly in Mexico, having been intrusted with the lives
and welfare OF SO many thousands of men, which
would be all sacrificed to the cruelty of the MeX-
cans, had he allowed to have them provoked by
his bad Generasiip ormsmanagement as States
men? Did he not also have the blessings of the
poor laDoring classes Of the Meyicans, by judici-
Gus arrangement of their affairs, whenever they
became his subjects. There were thousands upon
thousands of poor Mexicas, that were sorry, when
he Scott left there, and he will yet be gratefully
remembered by the majority of them.