Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-12
LIFE AND SERVICES
on
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT
BY A SOUTHERN wHId.
rn- - paltimore Patriot ]

/ WiuHa AID Scott Dorm hSai
W. =, tho 1stb Of June, in the year 1886
un sa;shod bis studies at the College of William
ri , NJ, and was admitted to the bar In lSO6
! After nr.ctising law in Virginia about year, he
cmiprated to South Carolina
o,r difieulties with England caused Congress
10 mass 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, 1903, was appointed captain OF
| light artillery
War was not actually declared until June
| 1872. The interval between 1908 and the deca-
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 ieuten-
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 was compelled
| to abandon the Adams. She got aground, and
the British attempted to retake her, but were
repused by the galantry 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, or was un-
~ - - 4lc4
| hopeless Scotts heroic band were at length COM
PEELED to surrender. But their gallant deeds
upon that day carried inspiration to every Ameri-
| can heart. The disgrace Of Hulls surrender
| was wiped of-the taunts of the enemy checked
| the character of the American army redeemed.
| Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec. While
he was there, an incident occurred which had a
most important bearing upon the future conduct
Of the war, and is deserving of particular men,
| ton.
AT the time Great Britain denied the right of
| expatriaton: in other words she denied the
right of any OF her subjects to become citizens of
another country, contending that they owed to
ner perpetual allegiance. According to this doc,
| trine, native of Ireland, Scotland, or England,
! who had emigrated to the United States, and be-
come naturalized American citizen, remained
still a subject of the British government, and
| forfeited his life for treason if found in arms
l. against Inc OnlIeu DIdlcS utuleu lHlS
doctrine-her naturalization laws being founded
upon the opposite theory.
While Scott was prisoner at Quebec, the
British attempted to enforce their doctrine Of
perpetual allegiance in regard to certain Irish
prisoners found in the ranks of the American
army at Queenstown. The following is o de-
scripton Of the scene:
.Scott being in the cabin of the transport,
heard hustle upon deck and fastened up.
Loc 60 d. IL
act of mastering the prisoners and separating
from the rest such as by confession, or the accent
of the voice, were judged to be Irishmen The
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 their native 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-
tions should be made by the test of speech. He
| commanded them TO remain silent, and they
| strictly obeyed. This was done in spite Of the
threats of the British officers and not another man
| was separated from his companions. Scott was re-
peatedly commanded to go below, and high alter
cations ensued He addressed the party selected,
and explained to them fully the reciprocal obliga
tons of allegiance and protection, assuring them
that the United States would not fail to avenge
pledged himself in the most solemn manner that
retaliation, and, if necessary, 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
o.; 20 tba of War hu a xu,,tt
munication. This report was transmitted to
Congress-, and Scott, in personal interviews,
pressed the subject upon the attention of mem
| bers. An act was accordingly passed on the Sd
Of March, 1918, vesting the President with the
power of retaliation. In an engagement soon
after Scott captured number Of prisoners.
True to his pledge given at Quebec, he imme-
diatey selected twenty-three Of the number to
be confined in the interior Of the country, there
to abide the fate Of the twenty-three lrishmen
taken at Queenstown and sent to England for
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 our naturalized citizens, by
virtually abandoning her claim to perpetual ale
glance.
Just after the close Of the war, as Gen. Scott
was walking along one of the wharyes of New
York, he was hailed by his old Irish friends for
whom he had nterfered 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
May, 18l8 Scott led the advanced guard He
landed on the Canada shore of Lake Ontario,
formed his command on the beach, and scaled the
banks behind which the British forces we're drawn
! up, fifteen hundred strong The action was short
and desperate, but ended in the total rout of the
, enemy. Scott was the first man to enter the
fort. and hAnled down the Rritish FLAG with his