Daily American telegraph., 1852-06-29
LIFE AND SERVICES
WINFIELD SCOTT.
by A SOUTHERN WING.
From the Baltimore Patriot


emgrated to South Carolina.
ri our difficulties with England caused Congress
Hsto pass an act in April, 1903, to increase the
Harmy Scott applied Immediately for commits
in one of the regiments about to be raised
Sand in May, 1903, was appointed captain of
Wight artillery
War was not actually declared until june
nl8l2. The interval between 1908 and the decla
|5raton of war was one Of great political exclte-l
Hment. Scott sided with the Democratic party,t
supported the election of President Madison, andE
8approved, advocated, and wrote IN favor OF WARP
Hmeasures.
n In July. 1872 Scott was commissioned lieuten-A
liant colonel in the I'd artillery, and proceeded toD
Hthe Niagara frontier. In October OF that yearH
Lieutenant Elliott applied to Scott for assistance
Ain men to capture the Adams and Caledonia, F
1.-TWO British vessels of war then lying under theg
&protection of the guns of Fort Erie The vesselsa
#were both captured but Elliott was compelledH
Eto abandon the Adams. She got aground, andH
tIthe British attempted to retake her, but wereA
ssrepulsed by the gallantry of Colonel WinfeldI
HScott This was the first time he had met theH
Aenemy, and here, as every subsequent engaged
ymcnt where he was first in command, he was vic /
5torious.
a A few days after was fought the memorable
sbattle of Queenstown Heights. Scott was thel
Micro of the day, and covered himself with glory.
NThe battle lasted for many hours, and was fought
NON the part of the Americans with most fearful
aodds against them. The British army, havingl
jbeen reinforced numbered not less than thirteena
3hundred men, while the Americans were reduceda
ato less than three hundred. Finding that thcS
militia on the opposite shore refused or was un-
liable to cross to their aid, and that succor wasl
Scotts heroic band were at length COM
Apelled to surrender. But their gallant deeds;
Hupon that day carried inspiration to every Ameri-
s3can heart. The disgrace of Huls surrender
Awas wiped of-the taunts OF the enemy checked
sathe character Of the American army redeemed.
a Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec. Whlel
l3he was there, an incident occurred which had II;
s,most important bearing upon the future conduct
E3of the war, and is deserving Of particular men,
Iition.
4 At the time Great Britain denied the right of
Repatriation: in other words, she denied theI
Fright of any of her subjects to become citizens of
slanother country, contending that they owed toI
iaher perpetual allegiance. According to this doc
sRtrine, native of Ireland, Scotland, or England,
.awho had emigrated to the United States, and be-
Acome a naturalized American citizen, remained,
Eistill subject Of the British government, and
siforfeited his life for treason if found in arms
Ragainst her. The United States denied this
Adoctrinc-her naturalization laws being founded
dupon the opposite theory.
n While Scott was a prisoner at Quebec, the
3British attempted to enforce their doctrine of
stperpetual allegiance in regard to certain Irish
Aprsoners found in the ranks Of the American
aarmy at Queenstown The following is de-
Inscription of the scene:
n "Scott, being in the cabin Of the transport
/ heard n hustle upon deck and hastened up.
fThere he found party of British officers in the|
gact of mastering the prisoners, and separating
srom the rest such by confession, the accent
2of the voice, were judged to be Irishmen. Thee
iobject was to send them in frigate then along
fside to England, to be tried and executed for theS
scrime of high treason, they being taken in armsS
Sagainst their native allegiance Twenty three hadl
3been thus set apart when Scott reached the deck.
aThe moment Scott ascertained the object of the]
aBritish officers, he commanded his men to answer
s3no more questions, in order that no other selec-
8tions should be made by the test of speech He
3commanded them to remain silent, and they
8strictly obeyed This was done in spite of the
Hthreats Of the British officers, and not another man
Swas separated from his companions. Scott was re-
4peatedly commanded to 90 below and high alter
scations ensued He addressed the party selected,
9and explained to them fully the reciprocal obliga
ftions of allegiance and protection, assuring themj
sthat the United States would not fail to avenged
their gallant and faithful soldiers and finally,
spedged himself in the most solemn manner that
5retaliation, and if necessary, refusal to givej
squarter in BATTLE should follow the execution of
sany one Of the party. In the midst of this ami
4 mated harangue, he was frequently interrupted
sby the British officers, but, though unarmed,
gcould not be sleuced."
4 The Irishmen thus selected were sent to Eng
9land. As soon as Scott was exchanged, he prof.
\ sceeded to Washington and reported the whole
saffair to the Secretary of War by written COM
gmunication. This report was transmitted toI
2Congress, and Scott, in personal interviews,
fpressed the subject upon the attention Of mcm-l
Sbers. An act was accordingly passed on the Sd!
I Of March, 1918, vesting the President with theI
hpower of retaliation. In an engagement soonI
Eafter Scott captured a number of prisoners
gTrue to his pledge given at Quebec, he imme-
Ediately selected twenty-three of the number tok
Nbe confined in the interior of the country, thereI
TO abide the fate Of the twentythree lrishment
staken at Queenstown and sent to England for /
.trial.
4 The result Of this firm resolution on the part
<of Scott, and Of the legislation consequent uponI
fhis efforts was, not only to save the lives Of the
twenty three Irish prisoners, but TO compel Eng-|
Hand, throughout the remainder Of the war; to rel
1speCt the rights Of our naturalzcd citizens, byl
VIRTUALLY abandoning her claim to perpetual ale
glance
Just after the close OF the war, as Gen. Scott
7 was walking along one Of the wharyes Of NewI
York, he was hailed by bis old Irish friends forl
whom lie had nterfered at Quebec They had!
zjust been released from the English prisons and|
2now rushed 70 embrace him as their deliycrer.
1t the capture Of Fort George, on the 9th oil
i May, 1915, Scott led the advanced guard IIel
landed on the Canada shore Of Lake Ontario,
formed bis command on the beach, and scaled the|
banks behind which the British forces were drawnI
tup, fifteen hundred strong The action was short
and desperate, but ended IN the total rout Of the
rensmy. Scott was the first man to enter the|
f'or'' and hauled down the British flag with hisI
lfown hands
Il On the 10Th and lth Of November, 1881
seou defeated the enemy in two actions-one all
fori Matilda, the other at Hoophole Creek
Tn the Vth Of March, 1914 when only tcepfv-