Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-17

dred men, while the Americans were reduced to
| less than three hundred Finding that the mill
tia the opposite shore refused, or was unable 70
cross to their aid, and that succor was hopeless
SCOTS heroic band were Mt length compelled to
surrender But their gallant deeds upon that ,lay
| carried inspiration to every American heart. The
| disgrace of Hull's surrender was wiped oil,-the
taunts of the enemy checked-the character Of
the American army redeemed
Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec While
ne 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
expatriation. In other words, she denied the
right fany oil her subjects to become citizens of
another country, contendng that they owed to
her perpetual allegiance. According to this doc
trlne, native of Ireland Scotland or England,
who had emigrated to the United States and be
come a naturalized American citizen, remained
still subject of the British government, and for
feited his life for treason if found in arms against
her. The United States denied this doctrine
her naturalization laws being founded upon the op-
posite theory.
While Scott was prisoner at Quebec, the
British attempted enforce their doctrine of per-
petua allegiance in regard to certain Irish prison
ers found in the ranks of the American army
at Queenstown. The following is a description
of the scene:
Scott being in the cabin of the transports, heard
hustle upon deck and hastened up. There he
found party of British officers in the act of mus
tering the prisoners, and separating from the rest
such asby confession, or the accent of the voice
were judged to be Irshmen. The object was to
send them in frigate then alongside, to England,
to be tried and executed for the crime of high
treason, they being taken in arms against their ma
tive allegiance. Twenty-three had been thus set
apart when Scott reached the deck 4. The
moment Scott ascertained the object of the Bri-
tish officers, he commanded his men to answer no
more questions, in order that no other selection
should be made by the test of speech. He COM
manded 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 sepa-
rated from his companions Scott was repeated
ly commanded to go below and high alterations
ensued. He addressed the party selected and ex-
planned to them fully the reciprocal obligations of
allegiance and protection, assuring them that the
United States would not fail to avenge their gal
liant and faithful soldiers and finally pledged him
self, IN the most solemn manner, the retaliation,
and II necessary, refusal to give quarter in bat
tie, should follow the execution of any one of the
party. In the midst of this animated harangue
he was frequently interrupted by the British off
GERS, but though unarmed, could not be silenced
The Hishmen thus selected were sent to Eng
land AS soon Scott was exchanged, he pro
ceeded to Washington and reported the whole af-
fair to the Secretary of War by written COM
munlcation. This report was transmitted to
Congress; and Scott, in personal interviews
pressed the subject upon the attention of men,
bers. An act was accordingly passed on the
Sd OF March, 1913, vesting the President with
the powero of retaliation. In an engagement soon
alter, Scott captured number of prisoners
True to his pledge given at Quebec, he imme-
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 Iriahmen ia
ken 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 the lives of the TWEEN
! three Irish prisoners, but to compel England
| throughout the remainder of the war, to respect
the rights Of naturalized citizens, by virtually
abandoning her claim to perpetual allegiance.
just after the close of the war, as General
Scott was walking along one of the wharves of
New York, he was hailed by his old Irish friends
for whom he had interfered at Quebec. They
had just been released from the English prisons =
and now rushed to embrace him as their deliver
or
At the capture of Fort George, on the eth of
May, 1913, Scott led the advanced guard. He
landed the Canada shore of Lake On
| tario, formed his command on the beach, and
| scaled the hanks behind which the British forces
were drawn up fifteen hundred strong. The ac-
ton was short ard desperate but ended in the to-
| tai route of the enemy. Scott was the first man
| to enter the fort, and hauled down the British
| flag with his own hands,
On the 10th and 18th of November, 1913, Scott
defeatedt the enemy in two actions, one at Fort
Matilda, the other at Hoophoe Greek.
On the 9th of March, 1914, when only tareatq-
seuen years of age, Scott was promoted to the
rank of Brigadier General.
| few days after this promotion, General Brown,
then chief in command on the Niagara frontier,
left Scott at Buffalo, to instruct and drill the army
which was then concentrating at that point
Scott had entire charge of this camp of instruc-
ton for about three months. The results of the
discipline and spirit which his teachings here in
fused into the Northern army, were soon to be de-
veloped on the fields of Chippewa and Lundy's
| Lane
The battle of Chippewa was fought on the 5th
OF July, 1913. Scott, with 1900 Americans met
on an open plain and routed with the bayonet 2lOO
OF the veteran troops of England-the very flower
OF the army. As the two armies approached to
close quarters, Scott called aloud to McNeil's bat
tallon-''th the enemy say we are good at long shot,
but cannot stand the cold iron l call upon the
eleventh instantly to give the lie to that Islander !
Charge" They did charge. Before General
Brown could come up with the rear division ofthe
American army, Scott had already won the day,
and wasin hot pursuit of the flying enemy. The
British had been beaten with their own boosted
weapon-the bayonet The valor and skill of TIE
Boy Generatof twentyeight had vanquished all
| the boosted prowess of her word-renowned vet
| Grams.
Gen. Brown, in his official report of this battle,
says 'Brigadier General Scott is entitled to the
highest praise country can bestow. His bri-
! gade covered itself with glory
The battle of Lundy's Lane Tor Niagara as it is
frequently called,) was fought on the goth of Ju-
y, 1914, just three weeks after that of Chippe-
wa. The battle commenced about forty minutes
before sunset and continued until midnight. Here
again Scott was the master spirit of the fight
American valor again triumphed over the veteran
regiments Of Britain Scott had two horses killed
under him, was wounded in the side, but still
fought on until the close of the battle, when he