The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-09-04

| Scott spoke of him openly, as a trai-
tor" as indeed he legally might; for
| the Rules and Articles of War" only
forbid disrespec,fnL language or beha-
vier towards ones commanding officer.
not. at all ones superior at "a distance
Selling upon this pretext, and that of
his having. while acting. without ex-
perience, as paymaster to the company
ne recruited, withheld for some two
months about fifty dollars in all of pay
money 10 cover some of their debts
| to sutler for which he had rendered
himself liable, Wilkinson brought Scott
to trial before a court-martiaI in the
hope of procuring his dismissal from
the army. The court acquitted Scott
of all the charges of ungentlemanly
conduct and Of all fGadulent intention,
but convicted him of unofficerlike
conduct" in two points: first, in with
holding the fifty dollars, as above ex-
planned and, secondly, in having said
at public table that "Burr and Wilk-
inson were the only traitors he had
ever seen:3 and that ':the latter was
a liar and a scoundrel" For these Two
facts they condemned him 10 snspen-
sion from rank, pay, and emoluments
for TIVE We months, but recommended to
the President the remission of niue
months of that punishment. Severeas,
even in the eyes of the court, was this
sentence, it was executed in full, 1t
did rot, however, lessen Capt. SCOTS
military character, except for personal
prudence His brother-oficefs pretty
generally thought as he did, and only
held their peace Not so, however. the
public thereabouts; they sympathized
entirely with the .out-spoken yonpg
officer, and gave him a com hpimentary
dinner. Scott now seemed, of course,
10 be about to receive check in his
professional advancement But.I have
observed through life that seeming mis-
fortunes are seldom really such, ex-
cept 10 the common run OF men. Them
they overthrow the truly great. they
generally help. The blow which over
setssthe weak and terrifies the coward,
rouSes the strong man and fires the
brave. Scott was not disheartened: but
at once threw himselfupon a more thor
oneh,and systematic study,o y,oftactics and
the whole science of war For this, a
years removal from the duties of the
camp gave him a most profitable lei
sure When he re-appeared in service
he was a far better soldier than he
would have become during the same |
time but for Wilkiuson'S attempt to
to be raEenSed upon him.
WAR DEcLARED-HULL; SURRENDER i
PUBLIC DIscoURAGEMENT.
At last. on the 18th June. 1912, the |
war so long expected was declared, but
by our Government. There
had been abundant time for prepara-
ton. yet it was ill-prepared and its
first effort. that under Gen. Hull, for
seizing Upper Canada. though highly |
was SO Unsupported and so
feebly conducted as TO cost us at once |
The whole army sent on that enterprise.
1t entered Canada from Ohio, at Detroit,
on the 18th July, 1912, and capitulated,
at: the same place. only one month
and two days afterwards. This most
event while it enraged and
the nation, shook very Sc
riousIy the. country's and even the
soldiers confidence in our commanders
and our troops. or the ability of either1
10 Withstand the experience of British
generals and the discipline of British
armies Under such feeling victory
grows scarcely possible, and the war
must have been little bnt succession
if disgraces, if daring young soldier
rad not speedily come forward to break
On land, as-Hnll did at sea, the spell of
supposed superiority. I.
SCOTT. is PRoMoTED-HIs FIRST SHOT AT
THE ENEMY.
The rapid professional .attainments
If Scott and his high qualities for the
soldier hadsn been perceived. He
was in July, 1872, promoted to the.lieu-1
of the second regi-
neflt of artillery and sent to Black
Rock, there to protect, with The two
of Towson and Barker, its t
little navy yard. While he lay there, F
On the 9th of October, his assistance
was asked by Lieut.. Ellioti, ,of the navy,
towards capturing two British armed
briggs 1.-THE Adams and the Caledonia) 7
which were moored under the gunsof
Fort Erie, afmostopposite. He at once
sent. Capt .Towson and a part of his
company; Getting ready meantime to
give his help, if necessary, from, the
shore. The attempt was gallant aud t
successful: the brlgs were captured II.
but in carrying them, off one of.them
the Adams) drifted ashore upon Squaw
Island, where, the batteries Of the. fort
commanding her: Elliott took TO his
boats again and abandoned hes. The
snemys.now sent armed boats 10 recover
ler; but she lay within the reach of
SCOTS guns as well as the forts, and,
le drove back their boats as the fort
lad driven off Elliott. The contest
Who should finally bear her off was
quite sharp, and tried very well the
practice on either side. At
asst, however, Scott's. ardor and skill !
PREVAILED; he recovered the-brig, and /
leld her until by the orders of Gen.
'mythe afterwards notedt for his pro-
lamations and his discoveries ihslhe