The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-09-13
DAILY JOURNAL.


Gen. sco,tans the Irish Prisoners
The conduct of Gen. Scott in saving the
lives OF the Irish soldiers who were ia
ken prisoners with him by the British at
Queenstown is such noble illustration OF
his great character that we take peculiar
pleasure in keeping it before our readers
Here is the incident, as given in Gen Scott S
biography, an incident that has kindled a
fervid glow in tens of thousands of warm
and grateful Irish hearts:
Scott and the Irish PrisOners.-Among
the prisoners taken by the British at Queens
town with Scott were about sixty natural
lied citizens, a large portion OF whom were
Irishmen. The British authorities Claim
ed the right and expressed the aeterinlna-
ton TO hang them as traitors lhese men
were at Quebec, on board vesSel win
Scott and the rest OF the prisoners al
bound TO Boston TO be exchanged. Ihe
British officers came on board anu began 10
select the Irishmen, whom they intended
10 send home to grace the galiows. The
officers had no sure means oi detecting the
Irish but by their brogue or their confess
ions. Scott, who was below, hearing what
was going on, Immediately rushed on deck,
and told his afflicted men to hold their
peace. Then, turning to the British OIL
GERS, he boldly denounced their proceed
ings and threatened like retaliation upon
British prisoners if they dared to execute
a single man among his comrades.
The officers haughtily reminded him
that he was himself aprisoner, and order
ed him into the cabin. He was not man
to be intimated, and refused to go, and
again called upon his Irish soldiers to an
swer no more questions. A high quarrel
ensued, but the result was that no more OF
the prisoners could be identified as Irish
men, for they would not open their lips
The officers, however, had already select
ed twenty three before Scott made his APP
pearance. These were separated from their
fellow prisoners and put on board irigate
and dispatched to England 20 be hung
But they did not go until Scott had solemn
nv warned the British authorities that he
would surely avenge the death of every
man they dared to lay violent hands upon
by terrible retributlon upon the first En-
glish prisoners that should fall into his
hands after he should be liberated.
Scott was soon exchanged. How
faithfully he kept his promise we shall see
He proceeded at once to Washington, and
obtained the passage by Congress of law
to retalate upon British prisoners any
such outrage as was threatened at Quebec.
He again fought and conquered. He had
prisoners in plenty. He forthwith select
I'd twenty three OF genuine English descent
(for he declared he would nos oi>eI irish
by Irish), and held them as hostages for
the doomed twenty-three lrishmen taken !.
home, to be executed. He then cemmun-
Gated to the British authorities what he had
done, and informed them that If they dar-
ed to execute their threat on the twenty
three Irishmen, the twcnty-thIee English
men should pay the penalty by promptly
sharing the same fate. The consequence
was that the lives of the Irishmen were
spared, and at the close of the war they
were embarked from England, and short
ly after arrived in New York.
Singularly enough it so happ' ned that
on the very day OF the landing OF these old
comrades OF Gen. Scott on the wharf, their
commander and friend, then still suffering
from his wounds, passed along thequay on
foot. He was instantly recognized by the
now liberated prisoners, and, knowing OF
all he had accomplished in their behalf,
they rushed upon him with cheers; ex,
pressing a fervor of affections gratitude, and
delight that it is impossible to describe
Their Joy was unbounded as the rec
ignition became mutual. He was seized
and shaken until the mingled pain OF his
wounds and the emotions produced by
such heartfelt exhibition caused even the
tear of stalwart manhood to course unbid-
den down his check. 1t was with difficult
ty he escaped from the grasp OF these
warm hearted Hibernians, who rlghttully
regarded him as their fast friend and ben
efactor, who had saved their lives, and re-
stored them in safey to the land of
their adoption. If the Irish have true
friend, it is Gen. Scott.