Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-08
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
From the Baltimore American.
The Humanity OF Gen. Scott.


In the spring of 1888, Gen. Scott was charged
by the President Of the United States with the
military operations against the Cherokee Indians
in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ala
bama-their capture and removal to the West.
Immediately after receiving the orders, he pro-
ceeded to the field, and prepared his plan, which
was communicated to the army in his general
orders, dated f" Cherokee Agency, Tennessee, May
IT, 1885," and from which the following extracts
are taken
"The duties devolved on the army, through
the orders of the Major General and those of the
commanders of districts under him, are Of a
highly important and critical nature
"The Cherokees by the advances which they
have made in Christianity and civilization are by
far the most interesting tribe of Indians in the
territorial limits of the United States OF the
$4,000 of those people who are now to be re-
moved it is understood that about four-ffths are
opposed OF have become ayerse to O distant i'm
migration and, although none are in actual hos
tilities with the United States, or threaten re-
sistance by arms, yet the troops will probably be
obliged to cover the whole country they inhabit,
in order to make prisoners, and to march or to
transport the prisoners, by families, either to the
agency Ross or Gunter's landing.
considering the number or temper of the mass
to be removed, together with the extent and fast
nesses of the country occupied, it will readily oc-
cur that simple indiscretions--ac of harshness
and cruety--on the part of our troops, may lead,
step by step, to delays to impatence and exasper-
alton, and in the end to general war and carnage
result in the case of those particular Indians,
utterly abhorrent to the generous sympathies of
the whole American people
:" Every possible kindness, compatible with the
necessity of removal, must, therefore, be shown
by the troops; and if, in the ranks, despicable
individual should be found capable of iniicting
wanton injury or insult on any Cherokee-man
woman, or chd--it is hereby made the special
duty of the nearest good officer or man instantly
to interpose, and to seize and consign the guilty
wretch to the severest penalty of the laws The
Major General is fully persuaded that this in
junction will not be neglected by the brave men
under his command, who cannot be otherwise
than jealous Of their own honor and that Of their
country.
"By early and persevering acts of kindness
and humanity, it is impossible to doubt that the
Indians may soon be induced to confde in the
army, and, instead of fleeing to mountains and
forests, flock to US for food and clothing. If
however, through false apprehensions, individuals
OF party here and there should seek to hide
themselves, they must be pursued and invited to
surrender, but not fred upon, unless they should
make a stand to resist. Even in such cases, mild
remedies may sometimes better succeed than
violence"
The general order from which | have quoted
was directed to be read at the head of every
company in the army. Its injunctions were
strictly observed throughout the whole period in
which the army was engaged in that arduous and
eventful service.
The effect was eminently successful: not gun
was fred, not drop of blood was shed, not q
wanton injury committed. In less than foul
| months between G and | 7 O00 nriannprs var,
captured by the mild, gentle, and humane policy
adopted by the commanding General-a policy
entirely in harmony with his own kind generous
and benevolent nature.
The noble-hearted citizens of North Carolina,
Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, can never
forget the valuable and important services rem
dered by General Scott on this and other occa-
sions, and which shed SO bright lustre on the
character of the nation. P