Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14

batteries, ana tnen rusneu upon them with the
bayonet After short but bloody contest he cap
tured them-an event. we may say, decisive of the
battle; for although the enemy made repeated at
tempts to recover their guns and their position,
they were as often driven back by the unfnching
steadiness of our men. 1t was past eleven o'clock,
however, before they finally, with no very good
grace, gave up the contest and abandoned the field
to us In driving back of the last of these OBJ
stinate and bloody charges Scott received very Sc
we're musket-shot wound, which shattered all the
bones of his left shoulder and still greatly disables
that arm. Gen. Brown, also, was badly wounded
about the same time; and both Generals had to be
borne from the field with hurts that left it doubtful
if either would ever be able to serve again We
have only to add, in regard to the fight of Chippe
wa, that if modern times show us battles on
greater scale decisive in their consequences
than this Lundy's Lane or Bridgewater they can
present none more skilfully or boodily contested
for again Gas at Chippewa) the loss among all those
engaged may be fairly stated as probably one in
every four, killed, wounded, or taken.
SCOTS SLOW RECOVERY FROM HIS WOUNDS
PROMOTION.
For month after the battle of Niagara Scott
lay between life and DEATH first at Buffalo, then
at Williamsville, and nextly at Batavia, in the
house of Mr. Brisbane, under the gentle care of
whose family he at last recovered just enough to
bear the being carried in litter on mems shoulders
In this manner he slowly and laboriously borne
along from town to town, in search of medical re-
lief, upon the voluntary shoulders of those who
loved him for his exploits until at last they brought
him to the house of his friend, John Nicholas, at
Geneva. Themes, after recovering little further
under the nursing Of that household, he slowly made
his way towards Philadelphia, that he might obtain
the aid of the celebrated Drs. Physick, Chapman
and Gibson. Every where as he passed he was
greeted by all the public honors and private atten-
tons he could bear Princeton in particular, met
the suffering hero with the literary compliment of
an academic reception and diploma, made more
grateful to the soldier by the revolutionary memo
ries of that scene of battles At Philadelphia Gov
Snyder and the citizens welcomed him with mill
tary and civic parades. Thence he proceeded to
Baltimore, to direct measures for the defence of
which and of Philadelphia against an expected Bri-
fish attack he had, disabled as he was, received
request from the Government and the Congressional
representatives of Pennsylvania and Maryland
Arriving in Washington in October, he was, being
now again fit for duty, placed in command of that
military district, and employed to plan the expected
campaigns OF the next spring, in which, of course,
ne would have had a leading part, and have won
new laurels, If peace had not been meantime con-
cluded at Client, on the oath of December, 1914,
and ratified by our Senate on the 18th of February.
1915. After this event, there being no further
need for him in the field, Mr.. Madison offered him
the post of Secretary at War; but he declined it.
considering himself too young, for he was yet only
twenty-eight. Meanwhile, he had been brevetted
for the battles Of Chippewa and Niagara to the
highest existing rank in our service-that of Major
General. 1t is known that at every previous step
of his rapid promotion President Madison, though
knowing him well and persuaded of his extraord-
nary military merits had always objected that, al
though he deserved it, he was too young. He had
thus thought that Scott was made lieutenant colonel
too young, adJutant general too young, colonel of
double regiment too young and brigadier general
quite too young. But when, after his late heroic
battles, it was proposed to him BY his Cabinet to
advance the youth to our highest military grade.
he laughingly answered, /" Put him down major
general; have done with Directing to his youth"
Two years before he had looked on him as only old
enough to be major; now he thought him ripe
enough to be Secretary at War; When, as we
have sad Scott declined that dignity, he endeavor-
ed to induce him at least to become acting Secre-
tary-keeping his army rank, Of course-until VIM.
III Crawford, then in France, could return to take
the post; but this also Scott respectfully declined,
out of dehcacy towards his seniors in date Gems
Brown and jackson.
is SENT TO EUROPE: MISSION PARTLY MILITARY
PARTLY POLITICAL.
The enfeebled state of his health and the desire
OF professional improvement suggesting to him
trip to Europe, the Government now gave him
double commission abroad first, to look into the
improvements of military science there and next
to conduct certain secret negotiations as to the views
of foreign courts in regard to the Independence of
Spanish America and the supposed designs of Bri-
tain upon the island of Cuba. OF these latter OBJ
ects he acquitted himself much to the satisfaction
Of our Executive. To accomplish the former, he
examined the chief military establishments of West
ern Europe, conversed with its most eminent SOL
diers, and attended the scientific lectures of the
schools Of Tactics; bringing home with him, in 1876
whatever could improve own and fit him for
drawing up those systems Of discipline and nstruc-
ton for our Army and Militia to which we have
since owed our Mexican victories. On his return
he was placed in command of the military division
of the seaboard, with New York for his headquar-
tiers. In 1917, he married Miss Mayo, of Richmond.
THANKS VOTED HIM SWORDS MEDAL: CONDUCT
OF ROBBERS
Meantime, Virginia and New York had presented
him votes Of thanks and rich swords for his uni
form good conduct in sustaining the military repu-
taton of the United States, in every conflict where
he was present during the late war with England,
but more especially in the successive engagements
of Chippewa and Niagara" Congress also voted
him, IN the same high terms Conferred by it on no
other large gold medal inscribed with the names
of Chippewa and Niagara and bearing his image
upon it. With this medal two singular incidents
are connected. 1t was placed for safe keeping in
the vault of the City Bank Of New York 4 noted
I'LL oftn IL. IL 4 -