Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-06-24
LIFE AND SERVICES

BY A SOUTHERN WING.
From the Baltimore Patriot,l

Winfield Scott was born near petersburg, IN
Virginia, on the 18th OF June, IN the year 1856.
| He finished his studies at the oolege OF william
and Mary. and was admitted to the bar in 1906
| After practising law in Virginia about year, he
emigrated TO South Carolina
| Our difficulties with England caused Congress
| to pass an act in April, 1908, to increase the
army. Scott applied Immediately for a commits
sion in one of the regiments about to be raised,
and in May, 1905 was appointed q captain Of
light artillery.
War was not actually declared until June,
1872. The interval between 1908 and the decla-
ration of war was one Of great political excite
ment. Scott sided with the Democratic party!
supported the election Of President Madison, ana
approved advocated and wrote IN favor OF war
measures.
In July, 1872, Scott was comm ssioned heuten-
ant colonel in the I'd artillery and proceeded 10
the Niagara frontier, In October of that year
Lieutenant Elliott applied to Scott for assistance
| in men to capture the Adams and Caledonia,
two British vessels of war then lying under the
| protection Of the guns Of Fort Erie. The vessels
| were both captured but Elliott was compelled
to abandon the Adams. She got aground, and
the British attempted to retake her, but were
repulsed by the gallantry of Colonel Winfield
Scott This was the first time he had met the
enemy and here as every subsequent engage
ment where he was first in command, he was vic
torious.
A few days after was fought the memorable
battle of Queenstown Heights. Scott was the
hero of the day, and covered himself with glory
The battle lasted for many hours, and was fought
on the part Of the Americans with most fearful
odds against them The British army, having
been reinforced, numbered not less than thirteen
hundred men, while the Americans were reduced
to less than three hundred Finding that the
militia on the opposite shore refused, or was un-
able to cross to their aid and that succor
hopeless, Scott's heroic band were at length com
PEELED to surrender. But their gallant deeds
upon that day carried inspiration to every Amer-
can heart. The disgrace of HulPs surrender
was wiped otf-the taunts of the enemy checked
the character of the American army redeemed.
Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec While
he was there, incident occurred which had
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 of any of her subjects to become citizens of
another country, contending that they owed to
her perpetual allegiance According to this doc
trine native Of Ireland Scotland, or England
who had emigrated to the United States and be-
come n naturalized American citizen, remained
still subject of the British government, and
forfeited his life for treason if found in arms
against her The United States denied this
doctrine--her naturalization laws being founded
upon the opposite theory.
While Scott was prisoner at Quebec, the
British attempted to enforce their doctrine of
perpetual allegiance in regard to certain Irish
prisoners found in the ranks of the American
army at Queenstown The following is n de-
scrption Of the scene:
"Scott, being in the cabin of the transport,
heard hustle upon deck and hastened up.
There he found party of British officers in the
act of mastering the prisoners, and separating
from the rest such rs by confession, the accent
of the voice, were Judged to be Irishmen. The
object was to send them in a frigate, then along
side to England, to be tried and executed for the
crime of high treason they being taken in arms
against their native allegiance. Twenty three had
been thus set apart when Scott reached the deck.
The moment Scott ascertained the object Of the
British officers, he commanded his men to answer
no more questions, in order that no other selec
tons should be made by the test of speech He
commanded them TO remain silent, and they
strictly obeyed. This was done in spite of the
threats of the British officers, and not another
was separated from his companions. Scott was
peatedly commanded to go below and high alter
cations ensued He addressed the party selected,
and explained to them fully the reciprocal obliga
tons of allegiance and protection, assuring them
that the United States would not fail to avenge
their gallant and faithful soldiers and finally,
retaliation, and if necessary, q refusal to give
quarter in battle, should follow the execution of
any one of the party. In the midst of this ami
mated harangue, he was frequently interrupted
by the British officers, but, though unarmed,
could not be slenced"
The Irishmen thus selected were sent to Eng
land. As soon as Scott was exchanged, he pro-
ceeded to Washington md reported the whole
affair to the Secretary of War by written com
fTon INIT oil n
Congress, and Scott, in personal interviews,
pressed the subject upon the attention Of mem
bers An act was accordingly passed on the Sd
| Of March, 1873, vesting the President with the
power Of retaliation. In an engagement soon
after Scott captured n number of prisoners.
True to his pledge given nj 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 Irishmen
taken 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 save the lives of the
twenty three Irish prisoners, but to compel Eng
land, throughout the remainder Of the war, to re-
spect the rights of our naturalized citizens, by
virtually abandoning her claim to perpetual ale
glance.
Just after the close of the war, as Gen Scott
was walking along one Of the wharves of New
York, he was hailed by his old Irish friends for
whom he had interfered mt Quebec. They had
just been released from the English prisons, and
now rushed to embrace him their deliverer.
At the capture of Fort George, on the 9th of
May 1913, Scott led the advanced guard. He
landed on the Canada shore of Lake Ontario,
formed his command on the beach, and scaled the
banks behind which the British forces were drawn
up, fifteen hundred strong. The action was short
and desperate, but ended in the total rout of the
enemy. Scott was the first man to enter the
fort, and hauled down the British flag with his