The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-09-21
The Hero of Battles and the Hero OF
Humanity.

We acknowledge the receipt of an invita-
ton from the Wings of Davenport, Iowa, and
Rock Island, ILL.,, to attend Scott celebra-
ton to be held this day on the Treaty
Grounds near the latter city, in honor OF
the anniversary of Gen. SCOTS Treaty with
the Indians, at the close Of the Black Hawk
war in 1882. Of course the invitation reach
ed us too late for acceptance, even had it been
in our power to visit the beautiful country
which this treaty secured to our government.
We expect to remain home the rest of the
campaign at our post of duty.
There is something beautifully appropriate
in having a Scott celebration of any kind at
the spot where the Treaty celebration is to
be held to-day. A part of the most truly
great of SCOTS history had its origin there.
In the middle of August, 1892, Gen. Scott
arrived at Fort Armstrong, situated on Rock
Island, an island in the upper Mississippi, ex-
actly opposite and between the upper parts
of the towns of Rock Island, ILL.,, and Dav-
export, Iowa. The block houses of that old
Fort are still standing, and we have gathered
berries from the same bushes that were plant
ed by the officers of the Fort, and fshed from
the crags upon which it was built. General
Scott had been ordered to X Jck Island right
in the midst of the scene of action of the
Black Hawk war, and within a mile or two Of
the Sac and Fox villages. Immediately on
his arrival, the cholera broke out among the
troops Of Rock Island. Gen. Scott had left
Buffalo with nearly thousand troops, who
were reduced to four hundred before he left
Chicago, and although sick himself he at
tended personally to almost every officer and
soldier taken with the fearful disease. He
arrived at Rock Island feeble AMI weak in
body, We, night and day he devoted himselfto
the sick and dying of Rock Island. Never
did mortal man better deserve the admiration
and gratitude of his fellow beings for his IN
ccasing devotion to thSdme lioration of the
sufferings of humanity, than Gen. Scott at
Rock Island. The nation may admire his
bravery, skill and brilliant victories, as a
soldier; but humanity might well be proud of
him, as the man he exhibited himself among
his sick and dying soldiers at Chicago and
Rock Island. An officer Of the army thus
wrote about him at Rock Island -" The
Generals course of conduct ON that occasion
should establish for him reputation not in
feror to that he has earned in the battle
| field; and should exhibit him not only as
warrior, but as a man-not only as the hero
of battles, but as the hero of humanity"
We have walked among the graves of the
unfortunate men at Fort Armstrong far away
from homes and kindred. Rough stones now
mark the graves of their bones, and these
stones are monuments to the man who eased
their dying moments Of many dying pang
But the unfortunate Indians, also, found in
Gen. Scott hero of humanity. He gather
ed the remnants Of their tribes together, and
by kind treatment stopped the carnage of
death, and finally secured peace which saved
them from total destruction. The scene of
negotiation was Rock Island. Parties from
different tribes of Indians were received by
Gen. Scott, who so won upon their affections
as to open the way to quiet settlement of
the difficulties. He mingled in the discus
sions, and was an earnest advocate OF hui
manity, though firm supporter of the rights
of his government. Two treaties were con-
cluded, which secured to the Indians peace
and protection, and to the United States
, great and valuable tracts of land.
Gen. Cass, the then Secretary Of War, in
view of SCOTS eminent services not only in
emeliorating the horrors and sufferings pro-
duced by the Cholera, but in having secured
these treaties, thus spoke in reply to Gen.
SCOTS Representations me to congratulate
you, sir. upon this fortunate consummct;on OF
your arduous duties, and to express my entire
appreciation of the whole course Of your pro-
ceedings, during series of difficulties requir-
ing higher moral courage than the operations
of an active campaign, under ordinary c:rcum-
stances"
These are the treaties, the anniversary OF
. which is to be celebrated this day at Ro L
Island. Our heart is with the gallant Wings
who are now gathering in thousands at that
garden spot Of the West, to do honor to ''the
hero of battles and the hero Of humanity"