Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-10


Cav, sco,t and the Irish Prisoners
MAT Scott ia the greatest general of the age,
no one seems disposed to doubt HIS praVely-
fouobt battles and splendid victories belong TO
tbe history of the nation and the word. his
character remarkable for its high moral quallh-
cations sheds an additional lustre over his mill
tarv fame But there is an incident of generous
daring in the record of his life which exhibits
truly the innate greatness and generosity of the
man and the indomitable courage of q will which
has never been conquered--an incident which,
apart from all political prejudices, has rung right
pleasantly on the Irish vein in my heart until it
is irresistibly impeled to send forth the tribute
of its honest praise. The battle Of Queenstown
Heights, which resulted in the surrender of Scott
and his snail force, with all the honor Of war,
into the hands of the English although disastrous
to the Americans, could scarcely be called VIC
tory by the enemy, who, with superior and over
powering numbers, were kept at bay by mere
handful Of men until, overwhelmed, they found
that resistance was worse than useless, and, with
the will strong within them rather to die with
their gallant leader than to yield to the arrogant
foe, they were compelled to surrender.
The American prisoners were sent to Quebec
thence in cartel to Boston. A number of them
were Irishmen. The law of extradition was then
in full force-that is, if any subject of Great
Britain were taken in arms against their ale
glance they were sent home to be tried for high
treason, hung, and quartered. When the Trans
port was about leaving the harbor of Quebec,
Scott, who was in the cabin, heard an unusual
confusion of sounds on deck, and FASTENED up.
He perceived crowd of officers and men gather
ed together on the forward deck, and, from GER
tain indications which he saw and heard, knew
that his men were interfered with He stepped
quickly up, and discovered party of British Off
GERS picking out such Of the prisoners MS by
their accent betrayed their Irish birth. Twenty
three were already put under double guard, to be
conducted to frigate lying near, which would
convey them to England to meet the ignomnous
penalty of being found in arms against their old
oppressor, England.
Groans burst from those brave hearts, that the
terror Of battle had never shocked-tears flowed
from eyes that had often looked without culver
at the near chances Of an honorable death. The
gibbet! and ignomy 1t was more than these
brave souls could bear, and, quite UNNAMED
they yielded to the deepest dependency But a
deliverer was at hand, who, as their captors pro-
ceeded to question others, was heard, above the
tumult, commanding them in voice of thunder
to g be dumb-speak not another word, my men, .
1t was Scott, himself prisoner They obeyed
him, and no more was added to the number. He
was ordered repeatedly to go below, and fierce
language passed between him and the British
officers. But they could not silence him.
He addressed the mournful band who had been
entrapped by a species of cunning which was
only small feature of system of deception
which, from its success and magnitude, has almost
become sublime in its code of devilish ethics,
towards Ireland and the Irish. He assured them,
in a loud and commanding Tone that the country
for which they had shed their blood would avenge
them, and pledged himself in the most solemn
manner that retaliation, and, if necessary refu-
sal to give quarter in battle should follow the ex-
ecution of any one of their number. In this act
~ - l.
terTupted by the British officers; but, although
unarnled, he needed them not and, in defiance of
their threats and commands left no word unsaid
that could encourage and inspire with hope the
hearts of those dropping prisoners. They were'
sent to England their mother country.
Scott was exchanged on his arrival at Wash
ington, and his first business was to make full
report Of the to the President, the Secretary
of War; and both houses of Congress- His eff
forts were successful; the matter was taken up
warmly, and, on the Sd Of March, 1913, an act
was passed vesting the President with the power
Of retaliation. The opportunity for retaliation
was not far distant. Two months after this,
May "a, 1872 in the battle and capture of
Fort George, Scott took number of prisoners
True to his pledge given at Quebec, he, rs chief
of the staff, Immediately selected twenty-three
Of their number, careful not to include single
Irishman,) who were English and Scotch to be
confined in the interior of the country, to abide
the fate Of the twenty-three who were imprisoned
in England. This proceeding resulted on both
sides in the confinement as hostages of many
other men and officers who were all dependent
for their lives on the fate of the original twenty
three
In July, 1916, when peace had been concluded,
Major General Scott was one day passing along
the East-river side of New York, and was at
tracted by load cheers and such q hustle on one
of the piers as convinced him that something ex-
traordinary was going He approached the
scene in time to discover that il was his old Irish
friends, in whose behalf he had interferred at
Quebec, and who, after spending two weary years
in an English prison, had returned in triumph to
their adopted country. They recognised their
deliverer, and thronged around him with thanks
both eloquent and vociferous
II have been in many n battle" said the old
hero, afterwards, while twitching about his lips
and suspicious twinkling of the eyes let one
into the secret of his emotion, "but, weakened
by wounds, from which was slowly recovering.
never in my life was so near being killed ne /
was by the embraces of these grateful and warm
hearted fellows" Having them restored to lib
erty, and through his influence, the privileges Of
citizenship, he solicited and obtained for them
their patents for land bounties, and long arrear-
ages of pay. This was one of the occasions
where "Fuss was added to Feathers" to some
purpose. CYcLoPs
Mr. HALE AND THE FREEsoIL NOMINATION. A
letter from Hon. John p. Hale appears in the
Boston Commonwealth, in which he comes to the
conclusion that he ought not, and cannot, accept
the nomination for the Presidency, if offered to him
by the Pittsburg Convention. The Commonwealth
finds fault with the Senator for backing out ju t
at this time, when the delegates are on their way
to Pittsburg and insists that if nominated he must
serve