Daily American telegraph., 1852-06-12
LIFE AND SERVICES
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT
BY A SOUTHERN WING


Winfield Scott was born near Ie'eioon s,o ~
Virginia on the 18th OF June, - e np:,: o.
He fnisbed his stu dies at the Cohege OF "linam
iio nIa" and was admitted to the bar in 1906.
~ nroctsinp law in Virginia about year, he
| emiprated TO South Cafohha.
'ii n,,r d;ficultes with England caused Congress
% mass an act in April, l808 to increase the
INV Scott applied Immediately for n commits
sion in one of the regiI uents about TO be raised,
and in May, 1905 was appointed captain OF
! light artillery.
| War was not actually declared until June,
| 1872 The interval between 1903 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, and
approved, advocated, and wrote in favor of war
measures.
| In July, 1912, Scott was commissioned lieuten-
ant. colonel in the I'd artillery, and proceeded to
| 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 tie guns of Fort Erie. The vessels
were both captured; but Elliott was compelled
10 abandon the Adams. She got aground, and
the British attempted to retake ner, but were
repulscd 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 memorables
battle of Queenstown H Fights. Scott the
hero of the day, and covered himself with glory.
The battle lasted for man y hours, and was fought
on the part Of the Americ ans with most fearful
odds against them. The British army, having
been reinforced, numbered not less than thirteen
hundred men, while the Am orleans were reduced
to less than three hundred. Finding that the
militia on the opposite shore refused, or was
able to cross to their aid, and that succor was
hopeless, Scotts heroic band were at length COM
PEELED to surrender. But their gallant deeds
upon that day carried inspiration to every Ameri-
can heart The disgrace of H ulPs surrender
5 was wiped off-the taunts of the enemy checked
the character of the American army redeemed.
Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec. While
he was there, an 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
repatriation: in other words, she denied the
right of any of her subjects to become citizens of
i another country, contending that they owed to
I her perpetual allegiance. According to this doc
trine, native of Ireland, Scotland, or England,
who had emgrated to the United States, and be-
. come 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
f upon the opposite theory.
While Scott prisoner at Quebec, the
British attempted to enforce their doctrine Of
b perpetual allegiance in regard to certain Irish
prisoners found in the ranks of the American
army ut Queenstown. The following is de-
scripton of the scene
"Scott, being in the cabin of the transport,
heard n hustle upon deck and fastened up.
There he found party of British officers in the
act Of mastering the prisoners, and separating
from the rest such as by confession, the accent
of the voice, were judged to be Irishmen The
object was to send them in a frgate, then along
sde 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 re-
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 |
pledged himself in the most solemn manner that
retaliation, and, if necessary, a 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 silepced."
The Irshmen thus selected were sent to Eng |
land AS soon as Scott was exchanged he pro-
ceeded to Washington and reported the whole |
affair to the Secretary of War by written COM
munication. This report was transmitted to
Congress, and Scott, in personal interviews |
pressed the subject upon the attention Of mem
bers. An act was accordingly passed on the Cd
Of March, 1918, vesting the President with the
power Of retaliation In IN engagement soon |
after Scott captured a. number of prisoners. |
True to his pledge given at 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 ut 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 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 allie
+ 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 ut Quebec. They had
just been released from the English prisons, and
now rushed to embrace him ms their deliverer.
AT the capture of Fort George on the 9th of
May, 1918, 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
IS up fifteen hundred strong. The action was short
/ and desperate but ended in the total rout Of the
it enemy Scott was the first man to enter the