Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-30

the British forces were drawn up, fftee
hundred strong. The action was short an
desperate, but ended in the total rout Of tb
enemy. Scott was the first man to ente
the fort, and hauled down The British fla
with his own hands.
On the 10th and 18th of November, 181;
Scott defeated the enemy in two actions
one at Fort, Matilda, the other at Hoophol
Creek.
On the 9th of March, 1914, when onl
,,cen'y.seren years OF age, Scott was promo
ed to the rank of Brigadler-G General.
A few DAYS after this promotion, Genera
Brown, then chief in command on the Nj
agara frontier, left Scott at Buffalo, to in
siruct and drill the army wich was thel
concentrating at that point. Scott had en-
tire charge of this camp of instruction 70
about three months. The results of the dis
cipline and spirit, which his teachings here
infused into the Northern army were soor
te be developed on the fields of Chippew;
and Lundy's Lane.
The battle of Chippewa was fought OF
the 9th of July, 1914. Scott, with 1900 4
mercans, met on an open plain and routee
with the bayonet 2.100 of the veteran
troops of Eng ngland-the very flower of the
army. As the two armies approached to
close quarters, Scott called aloud to Nc
Neil's battalion, "the enemy say We are
good at long shot, but cannot stand the cold
iron call upon the eleventh instantly
to give the lie to that SANDER! Charge p
They did charge. Before Gen. Brown
could come up with the rear division Of the
American army, Scott had already won the
day, and was in hot pursuit Of the flying
enemy. The British had been beaten with
their own boasted weapon-the bayonet.
The yalor and skill Of the Boy Gfn'rai Of
twenty eight had vanquished all the boast
ed prowess of her world-renowned veter-
ans.
General Brown in his official report of
this battle, says: "Brigadier General Scott
is entitled to the highest praise our country
can bestow. His brigade covered itself
with glory"
The battle of Lundy's Lane (or Niagara
as it is frequently called,) was fought on
the 26th of July, 1914, just three weeks
after that of Chippewa. The battle com.
menced about forty minutes before sunset,
and continued until midnight. Here again
Scott was master-spirit of the fight. Amer
ican valor again triumphed over the yete-
ran regiments Of Britain. Scott had two
horses killed under him, was wounded in
the side, but still fought on until the close
of the battle, when hewas prostrated by
wound in the shoulder. This was the hard
est fought battle Of the war. Our limited
space will not allow more extended no.
tice of its details, and, indeed, it would be
to recapitulate the events of
that glorious day. familiar as they are to e.
very American schoolbcy. Where so many
have gathered imperishable laurels, it was
truly proud honor for the youthful Scott
to be hailed by universal consent, "the he
ro of Lundy's Lane"
For his gallantry in these actions, Scott
was soon after promoted to the rank OF ma
ior general. On November Sd, 1914, Con-
gress passed resolution awarding gold
medal to Major General Scott, sin testimo-
ny of the high sense entertained by Con-
gress of his distinguished services in the
successive conflicts Of Chippewa and Mag
ara, and Of his uniform gaiianiry and good
conduct in sustaining the high reputation Of
the arms of the United States"
Soon after the treaty of peace, President
Madison rendered to General Scott place
in his Cabinet-that of the Secretary of
War This complimentary Office was de-
clned from motives highly creditable to
General Scott.
Beng still feeble from his wounds, he
soon after went to Europe for the restora-
ton of his health and for professional i'm
provement. He was also entrusted by the
government with important diplomatic
functions. He executed bis instructions in
so satisfactory manner that President
Madison caused to be written to him by
the Secretary of State special letter of
thanks.
In 1892, Scott was ordered to take COM
mand in the Black Hawk war; He sailed
from Buffalo for Chicago with nearly one
thousand troops in four steamboats,.
On the Sth of July, while on the voyage,
the cholera broke out among the troops
with fearful violence. On the boat in which
General Scott sailed with two hundred and
twenty troops, there occurred in six days
one hundred and thirty cases of cholera,
and ffty-one deaths. After General Scott
had proceeded from Chicago to the Missis-
sippi river, the pestilence again broke out
among his troops. During the prevalence
of this terrible scourge, his devoted atten-
tion upon his suffering soldiers excited the
admiration OF all who were present. In the
language of a letter written at the time by
an officer of the army-"The Generals
course of conduct on that occasion should
establish for him reputation not inferior
to that which he has earned on the battle
field and should exhibit him not only as a
warrior, but as a man-not only as the he
70 of battles, but as the hero of humanity"
After the termination of the Black Hawk
war, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds were
appointed by the United States government
commissioners to treat with the Northwest
ern Indians in reference to all pending diff
fcultes. In the various conferences held
with the deputations from the various
tribes, it became the duty of Gen. Scott TO
conduct the discussions. This he did with
great ability and ingenuity, and the result
of the commission was to procure treaty
Just to the Indians and highly advantageous
to the United States-the Indians ceding
the title to more than ten millions of acres,
being great portion of the lands of Iowa
and Michigan.
After the termination Of the Black Hawk
war and of the treaty with the Indians,
Gen. Cass, then Secretary of War, wrote
in reply to SCOTS official report as fol-