Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-10
LIFE AND SERVICES
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT
BY 4 SOUTHERN WING.
From the Baltimore Patriot

| Viroinia an the 18th of June, in the year 1886.
He finished his studies at the College OF William
and Mary, and was admitted 10 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 1903, to increase the
army Scott applied Immediately for commits
sion in one of the regiments about to be raised
and in May, 1908 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, 1872 Scott was commissioned heuten-
snt,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 70 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 gaantry 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
J 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 was
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
v was wiped of-the taunts Of the enemy checked
the character Of the American army redeemed
n Scott was carried prisoner to Quebec. While
!; he was there an incident occurred which had O
Il most important bearing upon the future conduct
), of the war, and is deserving Of particular men,
u ton.
d At the time Great Britain denied the right of
g expatriation: in other words, she denied the
right of any of her subjects to become citizens Of
ls another country, contending that they owed to
e her perpetual allegiance. According to this doc
4 trine native of Ireland Scotland, or England,
p who had emgrated to the United States, and be-
al come o naturaliZed American citizen, remained
!; still subject of the British government, and
., forfeited his life for treason if found in arms
ID against her The United States denied this
q doctrine-her naturalization laws being founded
u upon the opposite theory.
Us While Scott was a prisoner at Quebec the
British attempted to enforce their doctrine oi
l. perpetual allegiance in regard to certain Irish
1t prisoners found in the ranks of the American
III army at Queenstown. The following is a de-
D scription Of the scene
lie "Scott, being in the cabin of the transport,
5e heard hustle upon deck and fastened up.
u There he found party of British officers in the
act of mastering the prisoners and separating
t from the rest such by confession, the accent
e of the voice, were judged to be Irishmen. The
object was to send them in frigate, then along
= side to England to be tried and executed for the
d 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
VI no more questions, in order that no other selec-
20 tions should be made by the test of speech He
~ commanded them TO remain silent, and they
"a strictly obeyed. This was done in spite Of the
- threats ofthe British officers and not another man
- was separated from his companions. Scott was re-
: peatedly commanded to 90 below, and high alter
cations ensued. He addressed the party selected,
and explained to them fully the reciprocal obliga-
J tions Of allegiance and protection assuring them
e that the United States would not fail to ayenge
l. their gallant and faithful soldiers; and finally
pledged himself in the most solemn manner that
9 retaliation and, if necessary, refusal to give
quarter in battle, should follow the execution of
any one Of the party. In the midst of this ami
u mated harangue, he was frequently interrupted
D by the British officers but though unarmed,
y could not be silenced"
d The Irishmen thus selected were sent to Eng.
land AS soon as Scott was exchanged, he pro-
n ceeded to Washington and reported the whole
affair to the Secretary Of War by o written com
munication. This report was transmitted to
( Congress, and Scott, in personal interviews,
y pressed the subject upon the attention of mem
!. bers An act was accordingly passed on the Sd
= of March, 1913, vesting the President with the
!, power Of retaliation. In engagement soon
: after Scott captured a number of prisoners
: True 10 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 Mt Queenstown and sent to England for
= trial.
:, y The result of this firm resolution on the part
! of Scott, and Of the legislation consequent upon
= bis efforts, was not only to the lives Of the
= twenty three Irish prisoners but to compel Eng
y land, throughout the remainder Of the war, to
2 spect the rights of our naturalized citizens, by
: = virtually abandoning her claim to perpetual ae-
: : glance
y Just after the close Of the war, as Gen. Scott
!. was walking along one of the wharves of New
y York. he was hailed by his old Irish friends for
= = whom he had interfered at Quebec. They had
= just been released from the English prisons, and
= now rushed to embrace him as their deliverer
At the capture Of Fort George, on the 9th of
y 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
pr up, fifteen hundred strong The action was short
n and desperate but ended in the total rout of the
nv enemy Scott was the first man to enter the
er fort and hauled down the British flag with bis