Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-07-29
General Scott's Benevolence.

General Scott's Benevoience.
The charge is that General Scott is naughty.
conceited, and overbearing-hard to approach,
repulsive in manner, rough in speech, full Of him
self, and wanting in humane, generous, hospitable
sympathies.
On his passage from Buffalo to Chicago, in
July, 1882, with force of nearly one thousand
troops, destined for the scene of the Black Hawk
war, Aslatic cholera suddenly broke out in their
midst and spread terror, suffering and death
around The disease itself was then strange, IN
manageable. Who could face it's fearful, because
its unseen, unknown, and, therefore, not to be
combated power? Who so bold so intrepid as
to stand defiant of monster whose touch was
death, and within the reach of whose pestiferous
breath none, it was thought, could live?
There was proud, heroic instance of self
devotion exhibited by Winfield Scott, who, when
the deck and cabin of his own boat were occu-
pied with the dead and the dying-when others
| were paralyzed with fear, and medical science
had failed to arrest the direful havoc forgot his
official rank, his comfort, his safety, his life
took upon himself the combined offices of physi-
clan, nurse, and friend walked undismayed
amid the terrific scene; ministered with his own
hand to the sick, encouraged the disconsoate,
and contributed, as far as he could, to alleviate
the final suferngs of those who had passed be-
yond the reach of human aid. An eyewitness
whose situation made him in all respects disinter-
ested says "that Gen. SCOTS conduct on the
occasion should establish for him reputation not
inferior 10 that which he has earned in the battle
field; and should exhibit him not only as n war
rior, but MS man-not only as the hero of battle,
but as the hero of humanity"
He adds, " that it was the commanders duty
to give the best general directions he could for
proper attendance upon the sick, and for pre-
venting the spread Of the disease. When he had
done this, his duty performed and he might
have left the rest to his medical officers But
such was not his course. He thought he had
other obligations to discharge-that his personal
| safety must be dlsrcgarded to visit the sick, to
cheer the well, to encourage the attendants, to
set an example to all, and to prevent panic in
n word to save the lives of others at the risk of
his own. All this he did faithfully and when he
could have had no other motive than that of do
ing good. Here was no glory to be acquired;
here were none of the excitements of the battle
field; here was shame TO be avoided, or dis
| grace to be feared because his general arrange
ments and directions to those whose part it was
| to battle with sickness had satisfied duty His
| conduct then exhibited a trait in his character
which made a strong impression me, and
which, in my opinion, justice required should not
be overlooked"
An idea Of the ferceness and fatality of the
disease may be formed when it is stated that in
|
and fifty men to four hundred. To Gen. Scott's
humane efforts authentic report attributes the
| fact that all who were with him were not de-
stroyed; and the magnanimity of his conduct is
greatly increased by the circumstance that he
was himself i'll at the time, feeble in body, and
| always, when near the sick, laborng under some
of the symptoms, Of the disease. 1t was to this
noble exhibition Of character that General Cass,
then Secretary of War, referred when he thus
pressed himself in an official letter to Winfield
Scott, after his return from the Black Hawk war:
"Allow me to congratulate you, sir, upon the for
tunate contamination of your arCiuouS duties, and
to express my entire appreciation of the whole
course of your proceedings during n series Of
difficulties requiring higher moral courage than
the operations of an active campaign under or
binary circumstances.
But this IS not the only manifestation Of Cen
eral SCOTS self.dcnyiug philanthropy. 1t was
conspicuously displayed in the pestlcntal eli
mate of Mexico, where he mitgatcd, by his per-
sonal attendance and kindness, the sufferings of
his men, and showed readiness and ability to
relieve them equaled only by the affection Of
brother. In Il recent speech Of the Hon. John
| c, Spencer, of New \ ork, that gentleman makes
the following allusion to an earlier example Of
the same generous spirit:
Pardon me for abiding to personal in
stance, when visiting \ brother, III 1914, who
had been shot in the battle Of Niagara, aud who
was dying within the British lines. The rec)l-
lection Of the sympathy and the assistance of
General Scott on that and on another occasion,
still more trying, swells my heart with emotions
that would break it, if they could not find utter
ance, when speaking of the constitution Of that
mans nature. No, iellow-citizens. the hardshlps
and habits of military life, instead Of nduratng
his heart have but touched him with feeling of
the infrmitics of our race, and have taught him
the great duty of man in initiating NE example
of his Saviour. Such will bring into the
administration of the government neither reserve,
+ pride, arrogance, nor stubboruness.
Worth American.