The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-07-30
LIFE OF GENERAL SCOTT.
scoTT's BIRTH AND EDUCATION.

had three sisters. His grandfather was Scotch
and took part in the rebellion of l745, and
fought against the King. Another ancestor
fell in the celebrated battle of Culloden.-
His grandfather, forced to fly his country,
took refuge in Virginia, where he became a
lawyer. His son, our hero's father became a
farmer, and married Ann Mason, lady OF
great virtue and excellent sense. Her hus-
band died young, leaving his wife the sole
guardian of five children, with n small pro-
perty, that only a rigid economy could rem
der adequate for their support and education.
Young Scott thus came into the world the
hardy child of difficulty and forttude, and no
nursing Of ease and indulgence. His own
exertions seconding his mothers efforts, a
good education was obtained for him. He
chose the LEGAL profession, attended a course
of law lectures at William and Mary's Col
egc, entered lawyers office, and was adj
mitted to the Bar in 1906, at the age Of 20.
HOW HE BECOMES SOLDIER.
In the summer of 1907 occurred the wan.
ton attack of the British frigate Leopard up
on the Chesapeake, and the seizure and i'm
prisonment of several of her crew, upon the
allegation that they were British subjects
! This outrage excited a violent resentment
| throughout the country. Young Scott shar-
ed ardenty in the indignation of his coun-
trymen, and Immediately joined a volunteer
corps raised in Petersburg, and marched with
them down TO Lynnhaven Bay, where they
took up their station, in expectation Of Brit
ish descent upon the coast But this little
cloud of war blew over, the volunteers were
called home, and Scott returned to the prac-
90 I,, 70
it forever, for Providence had marked for him
wide and glorious career. Our difficulties
with England thickened. It became clear
| that war was inevitable. Congress passed
a bill to raise an army. Scott applied for a
commission, and in May, 1903, received from
President Jefferson, commission MS captain
of artillery. During the rest of the year he
was employed on the recruiting service, and
in the study of his new profession of arms.
In 1909 he was ordered 10 Louisiana, and
placed under the command of Gen. Wilkin-
son. For this officer Scott had no respect
Himselffilled with patriotic ardor, and pas
sionate devotion to his cOuntry's honor, he
believed Wilkinson to be implicated in Burr's
conspiracy. The young soldier, with more
boldncss than prudence, did not hesitate to
express his sentiments. The result was, that
Wilkinson preferred charges against him
that resulted in his suspension from the SER
vice for Il year. In this punishment he had
the sympathy of his brother officers, and was
complimented with public dinner on the oc-
easion of his sentence. The interval of sus-
pension was passed by Scott in a asysiematic
F.ss.t sisf5uell SAL ~ ass'fitafs tsssesr srd
thewhole science Of war. At the expiration
of the time, he re-appearedin service with in
creased knowledge. and superior fitness for
the arduous duties now about to devoive up
on him.
WAR DEcLARED-HULLs VICTORIOUS sURREN-
DER.
At length, on the 18th of June, 1912, war
was declared. The military preparations of
the country had been inadequate to the ne
cessties of the crisis. An expedition TO seize
upon Upper Canada was planned, and the ex-
ecution of it Entrusted to General Hull. He
crossed into Canada at Detroit, with his whole
force, on the 10Th of July, 1912, and in one
month and two days thereafter ingloriously
surrendered to General Brock, the British
commander, without striking blow. The
country was stunned by the shock it received
in the accounts Of this shameful puslanimi-
ty of conduct. The blood of our young he
ro boiled to wipe out this stain of dishonor.
He longcd to uvenge our disasters upon the
very spot where they had been suflcred-a
result he soon gloriousy accomplished.
SCOTT Is PROMoTED-sEEs HIS FIRST SERVICE.
Receiving the commission of Lieutenant
colonel from President Madison, Scott repair
cd to the Niagara frontier, and took mp his
position at Black Rock. InOetober he un-
dertook, in conjunction with Lieutenant Eli
oft, of the navy, the capture Of two British
armed briggs, named the Adams and CaleaO-
MIA, then lying moored under the guns of the
British Fort Erie, nearly opposite. The at
tempt was gallant and successlul: the vessels
were captured. But in carrying them of, one
of them, the Adams, drilted on shore under
the guns of the battery at Fort Erie, and was
deserted by the captors. The enemy at once
undertook her recovery. Scott drove back
their boats by well-drected fire. The con-
test soon became sharp to see who could win
the prize. Our young hero's zeal and ardol
mounted with the occasion, and he finally
prevailed. Our men bore off the brig in tri
kumph, and the American stars and stripes
proudly 1oated at her masthead, in token OF
our first success on the frontier, and in pro-
mise OF tnaU SUCCESSION OF NlclOrleS iud1 oool
after crowned our arms with glory on the
Lakes and in Canada.
The successful exploit gave anew impulse
to the tagging spirits of our troops, mortified
and dashed as they had been by HulPs sur
render A body of those troops, comprising
$500 militia and about 450 regulars lay be
low, at Lewiston, under the command OF Gen
Stephen Van Rensselaer,. This force wa;
, impatient for action, and demanded to be leo
across into Canada. The demand was so ur
, gent as to induce their leader to yield to
their opportunities, notwithstanding no sufil
cient preparations had been made for such
step. Hearing of the intended invasion
Scott became at once eager to join the expe
! dition, and by. a forced march hastenet
: through mud and rain to the scene of action
The arrangements of the embarkation wer'
such, however, as to preclude him from join
ing the columns of the invading force. He ac
; cordingly took upa position, with his artille
/ nv, where he could best cover the landing o
) our troops, and opened an effective fire on th'
enemy. The two divisions of attack moved
off the first headed by Col. Solomon Val