Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-07-08
From the State Gazette.
General Scott 3S Years AGO.

there found short biographical sketch of
Winfield Scott, and thought it might not
be uninteresting to extract from it at this
time, as the claims Of Gen. Scott arc now
being set forth by his friends for the Pres
idency.
From the description of the battle of
Brldgewater, we make the following ex-
tract; and as we quote from history, this
account of the noble daring of Scott in
the cause of his country will at least have
the merit of truth, and cannot be called
in question as spurious political coinage
to aid his election to the Presidency:
About the time at which Gen. Brown
says he saw Scott for the last time, Gen.
Scott had, at the head of his column,
twice charged the enemy. He had,
through the whole action, exposed his per-
son in the most dauntless manner. He
was FINALLY disabled by musket ball
thro' his right shoulder, which he receiv-
ed about half-past ten, just before the
final close of the action. He had been
wounded two hours before, in the left side,
had lost two horses, killed under him, and
his aid, Lieut. Worth, and his brigade
major, Smith, had been wounded by his
side. The total loss of his brigade was
400 in killed and wounded out of 620 in
Guiding in this number more than thirty
officers. During this engagement the
moon shone bright and clear, but for more
than two hours the hostile lines were with
in twenty yards of each other, and so
frequently intermingled, that officers,
would often order an enemy's platoon.
Such was the battle of Bird dgewater, as
it is called. But why of Bridgewater? 1t
was fought near the mighty cataract of
Niagara and within the sound of its thun-
ders. Let it then be called the battle of
Niagara, for it is worthy of that name
Here follows q scene at Princeton Col
lege, at that time, which shows the esti-
nation in which General Scott was held
in his earlier years. Of his past history
we need say nothing, for his late heroic
deeds great and achievements are as fresh
and green in our memories as the chaplets
that now adorn his Brow
'At the late commencement of that col
lege, held in September, whilst the GUS
tomary collegiate exercises were perform
ing, the trustees were accidentally infor-
med that Gen. Scott had that moment a.
lighted at the opposite tavern, on his way
to Baltimore. 1t was instantly proposed
to invite him to the commencement; a de-
putation of the trustees was accordingly
sent over, who soon returned with the
General. He was respectfully received
by the trustees, and seated among them
on the stage; the audience expressed strong
symptoms of disposition to break forth
in tumultuous applause, which was with
difficulty restrained, by sense of deco
rum due to the place and the OCCASION
The valedictory orator now assembled the
stage; it happened that the subject of his
Grafton was the character of patriotic
and heroic soldier, in which he had in
troduced an apostrophe to an imaginary
parsonage, whom he depicted as bright
example of military virture. With ad-
mirable presence of mind, and great ele-
gance of manner, the young crater sud-
denly turned and addressed this to Scott.
The effect was electrical; bursts of long,
reiterated and understandable applause
broke forth on all sides. Even grave and
learned divines, men whose studies and ha-
bits of fmind were little in unison with feel
ings of this nature, were hurried away and
overcome by the animating and kindling
sympathy which surrounded them. With
some difficulty the tumult of applause was
hushed, and the President rose to confer
the doctorates in law and divinity, and
other honorary degrees.
In the meanwhile, one of the trustees
had proposed to the rest that an honora-
ry degree should be conferred on their IL
lustrious visitant. 1t was asked whether
Gen. SCOTS literary requirements were
such as to render this compliment appro-
pirate. A gentleman from Virginia, to
whom he was personally known, replied,
(as is the fact) that beside possessing the
general information of well educated
4 e. 70