Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-28
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WINFIELD SCOTT,
3sCoTTs SLOW RECOVERY FROM HIS
" observation-disclosures -
HIS LIFE as A COMMANDER. s
tconli..a.sa from. Hs.tsrasgs Pepsr.l

CONTINUED from Hesterdeys Pqper.l
SCOTS SLOW RECOVERY FROM HIS
~ W0UNDS.-PROMOTI0N 1t
Fora month after the battle of Niagara, Scott
lay between life and death, first at Buffalo, then at
Wllmsvlle and ncxtly at Batavia, in the house of
Mr.. Brisbane, under the gentle care of whose fam
lily he at last recovered just enough to bear the be-
ing of carried in litter mems shoulders In this
manner, he was slowly and lhboriouSly borne along
from town to town, in search ofmedical relief upon
the voluntary shoulders of those who loved him for
his exploits, until at last they brought him to the
house of his friend, John Nicholas, at Geneva.
Thence, after recovering little further under the
nursing of that household, he slowly made his way
towards Philadelphia, that he might obtanthe aid
of the celebrated Drs. Physick, Chapman and Glib.
son. Every where, as he passed, he was greeted by
all the public honors and private attentions he
could bear. Princeton, in particular, met the suf-
fering hero with the literary compliment of an
academic reception and diploma, made more
grateful to the soldier by the revolutionary memo
RES of that scene of battle. .AtPhiladelphia, Gov.
Snyder and the citizens welcomed him with military
and civic paradeS; thence he proceeded to Baltl-
more to direct measures for the defence of which
and of Philadelphia against an expected British at
tack he had disabled as he was received request
from the Government and the Congressional Repre-
sentatives of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Arriving
in Washingtonin October, he was, being now again
fit for duty, placed in command of that military
district and employed to plan the expected cam
paigns of the next spring, IN which, of course, he
would have leading part and have won new
laurels peace had not been meantime concluded
at Client, on the oath of December, 1914, and rat
fled by our Senate on the 18th of February, 1915.
After this event, there being no further need of
him in the field, Mr.. Madison offered him the post
of Secretary at War; but he declmedit, considering
himself too young, for he was yet only twenty
eight. Meanwhile, he had heen brevetted, for the
battle of Chippewa and Niagara, to the highest
existing rank in our Service-that of Major General.
1t is known that at every previous step of his rapid
promotion, President Madison, though knowing
him well and persuaded OF his extraordinary military
merits, had always objected that, although he de-
served it, he was too young. He had thus thought
that Scott was made Lieutenant Colonel too young,
Adudant- General too young, Colonel of double
regiment too young and Brgadier- General quite
too yonng; but when after his late heroic battleS
it was proposed to him by his Cabinet to advance
the youth to our highest military grade he laughingly
answered. ''Put him down Major General; L
have done with obiecting to his YOUTH" Two
years before he had looked on him as only old
enough to be a Major; now he thought him ripe
enough to be Secretary at War! When, we have
said, Scott declined that dignity, he endeavored to
induce him at least to become acting Secretary
| keeping his army rank, of course-until VIM. Ii.
Crawford then in France, could return to take the
post; but this also Scott declined out of delicacy
| towards his seniors in date, Gen. Brown and
Jackson. -.r, ~. ..s..-sia.l-i5
| is SENT TO EUROPE; MISSION PARTLY
| d MILITARY; PARTLY POLITICAL.
The enfeebled state of his health. and the de-
sire of profe SIGNAL improvement ested to him
| trip to Europe, the Government now gave him q
double commission abroad; first, to look into the
improvements of military science there; and next
to conduct certain secret negotiations as to the
views of foreign courts in regard to the Indepen-
Idence of Spanish America and the supposed de-
signs of Britain upon the Island of Cuba. Ofthese
latter objects he acquitted himself much to the
satSfactiO of our Executive. To accomplish the
forme:, he examined the chief military establish
ments of Western Europe, conversed with its most
eminent soldiers, and attended the scientific lee
lures of the Schools of Tactics; bringing home will
him, in 1916, whatever could improve our own, ant
fit him for drawing up those systems of discipline
and instruction for our Army and Militia to which
we have since owed our Mexican victories. Or
his return, he placed IN command OF the military
division of the seaboard, with New York for hi
Headquarters. In 1917, he married Miss Mayo o
Richmond. -a' 49,
THANKS VOTED HIM; SWORDS, MEDALj
CONDUCT OF ROBBERS. +'
Meantime, Virginia and New York had present
ed him votes of thanks; rich swords, tffor his uni
form good conduct in sustaining the military repu.
ation of the United States, in every connfic
where he was present, during the late war with En-
gland, but more especially in the successive en-
gagements of Chippewe and Niagara" Congress
also voted him, in the same high terms, CONFERRED
by it on no other,) large gold medal, inscribed
with the names of Chippewa and Niagara, ant
singular incidents are connected. 1t was place
for safe keeping in the vault of the City Bank o
New York. A noted robber, afterwards detected
and punished, breaking into the safe, carried Of
from thence every thing else valuable, but spared
in evident respect for the brave soldiers onl
wealth, this token of public honor-his medal
Its case was found lying there open, but wit
its large mass ofpure gold safe. Noteven awhol
life of crime had been able to extinguish in ths
poor felon lingering feeling of patriotism of prid
in his countrys best soldier. Alas! if ever tn
eneral admiration of his country should bring tina
soldier forward as its nominee for the PRESIDENCY
it is but too easy to toreSee that there will be men
/ called not thieves, but politicians, who will d
their best to'rihe him of all his hard-won fame
which the robber respected But again: long of
4 forwards, in travelling by steamboat from Alban
down to New York, Gen. Scott had his poke
picked of q purse containg some eight mndre
4 dollars i'll gold. On arriving, he advertised hi
loss. His money was sent back to him, by tn
head thief of the city, with respectful aSSuranc
that none of his people would have touched tn
Generals purse, if they had known his person.
QUARREL WITH GEN. JACKSON; THEIR
RECONCILIATION. e-
In1917, there occurred very unnecessary diff
Guilty between Gems Scott and Jackson, Tn
Halter had issued general order, grossly inSubor
8 dinate towards the War Department. At a Dime
Iparty in New York. Gov. Clinton asked Scott
opinion of it. He answered that it was mutnou
in its tendency and gave his reasons for that view
The conversation was conveyed to Gen. Jackson
by some anonymous tale-beaIer. The General, al
ways ready to fight any body who Yentured to dis
approve one of his violent acts, wrote to Genera
Scott from Nashville, requesting TO know if his an
onymous correspondent reported the Truth? Ger
Scott replied by telling how far; and the circum
stances; disavowing any i'll will towards him, q
Influencing his opinion. Gen. Jackson rejoine
quite angrily, and with an offer of personal salts
faction. To this, in his answer, Gen. Scott, VIII
though Gen. Jackson had no right to be offended
81 and who ibeSideS that he Ind no need fo 1iv