Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-12-21
NO. 3O4.
!. MISCELLANEOUS READING ).

A REAINIscENCE.--An eulogistic biogra.
| lpher Of General Scott thus relates a thrilling
| and happy incident connected with the null
| liication scxcitement-in Charleston, South
Carolina, il in,'3322. 3d. 70 appreciate the, ,delicacy
Of this timely act of General Scott, 1t
must be known that the Charlestonians, who
were almost continually under arms during
the presence Of General Scott and the Uni
ted States forces at Fort Moultrie, had strong
ly barrcaded with cotton bales, &C., all the
wharves facing the fort, !and had planted
cannon in a manner TO command the approach
of an armed force. Threats had also been
freely uttered that no United States soldier
should be permitted to set foot upon the soil
of Charleston" s:s1 asoIia8 caca3 sai
Just at the period of the utmost anxiety,
when all hearts were anxious lest the NOR
row should bring forth civil con0ict;ta a fire
was seen from Fort Moultrie, at twilight,
rising from Charleston, rapidly spreading,
and threatening the city with destruction.
General Scott happened to be the first who
perceived the conhagratioD, and with great
promptness called for volunteers to hasten to
the assistance of the inhabitants. All the
officers and men were eager tor the service,
and, with the exception OF q mere guard, all
were despatched in boats and without arms,
to subdue the new and dreadful enemy. Each
detachment was directed to report itself to
some city officer and to ask for employment.
A detached officer proceeded to explan!the
object of this sudden intrusion, Capt Ring
gold, of the army, since promoted, and sub.
seuuentIy slain on the battle field Of Palo
Alto, who commanded detachment, rushed
up to the intendunt: mayor and begged to
be put to work A citizen standing by, at
once claimed his assistance to save sugar
refinery, then in imminent danger.g'Do you
hear that?", said Captain Ringgold to his
men, ",oe WiH go tie death for sugar." This
was in allusion to the famous threat of Gov
ernor Hamilton, in respect to his lmporta-
ton of that article, before the boxes bad ar
rived, that "they would 60 to death for the
sugar" 1t may be added, that the detach-
ment instantly repaired to the spot, and the
refinery was saved Nor was the good.hu-
mored quotation lost on the hundreds who
heard it.. Il. 4.-r ...-@ r:a,n
The Navy was not behind the Army in
this act of neighborly kindness. Both wcro
early at the scene of distress. And all, af-
ter distinguishing themselves for zeal sand
energy, returned as sober and as orderly as
they went, notwithstanding refreshments
had been profusely handed round by the
citizens.
tt is not extravagant to say that this time
ly movement, 80 we'll conceived and 50 hand.
somely executed, overcame much of the ex-
element and prejudice existing against the
United States, represented by their sol
diers and sailors These men threw them
selves, unexpected and unarmed; in the midst
of population strongly excited against
them, aud by saving q city from fire, power
fully contributed to save the Union from the
greater horrors of civil war. Tho effect Was
Immediate on the spot, and was soon spread
to other parts of the State. 1t was one of
those acts better adapted to soothe the asperi-
ties of feeling than would have been any de-
gree of courage, or success, in the forcible
maintenance of the law.