Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-07
A Model Man for the Times.

A Model Man for the Times.
One of the editors of the New Orlean;
Delta, writing from Bethel Battle Field, give;
the following sketch of a model guerriliero
Mr.. John Scott, of Louisiana, about whose
exploits among the Yankee outpOsts and
scouts from Fortress Monroe we have heard
some rare accounts
"He is one of those peculiar men TO whose
complete development peculiar clrcumstan-
ces are necessary. II Rome had had no
armies and no wars Caesar might have shOne
"a an orator equal to Cicero, or philosopher
as famous as Aristotle; for Caesar was too
ambitious to rest in peace or war. But, with
out the border campaign in Virginia, 1t is
quite possible that Mr.. Scott's neighbors and
friends in West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee
Parishes, che has plantation in the last and
resides in the frst,) would have known him
only as a genial companion and intelligent
gentleman, distinguished especially IS a
good Judge of horse flesh, bold rider and
brilliant shot, Here, amid the stirring and
syentful SCIENCES of this peninsula, he is all
this indeed, but be is greatly and notably
more As select volunteer scout IN the
service of Colonel hagruder's command, it
would be hard to point to any single man
who has assisted to more advantage than be
IN organize the success of the Confederate
arms along this line of operation. Leather
stockings was scarcely more skillful woods
man. Marion was not more daring cavalier.
Though the peninsula was but short time
ago entirely new to him, he is now IA
miliar with every nook and corner OF it
with every high road and by-path, inlet, rlv-
er creek, ElOrass, forest, meadow of 1t, from
Hampton and Newport News to Yorktown
and Williamsburg. Not one of its inhabi-
tauts is so thorough q master of its military
topo1raphy. He can tell you, without chart
or fiel6 book, all the ways by which cavalry,
Infantry, or artillery could be moved; where
the enemy would be at disadvantage; where
our troops would hold commanding posi-
ton. 4 brief conversation with him on these
topics Is worth more than the diagram OF an
engineer. In this respect he is an uncon-
cious genius. The engineer only gives you
lines, and points, and aDgles-he paints
We're YOU to hear a recital Of his adventures,
his conflicts, his perils, his almost miraculous
escapes, you would be inclined to ask, sis
this the story of Roland or Of Amadis, re-
heated with modern variati0nr' We can
not refuse TO believe in the substantial exist
ence of the knight errantry OF the medieval
romaunts. when we behold such an instance
of the same spirit of 'IchiFalrous emprise" in
our own days
From Hampton to Yorktown. in every FAM
ilv of Ioysl citizens the name OF Mr.. Scott Is
already an affectionate household word. He
knows them all. He has the friendship and
confidence of the men The women almost
idolize him. The children love him az an
elder brother.
Ar. Scott was the first Southerner on this
neninslla TO make a Yankee invader bite the
dust: he vas the first to bring live Yankee
a missioner to the Confederate camp. Sever
81 of his desperate encounters with the enc
mz's scouts, pickets, and yidettes have been
attributed to another. / say desperate en-
counters," but 1t is difficult to conceive what
encounter is desperate for one who combines
snch consummate daring, such GOODNESS and
nreseoce of mind, and such ready knowledge
IF the situation, however perilous. In one
instance, near Hampton, in company with
two citizens on horseback, he was attacked
nv nine of the enemy who endeavOred to sur
round and take them prisoners. Mr.. Scott
tnrned his horse, and, feigning flight, sue
ceeded In drawing their fire. He then wheel
al and charged upon three that were in adj
vance of the rest. One OF them, however,
It'll had his piece loaded, and fired upon NJ.
Scott. at the distance of about twenty yards,
when the latter was at tull gallop. Mr.. Scott
;nstantly refined up his horse, shot the man
no I'D lust fred, dead with one barrel of
he cum. then with the other barrel mortally
-onnded another who was running across
6eld. and afterwards captured the third. who
Vas not so active in getting away. While
tiis was going on, the rest Of his nine assail-
ants had scampered off 10 wholesome dread
Of meeting with similar treatment from bis
tvo companions. Gathering the spolia opiHsa
of victory, Mr.. Scott then returned to camp.
Mr.. Scott was the horseman of whom the
snemy,s reports speak as having stood in the
rood about half mile from Crest Bethel.
and after observing the advancing column
until it was within two hundred yards Of
him. fying at the top OF his speed to warn the
force of its arrival, its numbers,
n. disposition, its guns, DC. Several shots
were fred at him, and the enemy believed
sbat he was killed, as he was seen to fall
doun on his horses neck. Scott did lie close
20 his horse;s neck, but Texas ranger or a
warrior could easily teach the en-
emy what il was for.
Il il needless to cay that Mr.. Scott is in all
respects an accomplished guerTillero. aud if
q guerrilla corps should be formed for the
var along the Virginia border, he is the man
of ali men to be its c5ieftain-
In person. Mr.. Scott is about five feet nine
inches high, with rather horid and full face
regular, and when in repose. almost femi-
nine features; dark gray eyes; brown, wavy
hair: broad shoulders, fall chest. and q body
from neck 10 ankle, far from lean and angu-
lar vet not sofs and rounded TO q dsgree of
obesity. Pbysiologicaiiy, should pronounce
t,is FORMULATION an admirable compound OF
the vital and motive systems dis dress In
c.mn and on the road for scouting service,
aiffsrs little from that which young Louis
i.na pIanter of elegant tastes would wear In
a walk down Canal street ais arms al pre-
INT eousiet OF q bfeech-loading carbine, a
kn<u1 Init