The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-11-14
General Winfield Scott.
HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE COMMAND OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMY.

HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE COMMAND OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMr.
From the Harrisburg Telegraph.
Some time since, the busy 9uid nuncs
around Washington city, whenever they
became barren in sensation news, or when
ever they were also prevented from prying
into the secrets of the departments, inter-
ested themselves IN the veteran soldier
and hero, Winfield Scott, by illusions to
his health, or insinuations as to his pur-
poses, both in regard to himself personally,
and his official duty In the service. We
were told one day that his health was de-
clining-that disease, old age and the
bruises of battle were telling on his life
and, when these reports became stale, that
he was fretted by the neglect of Gen. NJ
Clellan, that the Cabinet refused to render
him the respect which was his due, and
that, incensed and indignant, the old hero
had determined to resign and leave the
struggle for the preservation Of that ma
tionality which he assisted in creating, to
the direction of other minds and the con-
troll of other hands The fact of the res
igpation Of Gen. Scott is now officially an
nounced, but that resignation was induced
by higher and more patriotic reasons than
those attributed to him by portion OF the
press of the country, and the veteran hero
carries with him, therefore, into retirement
the regret, the respect, and the sollcltude
of his countrymen.
We briefly refer to some of the leading
events in the life of Winfield Scott. Born
near Petersburg, in Virginia, June 18th,
eoll bo
captain of light artillery, May Sd, 1SOS,
and has served his country with unvarying
success for more than half a century. In
that time he has proved his right to rank
with the first commanders of the age. His
campaigns have been carefully watched by
the ablest generals of Europe, and have
won the praise Of every one, from Yelling
ton down He has twice been honored
with gold medal from Congress for dis
tinguished services, and retires from active
duty with the reputation, after fifty years
of command, of never having lost battle
when he was present in person.
Gen. Scott in one sense is not known to
the American people, as those are who be-
come popular with the masses. As a he
ro and soldier, his name is connected
history, but when that is omitted Winfield
Scott appears as the stern disciplinarian,
which, in the popular mind, inspires a sort
of cold and stiff respect, instead of that
wild and enthusiastic regard in which
public favorites are generally held. And
vet he is a generous and magnanimous
man, with genius strengthened by industry,
sternness softened by kindness, an indom-
liable will governed by reflection, ability
and vigor IN war, combined with love of
peace and order, and respect and obedience
to the Constitutional authorities of his
country, unimpaired by an unshrinking
maintenance of his own rights. In these
days of rebellion, when the armies of the
republic are being recruited with unprece
dented CELEBRITY, and when officers and men
are being summoned from professions,
merchandising and trades, to the tented
and the battle field, there is coincidence
in the fact that the Lieutenant General of
the Army also left civil profession to
fight for his country In one OF the periods
of its peril when his services were required.
He was educated for the business of the
law. graduated at William and Mary col
lege, Virginia, and at the time he entered
the army was engaged in the practice OF
that profession The early career of Win
field Scott as a soldier was very brilliant,
and at tie commencement of the war with
Great Britain he was promoted to a Lieu
tenant Colonelcy of Artillery from Cap
taincv of Light Artillery During the war
of 1872, the promotion of Scott kept pace
with the regulation of the army. He soon
became Adjutant General--next Colonel
of Artillery, then Brigadier General, and
on the 18th of July, 1914, "For his dis
tinguished services in the successive con-
Hicts of Chippewa and Niagara, and for
his uniform good conduct as an officer In
said army" he was brevetted Major
General He attained this high rank
when he was only twenty-eight years OF