Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-06-13
Lieut-General Winfield Scott.

VANITY Fair.
Lieut-General Winfield Scott.
Great purposes are accomplished more by
thoughtful calculation than by large sums of
money or by numerous bodies of men. One
thoroughly shrewd and competent fnancier
has more power in Wall street than couple
of score OF Ordinary brokers one sound and
consistent Statesman is the helm Of legisla-
tive body and one thoroughly accomplished
soldier will do more for the we'll ordering Of
an army than 6fty mediocre generals and
Captains. The world has produced few great
military leaders men whose stragetic acu-
men could successfully control immense bodies
of armed troops. All countries and all times
have produced such men, Great occasions
have always found some mighty intellect to
direct them to wise. and successful issue.
No living man more combines all the grand
elements of a successful soldier than our own
Scott. Patriotic withc ut being selfish, brave
without rashness, prudent but never weak,
always cool and collected. be takes in the
whole matter in hand with calm and a
steady view. never percipitatirg bis plans,
never dinshing in the hour of mortal peril.
Ia times of. danger hitherto. be has given
evidence Of his pertect generalship, and in
this hour Of the couutry's trial, no man is
found so suitable to carry out the plans of
the government as their well beloved and
confidently trusted Lieutenant General.
Winfield Scott. the son of farmer, by the
name of William Scott, was born near Peters
burg, Virginia, on the 18th ofJune, 1856
/ three sisters. His father dying when he was
child, his mother with small property
and left with i've children, contrived to get
him good education. He chose the legal
profession, aud was admitted to the bar in
1906. at the age of twenty. When the war
OF 1912 broke out he applied for and received
commission of Captain OF artillery, and ac-
companied General Hull on his inglorious
cam paign..
The FIRST battle of cur young hero was
fought at Queenstown Heights, under com-
mmission from Madison as Lieut> Colonel,
with force Of fcur hundred men, against
force of thirteen hundred British, and al
though defeated, such was the desperate
valor with which he held out against such
overwhelming odds, that victory seemed raih
er to hover over the American shan the Bri-
tish flag.
On being exchanged, Scott again repaired
to the ground of lis former exploits, where
he was engaged iu several lesser ac
tions. with success, until midsummer, when
be took Fort Erie. and fought tbe bloody
battles Of LuDdy' Lane and Chippewa, in
which he exhibited rare military knows
eige, and fought with bravery that Insured
success under the most fearful cmcumetan-
ces. At Lundy's Lane he was severely woun-
ded, and had to be borae on litter to Buffa.
| 10, thence TO Wiiiamstown, end afterward
| to Geneva. After recovering sufficiently be
journeyed slowly to Philadelphia, whittier he
repaired for further medical aid. Congress
voted him large gold medal, inscribed with
the names Of Chippewa" aud Niagara"
and bearing his likeness. The States of
New York and Virginia likewise bestowed
similar high compliment by votes of thanks
and making him valuable gifts.
| After the war General Scott served his
country 10 several capacities, both as sold
| Ter and civilian. and his name has been con-
nected with every presidential campaign
since 1928. In l84l by the death of Gener-
al Macomb, he became COMMANDMENTS chief
of the Army. Previous to this, be had been
sent several times to quell the reyolts Of scme
of our most relentless tribes of Indians and
was chosen by Jackson the leader If the
army that was to put down South Carolinan
notification. He was also ordered to Maine,
in 1889, to adjust the difficulties between that
State and the British Government respecting
our northeastern boundary, and his mission
was conducted with skill and wisdom.
The brilliant military career of General
Scott in the late Mexican war not only re-
fleets the highest glory on his name. as the
chief who planned and executed all the
movements of the American army, from the
bombardment of San Juan de Ulloa to the
capture of Mexico, but forms one of the most
glorious military campaigns on record. 1t
took the world by surprise, and established
forever the ohivalrous courage and military
prowess Of our citizen soldiery. When we
consider the fearful odds he had to encoun-
ter, and take into account the fact that he
fought the enemy on his own soil, having to
contend with all the deadly influences of cli-
mate, we feel that we can confidently assert
that it has no parallel in the history of mod
ern warfare.
We have no time tc follow the hero in de-
tail throughout that splendid campaign.-
Suffice it to say that under the wall Of San
Juan de Ulloa !; in the disposition made of
the city and castle after the surrender 10
the orderly Iine of march taken up from Vera
Cruz to the capital in the hsreie storming Of
Cerro Gordo; the capture of Jalapa the tax