Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-06-27
An Interview with Gen. Scott.

n boston clergyman visiting Washington,
in letter to the Boston Journal, thus de-
scribes call on Gen. Scott
/ had not seen him, nor indeed had any of
our party, and We were quite excited mt the
prospect ofthe little interview which had been
promised us. Long before the hour struck,
we were in the room in which he was to re-
ceive U.S. We waited as patiently as impa-
tient people could for whole hour and then
we heard his firm tread just outside the
door. We had all painted his portrait on
the retina Of the mind 5 eye, and | for one
gave him the stern and even forbidding ap-
pearancc which should by nature mark the
victor in many battles. But when he came.
my fances all fled on the in slant. He has a
frame that Is perfectly immense, and when
he stands before You, towering above YOU as
you do above a child (it is said that he is six
feet six inches high) he imprcsses you with
the idea that he is an example of the very
sublime OF humanity. But he is feeble, very
feeble, and moves with great caution. The
eye may have the same flash it always had :;
the mind may be surcr in its action than
ever, but the body will not last long; the
golden cord which binds his great soul to the
earth is too slender.
As took his profercd hand and looked
into his calm but rugged face, Il feeling of
sadness came over me which have no words
to express. He seemed to see through my
thoughts, for he quietly said, and thought
there was mourniul cadence in his voice,
as though he felt that the hour might strike
at any moment, when his hand should write
no more and his mind direct the nation
through her sore trial: ''You see sir, how
old | am; [ cannot last much longer"
could not help saying in reply: "You must
live, General Scott, until the end of our coun-
try's woe has come we need you now more
than ever" He simply shook his head, and
said: 81 cannot tell, | cannot tell. "
He then turned to my wife, and taking
her hand in his and lifting his hat as gallant
ly as an old medieval Knight, he said
And this fair lady does me great honor. ~
He then said, again dwelling upon the fact
of his own age, "You are both young" as
though he were glad to go back to the days
of his own youth, and recall the time when
he was just on the horizon of that fame
which he aftcrward won. He spoke to my
brother, and so gentle and even tender were
his voice and manner, it was the gentlcness
and tenderness which are peculiar to, and
which consecrate the latter days of the truly
great, that we all gathered round him, and
said God bless you, General Scott, almost
with tears in our eyes. 1t was an experience.
like which we may not have many in long
lifetime. 0
He could stay with US but few minutes,
for not only was he fatigued with seven
hours ofsuch work as would wear ont twenty
common men, Il believe he is in his Office
from seven to eight hours every day., but
there was crowd waiting outside the door
anxious to look at him, and to catch any
words that might fall from his lips. 1t is his
custom to spend few minutes at the door
of his carriage to shake hands with those
who are anxious to see him. But of late the
crowd has increased to such size, that to
take the hand of each is impossible.
| To-day, as he stood on the sidewalk,
saw sight such as have never before wit
messed. Why it was | cannot tell, unless il
be that common mortals are possessed of an
instructive politeness when in the presence
of one vastly their superior; but as the
General stood before his carriage door, an6
turning to the crowd, spoke few words Of
kindly greeting, every man, to the very foot
man on the curb, took off his hat. Ont
gentleman who had served under him il
1872 and 1873, recalled some Mexican scene
and memories. The eye of the Genera
frightened, and with wonderful FRESHNESS
and accuracy, he recounted, one by one, tht
friends of earlier days. But soon his ton,
seemed to change as he said, "Yes, / haC
many valued friends there, but now the,
are all dead He stood silent moment
as though lost in thought, and then sudden
ly recollecting himself, he turned to tn,
gathering and saying, with a wave Of hi
hand, Goodbye, gentlemen" took his sea
in the carriage and was driven away.