The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-11-08
Lieutenant General Winfield Scott
Retired from Active Service.


Retired from Active Service.
The telegraph brings, not Unexpectedly,
the news of the voluntary retirement of
WINFIELD Scorr from the military service
of the country. For years he has been a
sufferer from diseases which would long ago
have driven any man of ordinary will from
the active pursuits of life. For months he
has labored under bodily pains, which, had
the labor been compulsory, would have
been counted not merely cruelty but inhu>
manity. At last these sufferings have proved
too great even for the endurance of such
man as he, and he is compelled to relinquish
the burdens of service in which he has
gained a. worldwide reputation, and in
which, too, regard for his country and his
own fame, made him desirous to continue,
until the spirit Of treason, which he had
once quelled, had been a second time, and
forever, buried in an infamous grave. 10
crush out this rebellion was the sole remaining
object of ambition with the brave old hero.
He hoped to live and guide the armies of
the Republic until the Union and the Con.
stitution were restored and supreme. "Man
proposes, but God disposes - and the victor
of half hundred battles is forced to resign
bis patriotic work into younger hands.
WINFIELD ScoTT was born in 1864
native of the State of Virginia. He was
literally educated, graduate of Virginia
college, originally intended, and qualified by
study, for the practice of Law. A military
man by nature ne never exercised himself
at the bar, but early sought military en-
poyment, and at the age of twenty.three,
became Captain of Light Artillery. At
twenty.six, on the breaking out of the war
of 10, he was commissioned Lieutenant
Colonel; and for gallant services in that war
was successively promoted to be Colonel,
Brigadier General, and Major General--at.
tanning the last distinction when be was but
twenty-eight years of age. 1t is not neces.
sary to record the details of the exploits
performed by the young general, on the
northern frontier, from 1912 to 1914. 1t
needs only the naming of Queenstown
Heights, Niagara, Lundy's Lane, to recall
the most brilliant period OF our military
history, and the distinguished part borne
through it all by the subject of our sketch.
The Mexican War, and the services rem
de.ed during that struggle by General
ScoTT, are fresh in the mind of every reader.
From the bloodless capture of Vera Cruz
to the takirg of the Mexican capital, no
campaign in the worlds history shows sue
cesses so brilliant, gained at so slight cost
of life. Thenceforth he ranked among the
great warriors of all the earth and of all ages
the peer in our modern times of NAPO-
LEON and WELLINGTON.
When the present rebellion broke out
General SCorr was almost incapacitated for
duty by physical in6rnity. During the
heavy preliminary abors of organizing the
vastly increased force rendered necessary for
the protection of the Government, he fire.
quently passed days and nights together in
his office, near the War Department, prop
ped up by pillows, and unable to move or
be moved. 1t has been under such circum.
stances that the patriotic old man has laid
the plans for crushing out the unholy treason
which menances the life of the Union
The execution of these plans he is forced by
his infrmities to resign into more vigorous
hands. We hardly dare hope that be will
live to see them executed. Relieved of the
weight Of responsibility, and of the labor
and excitement of command, we fear be
may suddenly sink into death and the grave.
GoD grant that the change may be peace
full and painless which shall translate the
grand old hero from earth to the heaven he
has earned 80 well.