The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-11-26
Of General scott.

NOilliieS. beHcl III ',SSbN - 'p'S ""o "'"''"
guished services, the many important events
III which he has been an actor, and the high
almost orsltipfri-rcgard in which he is
held by majority of our people, invest the
record Of his life with unusal interest.
General Scott was born June 18th, 1856,
about fourteen miles from Petersburg, Va.
His school and college days. he says, ''wcre
marx cd by no extraordinary success and no
particular failure" After spending II short
time at William and Mary College, he be-
came, in his nineteenth year, a student in
the law office of David Robinson, Esq, Of
Petersburg. On the proclamation of the
intcrdict, in 1907, in response to President
jefferson 5 call for volunteers Scott joined
n company of cavalry, and distinguished
himself by the capture of a boats crew of
British prisoners in Linn Haven Bay
There being no war, it WAS necessary to
restore the prisoners, with apologies, and
Scott was ordered not to do so again. -
In May, 1908, he received commission as
captain of light artillery, and went to New
Orleans with his company. Here he wit
messed the arrival of the first steamboat from
Pittsburs. He thus speaks of the excite
mcnt produced by the appearance of the
new craft:
"Whist in the city, there arrived, Christ.
mas eve, from Pittsburg. in cloud Of
smoke and steam, splitting fire, the first yes.
sci Of the kind that ever stcmMcd the cur.
rents of the mighty western rivers. This
ctn h,r, IN, Of al
nr Ncsuvius. Descending, she scarcely at.
tractcd the notice of Crcolcs, except that of
u few, who thought her natboat of i'm.
mcnse size, and accidentally on fire. But
in a day or two, returning from Il trip made
to the English Turn, fifteen miles below the
city. she aroused the curiosity and fears of
the natives on the coast when all broke off
their Christmas sports, and many on horse.
back, without saddles, and more on foot,
Somc without hats, flew up to the city, with
bated breath and hair on end, to learn
something of this water monster that could
sails, poles, or oars -
ALMOST A DUEL.
tnt' the commencement of the War of
1872, Scott seems to have been undecided
whether he was to be a lawyer or soldier.
This event determined his choice, and he
received acommission as lieutenant colonel
In connection with his promotion he gives
cnrious unecdote of Maior-Gcneral Hamp.
ton to whose staff he was attached, and the
Secretary of War:
There had been quite an unpleasant
Official correspondence between General
Hampton and DR.. Enstis Secretary of War.
Nevertheless. mere GOODNESS, between the
partics did not abSolvc the Former from the
official propricty Of calling on the latter
Accordingly. the General, accompanied by
Inc, made an early visit to the War Office.
His name was no sooner announced than
the Secretary flew to the door, with hand
extended, to receive the General The lat.
ter bowed, but to my great surprise crossed
his hands behind him. Nevertheless, az
official conversation cnsued after the parties
were seated in the Office, which success svev
melted into pleasant, and then a friendly
character. The interview lasted perhaps all
hour. The Secretary bowed the General to
the door, when the latter turned and offered
both his hands. 1t was now the Secretary $
turn to show dignticd resentment. and,
accordingly, lie exactly rctuliated the cross.
Tug of hands behind! But this was now
very differently regarded; for Hampton was
not disposed to treat the matter as game
OF quits. \ messenger was dispatched for
General ID. r. Williams. NJ. G. from South
Carolina: pistols were procured, challenge
indited, and everything made ready, on one
side, for deadly combat-if necessary
DIR. Eustis chose, ss his friend, on the occa-
sion, Mr.. Secretary Hamilton Navy De.
partment), another South Caroinian. These
very indicious friends. looking to the ad
vanced ages Of the parties, and the ludcrous
character of the quarrel. soon arranged that
Hampton should the next morning, present
himself at the War Office door, to be met
there by DIR. Eusts, with both hands extend
ed, etc., in the presence of the same spccta
tors-the autobiogrnpher and the chief clerk
of the War Department.
THE BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA.
His history of his services during the War
of 1872 adds little to what is known, but an
incident connected with the battle of Chin.
powa is worth repeating. 1t had been hoped
that great victory would be obtained on
the 18th of July, but this hope was not graft
fed:
at has been seen that the model Amcri.
can brigade, Notwithstanding the excessive
vigor and prowess eXcrted the day before,
had failed in the ardent desire to engraft its
name, by a decisive victory, on the great
national anniversary. The same corps,
again confronting the enemy, but in an open
field, Scott, riding rapidly along the line,
threw out few short sentences-amoug
them, abiding to the day before, was this
Let us make a me,c annirersory for ourselves !,
Not finding his name in the official paper
Gazette after his handsome services at the
capture Of Bastia and Caivi, early in his
career, Nelson, with the spirit Of divination
upon him, said: Never mind will have
GazeHe of my own A little arrogance,
near the enemy, when an officer is ready to
suit the action to the word, may be pardoned
by his countrymen. And it has often hap
pened, if not always, when Fourths of July
have fallen on Sundays, that Chippewa has