The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-06-12
Death of Gen'l Winfield Scott.


to-day millions are reading tho mournful in
tclligence and rovcrcn.ly thinking of the great
soldier now laid low. Peacefully and calmly
he passed away to the future life-his task
performed, his work done. The last of the
men whose yalorous deeds shed such luStre
on American arms in the younger days of the
Republic in its struggles against the power
and greed Of England, who won for the army
and himself an unending fame so gloriOuSly
confirmed in later years by the operations in
Mexico, is numbered with the past.
General Scott was born on the 18th Of June,
1856, in the city Of Petersburg Virginia, and
consequently at the time of his dccease was
within few days of completing his eightieth
year. He was Of scotch descent, his parents
having emigrated to the then colonies before
the breaking out ofthc Revolution. lie received
an ordinary education, but being full Of am
bition and desirouS Of making a mark in the
world, he commenced the study of law and
practiced for a short period. What he might
have done as a lawyer is unknown. At this
time Congress had resolved to increase and
rcorgarize the army. Young Scott, filled
with patriotic ardor, and remembering the
stories of the Revolution, decided to adopt a
military life. With this idea he entered the
ranks of the army as corporal Of caYairypro-
cured such books as he could find on military
subjects, and soon mastered their contents.
Fortified thus he passed his examination, and
on the Sd ofMay, 1905, received his commission
as captain OfLightArtillery, and was stationed
at Baton Rouge, La, under the command OF
General Wilkinson. Eere he remained some
tifne, but have made reference in some man
ner to'the eompiicity of that officer in the great
conspiracy Of Aaron Burr, he was tried and
suspended from command But he did not
remain idle. He had conceived liking for
the life Of a soldier, aud lest no opportunity
of acquainting himseif with the theory and
practice of military science. When it became
certain that hostiEties must break out between
the United States and Great Britain, it was
resolved to farther increase the regular army
and in consequence Captain Scott was ad-
yanced to the grade of lieutenant colonel in
the I'd Regiment Of Artillery, and ordered to
the frontier with all possible haste. Arriving
aG Lewistown be found the battle Of Queens
town Heights in progress. Our men were
suffering for renforcements and the militia,
who were on the American side Of the river,
refused to cross to the rescue. Colonel Scott,
however went over, aud at once took part in
the affair. But the enemy were reinforced,
while the mortality among our officers was
such that the command degoIved upon Scott.
He attempted to withdraw but was intercepted
and taken prisoner with the remnant of his
command. FINALLY he was released, and took
part in the attack on Fort George, May q,
1913, capturing flag with his own hands and
receiving wound. In the fall of that year
he commanded the advance Of Wilkinson'S
descent Of the ST. Lawrence Early in 1914,
he was made Brigadier General. Ia this
capacity he, on July 3, 1914, fought the bat
lie of Chippewa, and tweaty days after that OF
Lundys Lane, when he was twice wounded
and had two horses shot unl Ter him. These
victories were not only important''in their ina
mediate TesGlts but inspired the country with
Joy, and the army with a prestige and ardor
that told well on subseqnentUccasions. Peace
was at length concluded, and General Scott
was offered seat in the Cabinet as Secretary
of War, but he declined, preferring to go to
Europe for a time. On his return he was
much impressed with the want of a definite
system ofmlitary instructions, ,and accordingly
he published in 1925, his General Regulations
for the Army, and in 1895 the treatise on in
faHtry Tactics. These works attracted much
attention at the time, and until within q few
years were the standard authorizes for the
field instruction of the soldier. General Scott
directed the operations in the Black Hawk
war, in 1882, and in the same year subdued,
by cOercive measures the incipient treason of
the South Carolina flibusters. In 1885 be-
gan the Seminole war, which gave rise to some
auimadVer5ions upon his conduct in carrying
it on, bat he was acquitted He superintendent
the removal Of the Cherokees to the west OF
the Mississippi, and in 1887 was instrumental
iu preventing bloodShed an another rupture
between this country and England, by his
action in regard to the patriot war in Canada.
In 184l, by the death of General Macomb,
he became commander in chief of the army,
and in 1915 commenced the campaign against
Mexico His brilliant execution of the task
assigned him, his unbroken series of victories
over vastly superior force, on his march from
Vera Cruz to the City Of Mexico are known to
all. His administration of affairs after the
suspension of hostilities secured him the re-
spect of the Inhabitants. Called again to ac~
count for his actor, he was once more tri-
umphantly acquitted.
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