Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-30

above the halls of the Montezumas. In
the winter of ls46-7 General Scott was
assigned the chief command of the army
in Mexico. He assembled his army of
invasion at Lopos Island, leaving Santa
Anna, who commanded the opposing
Mexican forces, in doubt whether he
would strike at Tampico or Vera Cruz.
On March 9th he threw his forces ashore
at the latter place, and on the 22nd COM
menced the bombardment of the city
which was terminated by its eapitulation
upon the 26th. The inland march was
begun almost Immediately, and on the
18th of April the grand victory of Cerro
Gordo, won over an army of double the
numerical strength of our forces, situated
in position deemed almost impregnable,
gave Jalapa, Perote, and La Puebla to the
American arms, and placed our forces
within eighty miles of the city of Mexico.
After the summer months had been spent
in drilling and waiting for orreinforeements
an advance was again ordered, and on the
10th of August the army arrived in sight
of Mexico ITSELF Two severe battles (viz.
Cherubuseo, August 20th, and Chspulte-
pee Sept. 18th and l3th,) were however
fought, before the grand army of the gni-
ted States, with General Scott at its head,
entered the capital city of Mexico and
dictated peace to the Mexican govern
ment from its own capital.
After the treaty of peace was con-
cluded, March I'd, 1s4s, General Scott
retired to private life. In 1852 he was
taken up by the Wing party as its
nominee for President being selected on
the ffty-third ballot in preference to
Fillmore and Webster, the opposing can
didates. General Scott was over
whelmingly defeated by Franklin
Pierce, the candidate of the Democratic
party, carrying only the States of Mas
saehusetts, Vermont, Kentucky and Ten
nessee. he, however, received l,3s6,5sO
votes, to 1901 ,274 for Mr. Pierce.
In 1855 the brevet rank of Lieutenant
General was revived by act of Congress
that it might be conferred upon
the veteran soldier and patriot. In 1851
his diplomatic tact happily solved the
between this country and Great
Britain in relation to the boundary line of
The two countries running through the
straits of Fuca on the Pacific coast.
The breaking out of the great rebellion
IF 1861 marks the third era of Winfield
5cott's life. Heretofore whether in the
lnsh of his young manhood, or in the
naturer wisdom of his declining years,
he had won his chief renown as a mere
military leader. 1t yet remained for him,
n the ripe glory of well earned honors, to
lchieve a higher fame and deserve q
leeper veneration from the American
,eople as q devoted and incorruptible
patriot. Though by birth a Virginisn,
md by marriage, social interests and po-
itical predictions allied to the South, he
lever hesitated for a moment in his ale
rance to the Union. His precautions, in
pite of the traitorous insction of the in +,
amous Buchanan, secured the peaceful
of Abraham Lincoln, the
efence of the national capital, and the
rganization of the army of the Union. +
But it was found that neither the physical q
lealth nor the intellectual vigor of the !
loble but superannuated veteran were suf- |
icient for the direction of our gigantic
rmies, and on November l, 1861, the
Lieutenant General retired from active /
ervies Since that time the life of Cen !
'cott has been continued voyage in pur-
uit of health. His life was spared to see
he great rebellion against which he had
rrayed himself with such devoted
crushed out of existence, and
he flag of the Union waving victorious i
ver every foot of the restored and regen-
rated land.