The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-30
Death Of General Scott.

FIELD SCoTT died at that place at five MI
nutes past II o'clock on yesterday morn
ing; and although for some years he has
not been prominently or conspicuously be-
fore tho country, General ScorT was for so
long period regarded as the great military
chicftain of the United States that BRIEF
resume of his career will, at this its final
close, be nothing more than proper.
General WINFIELD SCoTT was born III
Petersburg, Va, on June l3, l1S6, ana was
consequently at the time of his death
eighty years of age. lie studied law at
William and Mary College, and after prac-
ticing his profession for few years, was in
1905 appointed captain of artillery, and
stationed at Baton Rouge. On account Of
some remarks uttered by him in relation
to the conspiracy of AARON BURR, he was
suspended from duty and returned to his
native State. In July, 1912, he was pro-
NOTED to the rank of lieutenant colonel,
and ordered to the Canada frontier, where
he took a prominent part III the affair OF
Queenstown heights. Soon after the cap
| turc of York, Upper Canada, General ScoTr
was appointed adjutant- general on the staff
of General DEARBORN, with the rank OF
colonel. In the combined attack upon Fort
George, in 1913, he commanded the adj
vance, and was severely hurt by flying
piece of timber. In 1914 nc was made
brigadicr-gcncral, and established camp
of instruction at Buffalo, and on July Sd,
| 1914, he, with RIPLEY's and his own bri-
gadc, defeated the British ut Chippewa.
On July %, 1874, he fought the battle OF
| Lundy's Lane, where he had two horses
killed under him, and was severely wound
ed. Soon afterwards he was promoted to
| the rank of major general and visited the
continent of Europe in 1915. In 1929 he
published General Regulations for the h7ay,
and in 1885 Infantry TdcticS, from the
French, both of which works were
adoptcd as text books 10y the United
States Government. In 1892 he took part
in the war with the SacS and Foxes, which
was carried to successful termination.
At the time of the notification troubles in
South Carolina, SCoTT commanded the Fe-
dcral troops in that State and in 1889 he
paved the way, as mediator, to the ncgo-
tations which ended in the ASHBuRroN
Treaty between the United States and
Great Britain. After the capture of Mon
tcrcy, in the Mexican war, General SCOTT
was assigned TO the chief command of the
United States army in Mexico, and on
March $, lSI7, he landed twelve thousand
men at Vera Cruz, which city was captured
three weeks afterwards. On April 10Th ne
gained the battle of Cerro Gordo and on
August ID he gained victory at Chcru-
busco. On September 18th, Chapultcpcc
was fought; and on the morning of the Nth
the United States army entered the city of
Mexico.
| In 1852 General SCoTT was the Wing
nominee for President, receiving ,3S6, $50
votes against col ,274 received by the De-
mocratic candidate.
At the commencement of the late war,
| in 1861, General SCoTT did not resign his
commission and tender his sword to his ma
tive State, but remained in the service of
the United States. His advanced age pre-
| vented him, however, from retaining Il COM
mand, and on November / -, lSGl, he retired
| from active service with full pay and allow
anccS. He then visited Europe, and was
received with great distinction, but failed
to restore his broken health.
From the time OF his return from Europe
until his death, General SCOTT lived in
great retirement, only broken by an occa-
sional interview with some military celeb
rity upon whom he desired to confer the
honor of his praise. The verdict OF his
! tory has already been passed upon the
merits of WINFIELD SCoTr as a general,
and of his errors or virtues as Il man it is
not, perhaps, becoming in us to speak.
Where we cannot praise, we do not wish to
condemn, and the dead at least shall
always be free from any but the most
charitable and mcrciul criticism.