The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-30
Death of General Scott.

Deatn OF General Scott.
Winfield Scott closed his long and eventful
life at West Point, yesterday morning. He
was born June 13, 1885, on Virginia farm
about fourteen miles from Petersburg. His
grandfather, Scotchman of the clan Buc-
cleuch, fought at Culloden in 174e, and escap-
ing from the general ruin of the Pretender,s
cause, fled to America for refuge. The father
OF Winfield Scott was born in the region
where he always lived, served honorably az
lieutenant and captain during the Revolution
airy War, and afterwards became successful
farmer. His mother, Ann Mason, was a
granddaughter of John Winfield, who is said
to have been the wealthiest man in the COLONY.
and for whom Winfield Scott was named.
Scott lost his father in his sixth and his
mother in his seventeenth year-then per-
sonable youth and already possessing great
physical strength. In his nineteenth wear.
having completed his studies at William and
Mary College, he entered law Office in Pc
tersbarg:: 1t was as an incipient lawyer, that
Scott attended the trial OF Burr at Richmond
In 1897, where the commanding heipbt and
easy grace OF the Virginia stripping so attract
ed the eye fthe prisoner even at that mo-
ment, that years atterward Mr.. Burr ON meet
ing Scott at once remembered him though up-
able to say where he had seen him.
General Scott's first military service was in
lSO7, about month after Burr's trial The
relations between this country and England
were very unsatisfactorv- ,vo. n ,o,a,
rising over the horizon, and President Jeffer-
son called for volunteers to enforce his procla-
nation interdicting the use of American ports
and rivers to the British navy. Scott Joined
cavalry regiment at once, was made "lance,,
corporal one night and with his guard actin.
any succeeaea IN capturing brace of British
he had the pleasure Of meeting nine years
later at Lord Hollands in London. The cor
poral had meanwhile become a major general.
In lS0S, Scott was commissioned captain of
light artillery, and during the next four years
ybrated between the professions of law and
arms, as the prospect of active service alter
nately sunk and rose. Sometimes on duty.
sometimes at home and medltating law, the
-four years rolled by, and in June, 1912, Cap
tain Scott was made perfectly happy, as he
says himself, by double promotion. "a lieu
tenant-colonel in rank, he says, in his "Auto-
biography" A" at the age of 20, with hot war
before me-seemed to leave nothing to be de-
sired but the continued favor of Providence
In his first action, at Queenstown, the lien
tenant-colonel distinguished himself for great
courage and skill, but was taken prisoner
He was subsequently exchanged and arrived
in Washington early in 1873 In March he
was promoted to colonelcy and Joined the
army on the Niagara frontier. In Nav he dis
tinguished himself in the capture of Folt
George, where he had collar bone broken.
but was nevertheless the first American IN
enter the work. The remainder of the cam-
paisn was failure, owing to the incompetent
cy of his superiors. In March, 1914, he was
made brigadier general. The victories of
Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, followed in Ju-
ly. Severely wounded in the latter action.
General Scott ha3 fairly earned his promotion
and was made brigadier general, while Con-
gress ordered gold medal to be struck to
commemorate his distinguished services.
In 1915, General Scott visited Europe,
charged with limited diplomatic duties. He
was absent about year, and soon after his
return married Miss Maria Mayo, of Rich
mond. Mrs. Scott survived until June, 1862.
OF her seven children, three daughters onlv
survive; two sons and two daughters died
quite young. Ofthe next thirty years, of null
lification and the appearance of General Scott
at Charleston, of his military writings, of In
dian wars and treaties, of Canadian Patriot
wars and rumors of wars, of Maine boundary
questions, there is little need to speak now.
In 1916, came the war with Mexico. Gen.
eral Scott has himself declared that every nre-
jiction, plan, battle, siege and skirmisb Of his
during that war, was successful, in spite of
President Polk's neglect to support the army
and General Taylor's jealousy. The claim is
not exaggerated. From Vera Cruz. through
Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, to the
city of Mexico, his march was succession of
victories. The office Of acknowledgement was
created for Scott as mark of public graft
tude.
In 1852, General Scott was the Wing candi-
date for the Presidency, and was defeated by
General Franklin Pierce. ThenceforwaId he
continued to reside in New York, and was oc-
cupieL with the routine of his profession, un-
til in 1861, the beginning of the rebellion
brought the old soldier once more before the
nation. The wisdom of his dispositions for
the Inauguration OF President Lincoln. his
anxiety, and'his hearty "Thank Godl now
we we got President" when the ceremonv
was over, are too recent to have been forgot.
ten. His important aid in organizing the raw
troops which came pouring into Washington.
his steadiast loyalty, the grand way in which
he spurned the very intimation of treason.
greatly endeared him to the new generation
OF Americans, who had only read of Lundy's
Lane, and to whom Cerro Gordo was far-off
battlefield of which they heard as we might
hear of European wars. Too old to under
take any active duty in the field, the General
withdrew more and more from the great busi-
ness which had passed into other hands.
Since the war ended, he has made journey
of leave-taking through the South, finding
very few of his former aequaintances living.
Returning from that melancholy excursion he
has since remained quietly in or near New
York, and has passed away at last full of years
and honors,