The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-03-16
A REM1NIscENcE OF GENERAL SCOTT.

One evening after our rubber, / said to the
General, There is one question / have often
wished to ask you, but have been restrained by
the fear that it might be improper" The Gen.
eral drew himself up, and said in his emphatic
manner "Sir, you are incapable of asking an
improper question" l said, "You are very
kind; but il my inquiry is indiscreet, / am
sure you will allow it to pass unanswered y
81 hear you. sir" he replied. "Weli, General,
did anything remarkable happen to you on the
morning of the battle Of ChIppewa?" After
a brief but impressive silence, he said, "Yes,
sir; something did happen to me-something
very remarkable. will now. for the third
time in my life, relate the story: Is.5I
The 9TH day of July, 1914, was one Of ex-
treme heat On that day my brigade skirm.
ished with British force commanded by Gen.
Rial from an early hour in the morning till
late in the afternoon. We had driven the en-
emy down the river some twelve miles to
Streets Greek, near Chippewa, where we en-
camped for the night, our army occupying the
west, while that of the enemy was encamped
on the east side Of the creek. After our tents
had been pitched, observed flag borne by a
man in peasants dress, approaching my mar
quee lie brought with him a letter from a
lady who occupied II large mansion on the
opposite side of the creek, informing me
that she was the wife OF member OF Parla.
ment, then at Quebec; that her children, ser.
wants. and young lady friend were alone with
her in the house that Gen Riall had placed a
sentinel before her door; and that she yen-
tured, with great doubts of the propriety of
the request, To ask that / would place SEN
tinel upon the bridge to protect her against
stragglers from our camp. assured the mes
senger that the lady's request should be com.
piled with. Early the next morning the same
messenger, bearing white flag. re-appeared
with note from the lady thanking me for the
protection she had enjoyed, adding that, IN ac-
acknowledgement of my civilities, she begged that
would, with such members of my staff as
chose 10 bring with me. accept the hospitalties
of her house at breakfast which had been
prepared with considerable attention, and was
quite ready. Acting upon an impulse which
have never been able to analyze or comprehend,
| called two of my Aids. Lieutenants Worth
and Watts, and returned with the messenger
TO the mansion already indicated. We met
our hostess ut the door, who politely ushered
us into the dining room. where breakfast
awaited u.s. and where the young lady Prev.
ously referred to was already seated by the
coilee-urn. Our hostess, asking to be excused
n few minutes. retired, and the young lady im-
mediately served our coffee. Before we had
broken our fast, Lieut.. Watts rose from the
table to get his bandana, (that being before the
days of napkins which h. had left 10 his cap
on side table by the window, glancing through
which be- saw Indians approaching the house
on one side. and red.coats approaching it on
the other, with an evident purpose of surround.
ing it aud us. and instantly exclaimed, Gen
eral, We are betrayed" Springing from the
table and clearing the house, saw our danger,
and remembering what Lord Chesterfield had
said, Whatever it is proper to do. it is proper
TO do WELL and as we had to run, and my legs
were longer than those of my companions,
soon outstripped them. As we made our es-
cape We were fired at, but got across the
bridge In safety. 4
felt so much shame and modification at
having so nearly fallen into trap, that could
scarcely fix my mind upon the duties which
now demanded my undivided attention. l
knew that had committed great indiscre-
ton in accepting that singular invitation, and
that if any disaster resulted from it / richly
deserved to lose both my commission and my
character. / constantly found myself wonder
ing whether the lady really inteaded to betray
us, or whether we had been accidentally OBJ
served. The question would arise even amid
the excitement of battle. Fortunately my
presence and services in the field were not re-
quired until Gems Porter and Ripley had been
engaged at intervals for several hours; so when
my brigade, with Towson's artillery, were or
dered to cross Streets Greek, my nerves and
confidence had become measurably quieted and
restored. I need not describe the battle of
Chippewa. That belongs to and 10 part Of the
history of our country. lt is sufficient to say
that at the close of the day we were masters
of the position and that our arms were in no
way discredited The British Army had fallen
back, leaving their wounded in our possession.
The mansion which had visited in the morn
ing was the largest house near, and to that the
officers in both armies were carried for surgi-
cal treatment. AS soon as | could leave the
field went over to look after my wounded. II
found the English officers lying on the first
floor, and our own on the floor above. / saw
in the lower room the young lady whom had
met in the morning at the breakfast table, her
white dress all sprinkled with blood. She had
been attending to the British wounded. On the
second floor, as / was turning into the room
where our officers were, met my hostess.
One glance at her was quite sufficient to
answer the question which / had been asking
myself all day. She had intended to betray me,
and nothing but the accident of my Aid rising
for his handkerchief saved us from capture.
Years afterward, in rejecting upon this in
cident, was led to doubt whether had not
her startled manner as suddenly
encountered her. That unexpected meeting
would have occasioned embarrassment in either
and it is SO difficult to believe q
lady of cultivation and refinement capable Of
such an act, that am now, nearly half . CEN
-, rty tha avauf d;croo1 IN n; va ,y,v hncfaca