Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-03-16
A "Reminiscences OF General Scott.

One evening after our rubber |
said to the General, "there is one
question I have often wished to ask
you, but have been restrained by the
tear that it might be improper Tue
General drew himself M, and SAID IN
his emphatic manner, "Sir, you are
incapable of asking an improper
question" "You are very kind but
ii my inquiry is indiscreet I am sure
,you will allow it to pass unanswer-
ed II hear you. Sir" he replied.
Nv ell, then, General, did any thing
remarkable happen to you on the
morning of the battle Of Chippe-
wa?" After 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:
The 4th day OF July, 1914, was
one OF extreme heat On that day
my brigade sklrmished with Brit
ish force commanded by General
RAIL from an early hour in the morn
ing till late in the afternoon. We
had driven the enemy down the river
some twelve miles to Streets Creek;
near Chippewa, where we encamped
for the night, our army occupying
the west, while that of the enemy
encamped on the east side of the
creek. After our tents had been
pitched l observed flag, borne by =
man IN peasants dress, approaching
my marquee. He brought q letter
from lady who occupied large
mansion on the opposite side Of the
creek, informing me that she was the
wife Of member OF Parliament,
who was then at Quebec; that her
children, servants. and young lady
friend were alone with her in the
house; that General Rail had placed
q sentinel before her door and that
she veaturcd, with great doubts Of
the propricty of the request, to ask
that / would place sentinel upon
the bridge to protect her against
stragglers from our camp. Iassnred
the messenger that the lady's request
should be complied with. Early the
next morning the same messenger,
bearing q white flag, reapeared with
q note from the same lady, thanking
me Tor the protection she had enjoyed,
adding that, in acknowledgment Of
my clvilities, she begged that I
would, with such msmbers of my
staff as I chose TO bring with me, &C.
cept the Inequalities Of her house at
. breakfast which had been prepared
with considerable attention, and was
quite ready. Acting upon an i'm
pulse which have never been able
TO analyxc or comprehend, called two
81 my aids, Lieutenan.s Worth and
Watts, and returned with the mes.
sengsr to the mansion already indi
Gated. We met our hostess at the
door, who ushered US into tho dining
room, where breakfast awaited us,
and where tho young lady previous
~ referred to was already seated by
the coffee.urn. Our hostess, asking
to be excused for . few minutes, re-
tired, and the young lady immediate
w served our coffee. Before We had
broken our fast Lieutenant Watts
rose from tho table to get his ban.
dana THAT being before the days of
napkins). which he had left in his cap
on "a sidc.table by the window, glanc-
ing through which he saw Indians
approaching the house on one side,
and red-coats approaching it on the
other, with an evident purpose OF
surrounding it and us, and instantly
exclaimed, General, VIC arc be.
trayedw Springing from. the table
and clearing the house, | saw our
danger, and remembering Lord Ches-
terrified had sail, Whatever it is
proper 10 do, it is proper to do WE'LL
and as we had to run, and my legs
were longer than those Of my com
panloas. soon ontstripped them. As
We made our escape we were fired
at, hut got across the bridgein safety.
II tet so much shame and mortl-
fication at having so nearly fallen in.
to trap that l could scarcely fix my
mind upon the duties which now de-