The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-30
RANDOM RECOLLECTI0NS.

Gen. Winfield Scott was the largest man
ever saw, except the giant who was on ekn'o''
ton at our theaters about twenty-five years
ago. He was six feet six inches hign, ano
stout in proportion. In the Florida campaign
of 1886. he always wore his undress uniform,
that is, blue frock coat and buttons. when
the other generals, Duncan L. Clinch, and
Abram Eustis went in citizens dress.
On the return march from Tampa to No-
luria he was generally halt mile in front Of
the army, and usually accompanied by an aid
named Johnston, and followed by negro
servant, who was mounted on q very large
horse and wore q white shirt collar, pointed
and projecting beyond his eyes.
On the second days march from Tampa l
was sitting on a fallen pine, holding tho birdie
reins Of my horse in my hand and converslng
with Lieutenants NAuman and Herbert, OF
the United States Army, when Gen. Scott eP-
preached us, holding flower in his hand
"Gentlemcn," said he, "can you tell me
the name of this flower" We replied that
we could not, and looked up to ascertain, II
possible. the meaning Of this extraordinary
condensation, and soon perceived that he
was troubled.
"WelI," said he in tones Of deep emotion;
sthe Seminole Indins can say to US as the
Russians said to the French. If you come
among us with small army, We will over
whelm YOU; if you come with a large army,
You will oyerwhelln yourselves" He was
anticipating the failure Of the campaign, and
suffering tormcnts
lie was magnificent in his personal appear
ance, and filed the picture presented Of Mark
Antony by Cleopatra. lie was also princely
in his expenses. When at Tampa, no always
had a large number Of officers to dine with
him When we arrived at Voluria, ! went
to the sutler, Dixon, and ordered dozen
champagne sent to my tent. "impossible,"
replied Dixon, for Gen. Scott has just been
here and bought every bottle of champagne
IN my store This item alone must have
amounted to five hundred dollars.
In February, 1897, l travelled by steamboat
from Baltimore to Charleston with Gen. Dan
can L. Clnch, who was returning homo from
fredericksburg, where he had been to attend
the COURT martial or Gen. Scott i had good
deal Of talk with him, for he was as popular
with tho young men who composed the army
in the first Seminole campaign as Cen. Scott
and Gen. Eustis had been unpopular. The
Georgia troops always called him daddy
Ciinch," for each man regarded the old Gen
eral as father.
In our conversations We were frequently
Joined by Capt Patton, the aid OF Gsn.
Houston, who, with Col. Barnard l.. Bee, had
taken Santa Anna to Washington. In one Of
these conversations Gen. Cliuch said, that
when Gen Gaines went into Florida in pur-
suit Of Micanopy and Osceola he crossed the
line which separated his command from that
OF Gen. Scott; that Osceola spun out the
negotiations with Gen. Gaines until there was
SC 4rcely q ration Of meat or bread in Gaines
army: that in this horrible condition Of things
he wrote to Gen. Scott for permission to sup
ply Gen Gaines from the United States stores
ut Camp King (Which was on Clinch's planta-
tion); and that Scott replied, refusing per-
mission to supply the furnishing troops
"In this dilemma" continued the noble
old soldier, II took eight hundred bushels
Of corn from my own plantation, fastened to
the Withlacoochee and relieved tho suffering
army in its last gasp"
Gen. Scott was a splendid swordsman. In
the Canada campaign OF 1872 l have been
told that in a council of war he was attacked
by three Indian chiefs. He met them foot to
foot aud hand to hand, in sword fight. and
killed them all !.