Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-09

GEN. scoTT-s sakRsw EsrArE

In 1861 Gen. Scott Vas a fellov-voy-
acer With Thariow Weed on his meuaor-
able mission to Europe. Mr.. Weed, IN
his forthcoming autobiography, says
One evening, after our rubber, said
10 the General:
There IL one question have often
wished 10 ask goa, bat have been re-
strained by the fear that It might be
improper"
The General drew himself up land said,
In his emphatic manner:
Sir, Won are incapable Ct asking an
improper question:
said:
"Ysu ere very kind; but IL my inquiry
IL indiscrest | am s7re you viii allow II
20 pass unanswered"
81 hear you, sir" be replied.
Well, then, General, did anything
remarkable happen 20 you On the morn
ing of the battle of Chippewa
After brief bat impressive silence
he said:
"Yes. sir: something did happen 70
rne-sometbing very remarkable. VIII
now, for the third time in my life. repeat
ths story.
"The fourth day Of July. 1914, was
one OF extreme beat. On that day my
brigade skirmished with British force
commanded by General Rial from an
early hour in the morning till late IN the
afternoon. We had driven the enemy
down the river twelve miles, 70 Streets
Creek, near Chippewa, where We en-
camped for tbs light; our army occupy
ing the west, while that OF the enemy
was encarnped on the east side OF the
creek. After our tents had been pitched
/ observed flag borne by man IN pea
SAINTS dress approaching my marque.
He brought letter from a lady, who
occupied large mansion on the oppo-
site side of the creek, informing ne that
she was the wife of member OF Pariia-
fnent who was then at Quebec; that her
children, servants. and a young lady
friend were alone with her in the house;
that General Rial had placed sentinel
before her door; and that she ventured,
with great doubts of the propriety OF
the request. to ask that would place u
sentinel upon the bridge 70 protect her
from the strsqglers from our camp. /
assured the messenger that tbs ladys
request should be complied with. Early
the next morning the same messenger,
bearing white flag, reappeared with
note from the same lady, thanking me
for the protection she enjoyed; adding
that, in acknowledgment of my civil
ties, she begged that | would, with such
members Of my staff a. chose 10 bring
with me, accept the inequalities 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 10
anslyze or comprehend. called two OF
my aids, Lsutsnants Worth and Watts,
and returned 10 the mansion already
indicated.
We met our hostess at the door, who
usbered us into the dining room, where
breakfast awaited rs, and where the
young lady previously referred 10 was
already seated by the coffee urn, our
hostess asking 10 be excused for few
minutes, and the young lady immedi-
ately served our coffee. Before We had
broken our fast Lieutenant Watts rose
from the table 10 get his bandanna,
THAT being before the days of napkins
which he had left in his cap ON a side
table by the window, ciancing through
which be saw Indians approaching the
house on one side and redcoats approach
ing 1T on the other, with an evident pur-
pose of surrounding 1t and us-and In
stsntly exclaimed:
General. we are betrayed
"Springing from the table and clear
ing the house, I saw our danger. and
remembering Lord Chesterfield had said
Whatever is worth doing at all Ia worth
doing WELL and as we had torun, and
my legs were longer than those of my
companions, soon outstripped them.
a xuG 1..
at. but got across the bridge in safety.
felt so much shame and mortifca-
ton ut having 80 nearly fallen into
trap, that could scarcely fix my mind
upon the duties which now demanded
my undivided attention. knew that
had committed a great indiscl elton in
accepting the singular invitation. and
that II any disaster resulted from il ]
richly deserved TO lose both my commits
sion and my character. ! constantly
found myself wondering whether the
lady really intended TO betray as, or
whether We had been accidentally Oh
served. The question would recur even
aEaid the excitement of battle. Fortu-
nafely my presence and services in the
field were not required until Generals
Porter and Ripley had been engaged at
intervals for several hours, 20 that when
my brigade, with Towson's artillery,
were ordered 70 cross Streets Greek, my
nerves and confidence had become mea-
surably quieted and restored.
need not describe the battle of
Chippewa. That belongs TO and is part
OF the history Of our country. II il suf
ficisnt 10 shy at the close OF the day we
were masters OF the position. and that
oar arms were In no way discredited. |
The British army had fallen back, leav-
ing their wounded in our possession.
The mansion which had visited in the /
morning was the largest honse near, and |
10 that the wounded officers in both ar /
mics were carried for surgical treatment. |
As soon as could leave the field went /
over 70 look after my wounded. found |
the English officers lying on the first
hoor and our own ON the floor above. /
saw IN the lower room the young lady
whom l had met in the morning at the i
breakfast table, her white dress ali /
sprinkled with blood. She had been
attending to the British wounded. On
the second floor, Just rs | was turning
INTO the room where the officers were, / /
met my hostess. One glance at her was
quite sufficient 10 answer the question
which had been asking myself all day.
She had intended TO betray me. and
nothing but the accident Of my and ria
ing sor his handkerchief saved IA from
capture.
Years afterward. In rejecting upou
lhis incident, | was led TO doubt whether
had not misconstrucd her startled
manner as ! suddenly encountered her.
hA unexpected meeting would have
embarrassment in either
and IL Is 80 difficult 10 be-
|ieve n lady of cultivation and refinement
sspable OF such an act that l am nov.
nearly half a century after the event.
tisposed 10 give my hostess the benefit
,f that doubt.
And row. sir added the General.
: this n The third time in my life have
old this story. l do not remember 10
lave been spoken 10 before on the sub
got Tor many years" He looked AZ me
md seemed To be considering with him
selt Tor q few moments, and then aid.
fSememhering your intimacy with
GENERAL Worth, ] need not iuouire
aow yon came 20 knowledge Of your
Well. General" / replied. al have
kept the secret faithfully for more than
'orty years, always hoping 10 obtain
four own version OF what struck me as
most remarkable incident in your mil
tary life"