Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-03
GENERAL SCOTTS NARROW
ESCAPE.

| GENEkAL Sui i NhhROW
ESCAPE.
In 1861 General Scott was fellow
,oyager with Mr.. Weed on his memora-
bic mission to Europe.
One evening. after our rubber, said
to the general: "There is one question !
have often wished to ask you, but have
be IN restrained by the fear that it night
be improper" The general drew him.
self up, and said in his emphatic manner !:
"Sir, you are incapable of asking an
improper question" I said: "You are
very kind but if my inquiry is indiscreet
l sm sure you will allow to pass unans'
wered." 81 hear you, Sir" he replied.
"Well then, General, did anything hap
pen to you on the morning Of the battle
of Chippewa After brief but i'm
pressive silence he said: "Ye], sir;
something did happen to me-something
very remarkable. l will now, for the
third time in my life, repeat the story.
1.-The fourth day of July, 1914, was
one of extreme heat. On that day my
brigade skirmished with British force
commanded by General Rail, from an
early hour in the morning till late in the
afternoon. We had driven the enemy
down the river some twelve mes to
Streets Creek, near Chippewa, where we
encampcd for the night, our army occu-
pying the west, while that Of the enemy
was encamTed on the east side OF TIE
creek. After our tents had been pitched
| observed flag borne by a man in peas
ants dress approaching my marque. He
brought letter from lady. who occ' :
pied 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 chill
dren, servants, and a young lady friend
were alone with her il the house that
General Riall had placed sentinel be-
fore her door; and 'lat she ventured,
with great doubts of the propriety Of the
request, to ask that would place SEN
tinel upon the bridge to protect her
against strasglers from our camp. a.-
sured the messenger that the lady's re-
quest should be complied with. Early the
next morning the same messenger, bear
| ing a white flag, reappeared with a note
f.om the same lady, thanking me for the
protection she had enjoyed, adding that
in acknowledgment Of my civilities, she
begged that l would, with such members
of my staff as I chose to bring with me,
accept the hospitalities of her house at a
breakfast which bad been prepared with
considerable attention, and was quite
ready. Acting upon an impulse which |
have never been able to analyze or com
prehend, called two Of my aids, Lieu
tenants Worth and Watts, and returned
to the mansion already indicated.
1--WE met our hostess at the door, who
ushercd us into the dining-room, where
breakfast awaited US, and where the
young lady previously referred to was al
ready seated by the coffee urn, our hos
tess asking to be excused for few min
utes, and the young lady Immediately
Sc. ,cd our coffee. Before we had broken
our fast, Lieutenant Watts rose from the
table to get his bandanna (that being be-
fore the days Of napkin y, which he had
left in his cap on side table by the win
dow, glancing through which he saw In
dians approaching the house on one side,
and red-coats approaching it on the other
with an evident purpo f su ounding
it and us,-ar instantly exclaimed
General, we are betrayed! Spl.nying
fiom the table and clea-.ng the house,
/ saw our danger, and remembering Lord
Chesterfield h. d said, Whatever is worth
doing at allis orth doing well and as We
he'd to ,un, and my legs were Longer
than my companions. soon outstrippet
them. As we made our escape we wer'
fred at, but got across the bridge il
safety.