The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-06-16
General Scott's Narrow Escape.

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In 1861 General Scott vas fellow
voyager with ThurlDw Weed on has
memorable mission to Europe. Mr..
Weed, in his forthcoming autography,
says:
One evening, after our rubber, I said
to the general: There is one question
have often wished to ask you, but have
been restrained by the fear that il might
be improper" The general drew him.
self up and said in his emphatic man.
ner: 'Sir, you are incapable of asking
an improper question" I said: "You
are very kind; but if my inquiry is indis-
Greet am sure You viii allow it to pass
unanswered. 81 hear you, sir" he re-
piled. "Well. then. general, did any
thing remarkable happen to yon on the
morning of the bataz Of Chippewa"
After brief bat impressive silence he
said: Eyes, sir; something did happen TO
me-something very remarkable. will
now, for the third time in my life, repeat
the story:
The fourth day of July, 1914, was one
Of extreme heat. On that day my
brigade skirmished with a 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 twelve miles, to Streets
creek, near Chippewa, where we en-.
camped for the night, our army occupy
ing the west, while that of the enemy
was encamped on the east side of the
creek. After our tents had been pitched
l observed flag borne by a man in
peasants dress approaching my marque.
He brought letter from lady, who oc-
cupied a 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 q young lady friend
were alone with her in the house; that
General Rial had placed sentinel be-
fore her door; and that she ventured with
great doubts of the propriety of the re-
quest, to ask that I would place senti
mel upon the bridge to protect her from
stragglerS from our camp. I assured the
messenger that the lady request should
be complied with. Early the next morn
ing the same messenger, bearing a white
asg, reappeared with a note from the
same lady, thanking me for the pro-
lection she enjoyed, adding that, in ac-
acknowledgement of my ciyilities, she
begged that / would, with such members
of my staff as / chose to bring with me.
accept the hospitalities of her house at a
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, I called two of my aids.
lieutenants Worth and Watts, and re
turned to the mansion already indited.
eve met our hostess at the door, who
ushered us into the dining room. where
breakfast awaited us, and where the
young lady previously referred to was
already seated by the coffee urn, our
hostess asking to be excused for q few
minutes, and the young LADY immedi-
ately served our coffee. Before we had
broken our fast, Lieutenant Watts rose
from the table to get his bandanna THAT
being before the days of napkins) which
he had left in his cap on side table by
the window, glancing 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 ex
| claimed: General, we are betrayed!' +
| Springing from the table and clearing
the house, I saw our danger, and remem-
bering Lord Chesterfield had said,
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth
dong WE'LL and as we had to run, and
my legs were longer than those of my
companions, soon outstripped them.
| AS we made our escape we were fred at,
but got across the bridge in safety.
II felt so much shame and mortifica.
ton at having so nearly fallen into a
trap, that could scarcely fix my mind
upon the duties which now demanded
my undivided attention. I knew that /
had committed great indiscretion in
accepting the singular invitation, and
II any disaster resulted from it richly
deserved to lose both my commission
and character. constantly found my
self wondering whether the lady really
intended to betray us, or whether we had
been accidently observed. The question
would come up even in the excitement
of battle. Fortunately my services and
presence in the field were not required
until Generals Porter and Riley had
been engaged at intervals for several
hours, SO that my brigade, with Towson's
artillery, had been ordered to cross
Street creek, my nerves and confidence
had been measureably quieted and re
stored. need not describe the battle o.
Chippewa. That belongs to and is par
OF the history of the country. It is suff
cient to say that at the close of the da,
we were masters of the position, AMI
that our arms were in no way discredit
ed. The British army had fallen bacl
leaving their dead and wounded in ou
possession. The mansion which I had
visited in the morning was the larges
near, and to that the wounded officers o
both armies were carried for surkica
treatment. AS soon as could leave tn
field went over to look after my wound
ed. found the English officers lyin,
on the first floor, and our own on tn
floor. saw in the lower room the youn
lady whom had met in the morning q
the breakfast table, her white dress al
sprinkled with blood. She had bee
attending to the British wounded. o.
, the second floor, Just as I was turning
J into the room where the officers were,
met my hostess.
Zone glance at her was sufficient
answer the question which I had bee
asking myself all day. She had intend
ed betraying me, and nothing but th
!, accident of my aid rising for his hand
, kerchief saved as from capture.
years afterwards, in rejecting upo
this incident, was led to doubt whethe
} had not construed her startled manne
wrongly, as suddenly encountered hel
| That unexpected meeting would hay
] occasioned embarrassment in either cor
] tingency; and it is difficult to belley
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