The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-04
AN EPISODE OF TIE WAR OF 1872.

To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journals
An interesting fact is mentioned in Lppin
colts Magazine, in regard to the late Mrs Gen
Scott. Her maiden name was Maria MAYO
She was distinguished for her beauty, and foi
several years. about the time of the war Of
1912, was the reigning belle Of Rich mond and
Washington. 1t was said she had had hundred
suitors before she accepted General Scott, who
courted her as Winfield Scott, ESQ, whom a
member Of the Richmond bar. After entering
the army he continued his addresses, and was
refused successfully az Captain Scott Colonel
Scott and it was only, for many months after,
as General Scott, the victorious hero OF Lundy,s
Lane, in 1914, and when the first brigadier-
general on the peace establishmentof 1915, that
he won the hand of the universally admired
Richmond beauty who was married to him in
1917.
The facts mentioned in the magazine bring to
mind remarkable episode in Miss Mayo's career.
which strongly illustrates the lights and shadows
of ife The facts were given to the writer over
twenty years ago by Colonel Seaton, of the we'll
known firm of Gales & Ssaton publishers of the
National Intelligencer. In November, 1912.
grand ball took place in Washington, in honor OF
our naval victories of that year. particularly the
capture of the British frgate Guerrero. Pres
ident Madison and Governor Hamilton, then
Secretary of the Navy, with their wives, were
resent, as well as Captains Hull and Nor
ris, and other naval officers and most
OF the notable individuals of the city, in
Guiding, of course, Miss Mayo, who was engaged
to the Secretary's son, Lieutenant Hamilton, of
thefrlgate United States. In the midst Of the
festivities, the northern mail stage arrived at
Washington with the news that another British
frigate, the Macedonian, had been captured and
that an officer, Lieutenant Hamilton, sent by
Commodore Decatur, had arrived with her colors
Hearing of the grand ball, in few
minutes Lieutenant Hamilton marched into
the hall with the flags of the captured
frigate, and laid them at the feet of Mrs Madi-
son. At once recognized by his mother, Mrs. Ham
ilton, and by his fance, Miss Mayo they rushed
into his embraces. The proud emotions of his
mother and of his beautiful girl at that supreme
moment as novelists say, can be better imagined
than described. All was excitement in the hall,
and after congratulations, national airs and
cheers, Lieutenant Hamilton, with Miss Mayo
on his arm, slipped into the alcove of window.
where. behind its curtains, they passed deli.
cions hour or two and, as Colonel Seaton en-
phaticaly added, they We're not seen again till
the ball was over
Now comes the shadow Commodore Decatur.
who doubtless gave Lieutenant Hamilton the
honor of taking his official report and the capt.
ured flags as trophies to Washington to crafty
his father, the Secretary of the Navy, was event
ually assigned, with Lieutenant Hamilton, to
the frigate President, then in New York haebor
AT the close of the war. as she was starting on q
long cruise, she was captured off Long Island,
by British fleet. after a most sanguinary fight
Lieutenant Hamilton and two other lieutenanta
were killed, Hamilton being nearly cut in two by
q cannon ball. Governor Hamilton, no longer
Secretary of the Navy. had resigned and gone ia
his plantation in South Carolina; and Miss Mayo
retired to her private SORROWS i'll Richmond. Il
is no wonder that she was not inclined to listen
to the solicitations of any one during her en-
gagement to her handsome lieutenant, nor for
long time after his lamented death. J. B.R
INDIANAPOLIS