The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-12
STORIES OF GEN. SCOTT,
"reminiscences by the Grandson OF
Alexander Hamilton.
From the Neto York sun.

A4cAdA0oE EAdIullLOIs
From the Nel0 York sun.
II was day Of storm and sleet and slush
in December, 1851, when a tall man of COM
handing appearance, with his face care
fully wrapped in one or more mufflers
entered the anterooIn of the Office of Mai.
Gen. Scott. accompanied by youth. This
office was in the old war office at Washing
ton. The entrance was ornamented, over
the door, with two brass mountain how
it2ers captured in Mexico, and somewhat
notorious as having led to the court OF in
quiry, in the City of Mexico, into the con-
duct of Gen. Gideon j. Pillow.
The writer was the only aid-de-camp
present. The visitor asked if he could see
Gen. Scott. The aid thought it was the
Hon. Henry Clay, senator from Kentucky,
but was uncertain because Of the muffiers.
He answered, courteously, he would ascer-
tain in a moment. He believed Gen. Scott
was at that moment engaged with gentle.
| man. The visitors were invited to sit down
Entering Gen. SCOTS private Office the
aid told him he believed Senator
Clay was in the anteroom, but could not
be absolutely certain because his face
was enveloped in wraps yet he begged Gen.
Scott would receive him in person. Gen.
Scott Immediately arose and advanced to
meet his visitors. The surmise was correct.
IL was Senator Clay, accompanied by his
grandson, Henry Clay, Jr., the son Of the
gallant Col Henry Clay. who fell at Buena
Vista ON Feb. %, 1S47 Mr. Clay pre-.
sented his grandson to Con. Scott, and
testify observed:
General, your aid did not recognize me.
though have often met MIN before, even
al his fathers table,
Gen. Scott kindly and politely said:
my dear Mr.. Senator, he begged me to
come out to receive you in person"
Then | was presented to the grandson
whose father had known we'll in the war
with Mexico.
Gen. Scott invited the whole party to
enter his private Office, ard begged all to
be seated, indicating for Senator Clay q
chair by the office table opposite his own
accustomed seat, large arm chair.
This armchair was the bother of the
writer's life. Il had several cushions. Gen.
Scott weighed 800 pounds avoirdupois The
writer had the special charge of the official
papers OF the office. No official paper could
leave the office without an entry in the
books, opposite its descriptive list made in
the register were received, showing the dis
position made of it,
Papers requiring grave consideration
would be laid upon the generals table
duly Endorsed. There they would remain
sometimes for days Occasionally very inn
portant ones would disappear without beinl
sent away, and yet we're not to be found il
the appropriate files. They would be asked
for and could not be discovered. At last
one of special Importance was missing. II
could not be found. Gen. Scott was momen.
tarily vexed. The aid asserted the pape]
had been laid before him. as the register
showed, and had not been returned *
the files. By the generals permission tn,
| orderly sergeant, or messenger, was sum
| moned. Everything was removed from tn,
| table. The table cover or cloth was re-
moved, and 10! a number of missing paper:
| were uncovered. The one especially sough
for was not among them. The question
| then was what to do next. After some hes
| ltation the general was requested to ris
| from his armchair. The earnestnes
of the search and the discoyerie
made rather amused him. "If 1 must
l suppose must" he said. The sergeant
raised the first cushion, and there was
treasure trove, but not the paper sought
| for. Then the second cushion. and more I1a
pers were disclosed, among them the one a
| the moment most desired. OF courss tn
AID exulted. The general smiled and said
You are so careful of the papers have &
| hide them sometimes so as to have them a
| hand when my mind is GA the subject o
| which they treat" ! presume other aid
and staff officers have had similar expe.
riences, though l have never seen an,
mention of them.
| Now to return to Senator Clay. Beinl
seated, he looked around as if surprised. AMI
said: Captain, where is the gentleman
Gen. Scott was engaged with when l en-
| teredg'
''Oh, that gentleman is myth we hav,
always on hand, Mr.. Clay He is very con
venient sometimes, and moreover that doc
Immediately at your back gives egress t.
the ball.
Senator Clay then disclosed to Gen. Scott
the object of his visit. He said be had pro
cured a warrant as cadet at West Point TO
his grandson. Horny, and had brought hin
there to present him to Gen. Scott and t,
invite Gen. SCOTS special countsnancs 70
him with the professors and officers ct Yves
Point Gen. Scott was silent fer moment
He then said nothing would afford hin
greater pleasure than TO crafty Senato
Clae in any matter which came properly
within the scope Of his influence. "Bu
yet" he added, las general-in-chiet an
bound to give equal consideration TO all de.
serving cadets. With that promise shall
be happy to do all in my power for YOU
grandson. However," he continued, "my
| young friend, Capt. Hamilton, is bound bJ
ffafR f.la IT,. a