New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
WINFIELD .SCOTT.
NEW BIOGRAPHY OF \ GREAT SOLDIER.
GENERAL SCOTT. BY General Marcus J. Wright.
PIP. xii. 39 - Appleton ~ Co. 9Th" Great

GENERAL SCOTT. BY General Marcus J. Wright.
PIP. xii. 39 D. Appleton ~ CO. 9Th" Great
Commanders Scrcs)
If were asked to mention any military
achievement Of an earlier time in America COM
parable with SCOTS march from Vera Cruz t.
Mexico. he would surely think only Of Greene's
successful campaign against British regulars be-
tween Southern Virginia ana Charleston. II the
enemy with whom Greene had 10 deal was
meagre in numbers. he infinitely more
dangc rous than Mexicans a fighting opponent
On the other hand. Greene moved through a
friendly country, while Scott had more TO fear
from the hostility Of the population than from
the armies in his front. Greene could be beaten
in every battle and yet win at last while a
single reverse for Scott might have brought about
the destruction Of his whole force Greene. near
the close Of the Revolution. was dealing with a
foe who had plenty Of fight in him and was well
disciplined, but who had lost hope Of final sue
cess. Scott was opposed by soldiers who had
every cause for hope. but were apparently in
capable Of enthusiasm. With an army that
essened gradually from twelve thousand to half
or less than half that number Scott pressed -
the very centre Of an cnemy's country and with
six thousand men took a capital defended by
10000 The Duke OF Wellington as General
Wright remarks in his careful biography Of Scott
thought success impossible He had each days
march indicated on a map. ana when he saw
that the American general had arrived at the rim
OF the basin of Mexico he exclaimed, Scott Is
lost. He has been carried away by successes
lie can't take the city and he can't fan back
upon his base" Scott did both lie took the
capital ne ruled the country. and he departed
from 1t without any untoward events except those
brought upon him by his own officers Aside
from the soldory the Mexican people hailed him
rather as friend than enemy. When he
entered Puebla, says his biographer "along the
streets through which he passed the balconies
were filled with Mexican ladies' and the avenues
crowded with men. The populace checred him
heartily and escorted him to the palace"
General Wrights panstaking book is open to
criticism from IA literary point Of view: but 1t is
all that could be desired as record Of facts
and II reveals anew the character and Tenius Of
"A man who possessed the qualities of a civil
leader well Of a military hero The i'm
aginatons OF his countrymen were turned AL
most exclusively to his solderly renown They
saw In him the victor Of Chippewa and Lundy's
Lane and the conqueror Of Mexico but not the
skiltul man Of peace who removed the Cherokees
10 the West OF the Mississippi without an acct
Cent and who almost sngle-handed kept the
peace on the northern border from Detroit to
Maine. when a with England seemed in
cvltable The two achievements came almost
together In point Of time and were enough To
have made the fame Of most other men The
difficulty in handling the Cherokees was largely
due to the murderous intentions Of considerable
numbers Of white men. who each hoped TO kill at
least one Indian. 1t was wanton desire for
slaughter which General Scott had to repress