Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-10

on the stafr OF General Cheatharn. and
served as brigadier-general at the battle
OF Chicamsuga. AT this time he holds
the honorable position OF agent OF the
United States for collecting for publica-
ton the records Of the Confederacy. He
has also exercised his pen In authorship
before this present production. and at his
outset In life had the benefit Of classical
education.
He has given us O careful and valuable
work. His patience and accuracy are
conspicuous. and the student Of our his
tory will thank him. not only for the
facts which he has presented. but Tor
the details by which he has accompanied
them
General wrights appreciation OF his
subject may have been partly hereditary.
They both sprang from good revolution
airy fighting stock. and General Wrights
father not only was engaged In the Indian
war In the Northwest and had some part
In the Indian troubles IN Florida, but at
the age OF S. volunteered during the war
with Mexico, and there contracted the
disease which terminated his honorable
and patriotic career.
General SCOTS first profession was
that of the law, for which he prepared
himself by study In a Judges office. ana
also at William and Mary College, where
he devoted himself TO the civil and inter-
national as well as the common law.
Had he commenced life as a soldier he
would hardly have added these to his
military attachments, but already pos
scssing them, he was compelled to ac-
quire the military. AS lawyer he at
tended the famous trial OF Aaron Burr.
In Richmond. and made the acquaintance
Of some Of the most eminent men of that
day. Afterwards when he had deter
mined to be a soldier. that grand lawyer
and brilliant and upright man. Benz.
Watkins Leigh. advised him to study
diligently the military profession, with
the aid Of the best authorities
that he could obtain. He did so. and
continued TO do so until he became n
published authority himself. This was
the "utrumque paratus" for the high parts
he had to perform, as negotiator and
pacificator. as well as warrior. He was
engaged actively and most honoraby
through four wars, and commenced
planning as commander in chief OInder
President Lincoln) for the fifth; and
what was termed his anaconda scheme
for conquerng the South might probably
be regarded differently now from what
1t was when he proposed it, His position
against the South was unequivocal, as
he plainly showed TO his friend, Judge
John Robertson. his associate. when
they approached on the subject OF his
casting his fortunes with the South.
Yet he probably did encounter some
distrust on the part OF the Federal au-
thorites, which, together with his age
and inhrmity, and the ambition of his
juniors in military rank. caused him 10
be virtually superseded. Even Mcclellan,
81. IL
was. was allowed to hum him by issuing
orders over his head and going directly
to the Secretary of War. Scott was
almost oversensitive, and was greatly
wounded. lie had, in 1852, after
some delay, and in spite OF the opposi-
ton Of the Hon. Jefferson Davis, been
made the second Northumberland (Wash-
ington having been the firsD Of the United
States army. and he now had the
privilege of being placed on the retired
list without any reduction of his pay
and perquisites.
October, 81, 1851. he requested that he
be 30 retired This was granted, and the
President and whole Cabinet went to his
residence TO greet him and take leave
# him. Very soon after this he sailed
for Europe 10 join his wife I'm Paris and
take much-needed repose. But the ex-
Slhlell. on bonrd OF the British mail
steamer Trent. arose. and he determined
TO return home. that he might be on
hand II his counsel were needed. He was
consulted after his retirement. 1t was
not very long before he took refuge at
his favorite West Point, where he eX-
pired, May 20. 1866 and there, in accord
ance with his own wishes, he was IN
TERED. His last words were peter, take
good care Of my horse" This was "a
splendid animal. seventeen hands high,
and finely formed. The last time he had
mounted him was in the latter part OF
1853, which he did with the aid Of step
ladder. for the purpose of having an
equestrian portrait painted for the State
of Virginia. The war coming on, the
picture passed into the possession OF the
Mercantile Library of New York" We
wish that Virginia could yet obtain II.
/ Yes. Winfield Scott was one OF 'the
great commanders" lie certainly was
physically. for he was feet inches in
height, and though his figure was not az
symmetrical as our gifted Valentine could
have made IL, his presence was diSniied
and commanding.
lie was a great commander" morally.
He was as brave as two lions, and loved
the performance OF duty. as well as glory.
enterprises. and risked his life for the
sake OF the victims Of cholera as fear
lessly as he did at Lundy's Lane and
Chippewa. In spite of his high estimation
Of himself he was magnanimOuS ana
self-denylng. From his earliest manhood
he had the habit Outstanding by his
friends. one OF his teachers was
Quaker. who inculcated patience and non
resistance, and tried 10 check his bel
ligercncy. one day, on street OF Peters
burg, scott found his old teacher who
was the County Surveyor, engaged in a
controversy with a noted bully. who
charged the surveyor with running
false dividing-line. Scott avenged this in
suit by telling the bully 10 the ground
Having recovered. he advanced upon his
assailant, but the Quaker got between
them and received the blow intended for
his old pupil. Scott. however, ended the
tight by knocking down the bully the
second time. Some years afterwards
teacher and pupil met again. and the
Quaker said: Friend Winfield always
told thee not TO fight but as thou wouidst
fight, am glad that thou vast not
beaten"
Scott was a great commander, scientfi-
cally and strategically. In the war on
the northern lakes he proved himself 10
be suggestive and or1ginative. He had
charge OF a camp of instruction at
Buffalo. and was an organizer and sys-
tematizer. He continued to follow the
advice of his most eminent friend, Wat
kins Leigh, and was "A student, not only
of military science. but of the best Eng
lish literature. He loved whist and chess,
because they required thought. and the
latter bore some analogy 10 the art OF
war. From Lundys Lane TO his entrance
into conquered Mexico his military career
was progressive and upward, and as q
diplomatist In Carolina and on our north
ern frontier he gained laurels no less
verdant than those which he won on the
tented and ensanguined field.
For many years General Scott occupied
perilous position. lie had a strong am
btion to be President OF the United
States, and for several successive terms
was an ayowed candidate for nomination
for that exalted office. And yet his sue
cess not only involved the turning down"
of such formidable competitors as Clay
and Webster. but the turning OUT OF the
party then in power including his own
constitutional military superiors.
The only exception to this would have
been in case he could have succeeded the
Taylor Administration. which was COM
pleted by Mr.. Fillmore. But for the I'M
expected looming up of General Zachary
Taylor, SCOTS brilliant achievements in