The Washington times., 1903-04-08
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT
AND THE BULL RUN FIGHT
Historic Scene Recalled by the Recent
Death of General Hamilton.

One of the sidelights OF the civil war
is a story of the first battle Of Bull
Run, memory Of which was revived by
the death in New York within the past
fortnight OF Maj. Gen. Schuyler HamiI-
ton RETIRED T. S A.
Major General Hamilton was a grand
son Of Alexander Hamilton. and during
the first months Of the civil war oc-
eupied the same position on Gen. Win
field SCOTS STAFF his grandfather held
on the staff of General Washington dur
ing the Revolutionary war, namely, that
OF military secretary.
1t viii be recalled that while the
events which led up to the great civil
strife Of '6l-'65 We're shaping them
selves. General Scott was among the
few who did not underestimate the
lighting strength of the South. and later
on, when Beauregard's forces were sta
| toned at Manassas. Va. on July IS. 1861
just prior TO the disastrous battle OF
Bull Run-GeneraI Scott's paramount
advice was caution" At meeting
Of Lincoln's cabinet held on +he evening
OF july II. General Scott was called be-
fore IL and asked for his views as 10
the plans OF procedure He said he
was utterly opposed to a fight If 1t could
possibly be avoided but other epinionz
prevailed. and General Mcdowell vaS
ordered to attack the enemy.
General Hamilton conveyed to Mae,
DoweIl the dispatches ordering the,
| battle, which. on the following day.
proved so fatal to the Union army.
At Washington during the course Of
the battle public feeling ran high Ths
Capital was in danger and the residents
were IN state bordering on panic.
In letter 70 ]. H Slime. q Union
veteran living IN this city, written about
year ago, General Hamilton describes
the events at General scotes head
quarters while the battle was IN pro-
gress.
at 3 O'Clock on Sunday, July zI,@
General Hamilton wrote, "a victory IN
the favor OF the Union Army was re-
ported at General seott's quarters.
President Lincoln and several members
of his Cabinet being present. Very
shortly afterward the news came that
the panic that General Scott had indi-
~S>NEN III sARE 1abiuEt Injecting INT u4SHk
| before as likely to ensue had taken
place, and the supposed victory had
turned into 8 stampede OF the Union
| forces. That night General Scottfs quar-
| tiers were filled by the President. mem
| bers OF the Cabinet, Senator's, Represent
tatives. and governors OF States. There
was a good deal Of trepidation among
them. General Scott said to President
Lincoln: There is terror ia high quar-
ters, but 1t is needless. II
could get to the front and take chargs
OF the troops myself I could save the
day But I cannot
AT that moment some person IN
high official position was so intudicious
as to remark: Our soldiers have be-
haved like cowardsY General Scott fred
up instantly and retorted: That is rot
true, The only coward. Mr.. President.
is Winfield Scott When I was urging
that this untoward battle should not
be fought I should have insisted that
my resignation be accepted rather than
the battle be fought"
General Hamilton's record during the
civil war was particularly brilliant. and
he always displayed al executive ca
paeity and nerve that were we'll worthy
of his iIlustrious grandsirs-