The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19
WHAT WAS NEWS
FIFTY YEARS AGO
R.pr,.,es don .rhl. x.r.p.p.r.


\ correspondent OF the Boston Jour
nai sends that paper from New York
field Scott This former Southerner has
broken up housek coping, we are in
formed, and has taken rooms at Del
inonico,s. The letter TO the Boston
Journal. copy of which paper has
come to US through the lines. says:
ooolrn suite of parlors on the lower
. ms rank General Scott has his head
quarters. His rooms are such as n
fm nr,1ny gentleman of position and
i ,"r,im would desire. They are orna-
paintings and implements OF war. Ills
dren hi ie,o nyes near him and her chill
h be son im'e ra.; and sprishtiy. may
climbing his knees for a kiss or n
smile. or kind word, and throwing n
haio OF youth and pleasure over the
valid hero
General Scott is a great favorito
9 or ,he ladies. Every day rare and fresh
table, hilinS tho room with exquisite
sweetness Fruits OF all kinds are
sent to him daily. and of these atten-
particular mention OF them to all ia
miiiar friends who visit him.
ms bodily health is not firm. ana
ne seldom leaves his room, and walks
even about it with great difficulty. But
his mind is just as clear as when the
cannon ,hn on, pealed along our frontier In
posted In all tho acts OF the govern
ment and OF the army. lie reads every
thinS that relates To the national peril.
ments and OF men, and Expresses him
self freely about the present war, it's
Duration and termination. the skill. or
me iaGR OF II. of our generals and the
had an Interview with him OF
about one hours length. lie did not
E hri,oh, the culture culture prospects as very
see one bright spot in our national
horlzon. one thing he thought very
,eiihrkabie: no war OF any magni-
where before this one without throwing
to the surface men OF marked military
genius and marked public virtue, But
result so far. Those who had insnircd
nomentary confidence had disap-
pointed the public expetcation. We have
marked results. Our generals seem
TO have no ability 10 reap the fruits
or well-fouEht battles. To fight tho
then let him escape With his men, guns
ana baggage. is simply TO make the
war endless. General Scott considers
resident Lincoln's amnesty proclama-
tioh as impracttcable. In consequence
OF the lnrEc number of persons ex-
einpted from the hope OF pardon. These
would be made desperate. and they
would fight TO the very last If the
large number exempted from pardon
were in the hands OF the President
today, and under lock and key. so that
ne could. IL he would, march them out
10 Heath. he could not execute that
large number. Humanity and civili-
zation would revolt at it.
More than q year ago General Scott
thought Corinth and Richmond would
he taken, and taken ut once. and has
never seen any explanation or reason
that result, and believing 1t would end
the war. he sent TO the President n
plan for the settlement of the DIM
Guilty North and South; that is. a basis
Tor the reconstruction of the Union
was sent In. 1t was made the subject
OF several Cabinet meetings General
scott is confident that when the war is
over his plan, which is generous and
ialr to tho South. Will form substnn-
tally the basis OF n final settlement.
Or General McClcllan's military ca
recr. General Scott declined to sneak;
Hrst' because nc recommended him for
the position OF -chiot.
and second. because he may have TO he
III clnber OF the proposed court-mnrtioI
to investigate General McClellan's fail.
ure TO accomplish the results expect
Cd ca. lie was clearly disappointed that
~ ichmond was not taken; but whether
IL was inc fault OF General Mcclellan.
General Mcdowell or the interfcrence
OF me EoNernment ut Washington Gen
oral Scott declined TO say
OF Generals burnside and Hooker
ana other commanders of that stamp.
ne regarded them az good men. loyal
men ana brave men, and good division
commanders, but wholly incompetent
to plan or execute a military cam
paign, or General Grant he Expressed
himself surprised and delighted So
lar General Grant has proved himself
the one hero of the war; and, in Cen
erni SCOTS Judgment is the coming
man, and the sooner be Is allowed TO
come the better General Grant is, so
lar the one commander who has
fought great battles with skill and
then secured the results. and so far he
mas been the only general who seemed
10 Know how TO do il. While General
Scott does not thinK this will he a
seven years war, he Is sure It VIII not
close this year, and possibly not next
year. Much hard fighting is yet 10
be done before the rebellion VIII cease.
And when it does cease great and grave
questions of anxiety and trouble will
arise and run on, and vex the nation
beyond the lifetime OF this generation.
But the Union Will lac preserved the
national life perpetuated. and the
United States Will come out of this
terrible baptism OF blood with re-
newed life and strength to bless the
coming generations. Such is the sub
stance OF an hours talk with the
grand old hero.