Robert Kingston Scott Robert Kingston Scott ( July 8 , 1826August 12 , 1900 ) was an American Republican politician , the 74th Governor of South Carolina , and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War . Early life and career . Robert K . Scott was born in Armstrong County , Pennsylvania , to a military family . His grandfather fought in the American Revolution and his father in the War of 1812 . Scott studied medicine and began practice in Henry County , Ohio . Civil War . In October 1861 , Scott became lieutenant colonel of the 68th Ohio Infantry , and colonel of that regiment in 1862 . He served in Tennessee , where he commanded the advance of Major General John A . Logan ' s division on the march into Mississippi . He was engaged at Port Gibson , Raymond , and Champion Hill . He was afterward at the head of a brigade in the XVII Corps , and was taken prisoner near Atlanta . There are conflicting claims about how he gained freedom . Some claim he was part of a prisoner exchange on September 24 , 1864 and was put into Sherman ' s operations before that city and in the march to the sea , while records also indicate that he escaped by jumping from a prisoner train . Scott was commissioned as a brigadier general of volunteers on January 12 , 1865 , and also received the brevet ranks of brigadier and major general in the volunteer army , to date from January 26 , and December 2 , 1865 , respectively . Postbellum activities . Between 1865 – 68 , General Scott was assistant commissioner of the South Carolina Bureau of Refugees , Freedmen and Abandoned Lands , popularly known as the Freedmen ' s Bureau . In July 1868 , he resigned from the Regular Army and entered politics . Governor of South Carolina . Later that year , he became the first governor of the reconstructed South Carolina as a Republican . In 1870 , the South Carolina Constitution of 1868 lifted the rule that had until then prevented a governor ' s re - election until four years had passed since leaving office . This allowed Scott to become the first governor of South Carolina to be elected to two consecutive terms . He was re - elected by a majority of 33 , 534 votes of a total 136 , 608 . One of the most notable acts of his state legislature was voting itself a full - time saloon and restaurant at taxpayer expense . The state debt tripled during Governor Scott ' s years in office , resulting in an unsuccessful attempt by the $ 3 to impeach him in 1871 . Judge Richard B . Carpenter testified in an 1872 congressional hearing that voter fraud was involved in Scott ’ s re - election , but Scott remained in office . Ironically , Carpenter not only owed him money at the time , but also continued to ask for more with the promise of political favors in return . Franklin J . Moses , Jr . , the first governor after him , claimed Scott “ fraudulently signed state bonds in the St James Hotel in New York under the joint influence of alcohol and burlesque queen Pauline Markham , ” known as one of “ The British Blondes . ” He also regularly borrowed money from Scott . Wade Hampton III , the third governor after Scott , indicted him for “ fraudulently issuing three warrants for $ 48 , 645 to non - existent payees in 1871 . ” At the same time , he sent letters to Scott promising not to extradite him nor force him to stand trial . [ MSS 176 ] Return to Ohio . In 1877 Scott returned to Napoleon , Ohio , when Democrats returned to power in the South Carolina executive , possibly out of fear of being prosecuted for misuse of funds during his administration . He settled down with his family , including his only son , R . K . Scott , Jr . , who was known as " Arkie " because of his initials . On Christmas Day , 1880 , 15 year - old Arkie went missing . He was “ inclined to frequent taverns . ” Scott suspected he was hiding in the apartment of his friend Warren G . Drury , aged 23 . When Drury refused to let him in he was somehow mysteriously shot by a bullet from Scott ’ s pistol and died the next day . Scott ’ s trial , held in a pool hall over Wendt ’ s Shoe Store in downtown Napoleon , consumed national attention . The former governor , a two - star general who trained men and led soldiers through four years of war , participating in one of the boldest military campaigns in history , claimed his weapon accidentally discharged . He was also a lawyer , passing the South Carolina bar examination after his term as governor . On November 5 , 1881 , General Scott was acquitted of murder . His story led to the saying " getting off Scott free " and the controversiality surrounding his case led to public outrage . After his acquittal , a lynch mob from Toledo wanted to see “ rough and ready punishment done . ” Scott formed a militia from his own employees and volunteers . “ The Roughs ” boarded the Wabash Railroad bound for Napoleon with an anonymous gift of two barrels of whiskey and all thoughts of justice were washed away . Scott died in Napoleon and was buried in Henry County , Ohio .