General Scott | Page 6

technically irregular, and at the time of his trial about
fifty dollars was not covered by formal vouchers. This was the finding
of the Court, but it expressly acquitted him of all fraudulent intentions.
General Wilkinson nursed his wrath, and after the close of the war
published an attack on General Scott. His own failure in the campaign
of 1813, and especially his defeat at La Cale Mills, compared with

Scott's brilliant campaign on the Niagara frontier in the following
spring, may have induced this attack.
Captain Scott returned to Virginia after the trial, and under the advice
of his friend, the distinguished lawyer and statesman, Benjamin
Watkins Leigh, he devoted himself to the study of military works and
of English attack. During the time mentioned he wrote a letter to Lewis
Edwards, Esq., at Washington City, of which he following is a copy:
"PETERSBURG, _June, 1811_.
"DEAR SIR: I believe we have very little village news to give you, nor
do I know what would please you in that way. Of myself--that person
who has so large a space in every man's own imagination, and so small
a one in the imagination of every other--I can say but little; perhaps less
would please you more. Since my return to Virginia my time has been
passed in easy transitions from pleasure, to study, from study to
pleasure; in my gayety forgetting the student, in the student forgetting
my gayety.[A] I have generally been in the office of my friend Mr.
Leigh, though not unmindful of the studies connected with my present
profession; but you will easily conceive my military ardor has suffered
abatement. Indeed, it is my design, as soon as circumstances will
permit, to throw the feather out of my cap and resume it in my hand.
Yet, should war come at last, my enthusiasm will be rekindled, and
then who knows but that I may yet write my history with my sword?
"Yours truly,
"WINFIELD SCOTT."
[Footnote A: "If idle, be not solitary; if solitary, be not idle." An
apothegm of Burton paraphrased by Johnson, "My Motto."]
Scott rejoined the army at Baton Rouge, La., in 1811, and was soon
appointed Judge Advocate on the trial of a colonel charged with gross
negligence in discipline and administration. By dilatory pleas this
officer had several times escaped justice, but on this trial he was found
guilty and censured. In the winter of 1811-'12 Scott was frequently on

staff duty with General Wade Hampton at New Orleans, and while
there saw the first steam vessel that ever floated on the Mississippi.
On May 20, 1812, Captain Scott embarked at New Orleans for
Washington via Baltimore, accompanying General Hampton and
Lieutenant Charles K. Gardner. As the vessel on which they had taken
passage entered near the Capes of Virginia it passed a British frigate
lying off the bar. In a short time they met a Hampton pilot boat going
out to sea. This was on June 29th, and this pilot boat bore dispatches to
Mr. Mansfield, the British Minister at Washington, announcing that
Congress had two days before declared war against Great Britain. The
vessel bearing Captain Scott and his companions went aground about
sixteen miles from Baltimore, and he and some others undertook the
remainder of the journey on foot. At the end of the fourth mile they
passed an enthusiastic militia meeting which had just received a copy
of the declaration of war. Scott, having on a uniform, was made the
hero of the occasion, and was chosen to read the declaration to the
meeting. He was here offered a seat in a double gig to Baltimore, but
the driver, who had become intoxicated, overturned the gig twice, when
Scott took the reins and drove the latter part of the journey. On his
arrival at Baltimore he received the pleasing intelligence that he had
been appointed a lieutenant colonel in the United States army. He was
then in his twenty-sixth year.
He went with General Hampton to Washington, where the general
asked him to accompany him on an official visit to the Secretary of
War. An unpleasant correspondence had a short time previously
occurred between the general and the secretary, yet he felt it his duty to
make the call. On General Hampton's name being announced to the
secretary the latter appeared at the door and extended his hand, while
General Hampton simply bowed and crossed his hands behind him. A
conversation on official matters was held, at first formal and cold, but
gradually terminating in one of a friendly character. When General
Hampton rose to leave he extended to the secretary both of his hands;
but it was now the latter's turn, and he bowed and placed his hands
behind him. General Hampton sent a challenge to mortal combat, but