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Civil War Soldiers - Scott
| Scott, Robert K., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, and was reared and
educated in his native commonwealth. Early in the Mexican war he
entered the military service of the United States as a captain in the
1st regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers, the date of his enlistment
being Dec. 16, 1846. He served in that capacity during the two years
of warfare and was honorably mustered out on July 31, 1848. A few
years later he removed to Ohio and established his home in Napoleon,
at which place he was residing at the outbreak of the Civil war. He
offered his services to the Federal cause, and on Nov. 30, 1861, he
was mustered in as lieutenant-colonel of the 67th Ohio infantry. On
July 12, 1862, he was promoted to colonel of his regiment, and with it
was actively engaged in guard duty until the spring of 1863, when he
became actively engaged in the Vicksburg campaign. He moved with his
command to Bruinsburg, there crossed the river, and by a forced march
was able to participate in the battle of Thompson's hill, on May 1. He
followed closely after the retreating Confederates, was engaged in the
battles of Raymond, Jackson, and Champion's hill, and he also
participated in an attack on the Confederate works in the rear of
Vicksburg on May 18, and in the assault on Fort hill on the 22nd. At
the head of his regiment he was actively engaged through the entire
siege until the capitulation of the Confederate forces, and in October
he moved on a reconnoissance with the 17th corps and was engaged in a
skirmish at Bogue Chitto creek, also participating in the fights at
Clinton and Jackson, while moving on the Meridian raid. He joined
Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, and with his regiment was on the
advance line for sixty-five days and nights, being engaged at Kennesaw
mountain, Nickajack, Atlanta July 22 and 28, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy.
Then came the march to the sea, and up through the Carolinas, through
the progress of which, on Jan. 12, 1865, he was commissioned
brigadier-general of volunteers, and on Dec. 5, 1865, was given the
brevet rank of major-general of volunteers, for meritorious services.
After the close of the war he served as military governor of South
Carolina, and he resigned from the service on July 6, 1868. Gen. Scott
died on Aug. 12, 1900. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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| Scott, Winfield, major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Petersburg, Va., June 13, 1786. After spending two
years in William and Mary college he studied law, was admitted to the
bar in 1806, and the following year went to Charleston with the
intention of settling there, but before he had fairly entered upon the
practice of his profession, Congress, in view of imminent hostilities
with England, passed a bill to enlarge the army and he obtained a
commission as captain of light artillery and entered upon his career
as a soldier. Recruiting a company he was stationed at Baton Rouge,
La., in the division commanded by Gen. Wilkinson. War having been
declared against Great Britain in June, 1812, Capt. Scott was made a
lieutenant-colonel in the 2nd artillery the following month, and was
stationed at Black Rock with two companies of his regiment. Taking
part in the battle of Queenstown heights, the field was at first won
under his direction; but it was finally lost and himself and his
command taken prisoners, from the refusal of the troops at Lewiston to
cross to their assistance. Exchanged in Jan., 1813, immediately after
the capture of York, Upper Canada, Scott rejoined the army on the
frontier as adjutant to Gen. Dearborn, with the rank of colonel. He
took part in the expedition against Fort George; landed his men in
good order and scaled a steep height in the presence of the enemy,
carrying the position at the point of the bayonet. He served well in
Wilkinson's campaign, was made a brigadier-general in March, 1814, and
immediately thereafter established a camp of instruction at Buffalo,
where his own and other officers were drilled into thorough and
accurate discipline. He now served a vigorous and brilliant campaign,
being present at the taking of Fort Erie, winning the battle of
Chippewa, and doing good service at Lundy's lane, where he was twice
severely wounded. For his gallant conduct Scott was brevetted
major-general, his commission dating July 25, 1814, the day of the
battle of Lundy's lane. He also received a gold medal from Congress,
and was tendered a position in the cabinet as secretary of war, which
he declined. He led the troops in the Black Hawk war of 1832, and the
latter part of the same year went south to command the national troops
at Charleston and elsewhere, during the nullification excitement,
where his prudence, tact, and discretion, saved the country from what
seemed the inevitable danger of intestine war. In 1835 he was ordered
to Florida, but recalled and employed in the Creek war, and afterward
sent before a court of inquiry, but dismissed with honor. In the
frontier troubles connected with the Canadian rebellion of 1837, and
subsequently with the disputes two years later on the north- eastern
boundary line, and with the removal of the Cherokees from Georgia in
the 30's, Gen. Scott was efficient, conciliating and useful, as an
officer and negotiator. In 1841, upon the death of Gen. Macomb, Gen.
Scott was placed at the head of the army as general-in- chief, with
full rank as major-general, and upon the outbreak of the war with
Mexico he was ordered thither. The battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la
Palma, and Monterey having been fought he took the field in time for
the projected capture of Vera Cruz, which he invested on March 12,
1847, commencing the bombardment on the 22nd. On the 26th overtures of
surrender were made, and ten days later the army moved on to Mexico;
defeated the Mexican army under Gen. Santa Anna, at Cerro Gordo on
April 18; entered Jalapa the day after; occupied the strong castle and
town of La Perote on the 22nd, and the city of Puebla May 15.
Contreras, San Antonio, and Churubusco, strong fortifications, were
each taken in turn at the point of the bayonet. Molino del Rey and
Casa de Mata, dependencies of Chapultepec, were carried by assault on
Sept. 8, and, after a determined siege of several days a breach was
finally effected in the strong walls of the military college at the
castle of Chapultepec, and the following night Santa Anna marched out
with the small remnant of his army, and the city of Mexico was at the
mercy of Scott. This virtually ended the war, and the honors bestowed
upon the successful commander by his country were numerous and
enthusiastic, and included a vote of thanks by Congress. In 1848 Gen.
Scott was a candidate for the Whig nomination for the presidency, and
in 1852 was nominated, but he was defeated at the election by Gen.
Franklin Pierce. In Feb., 1855, he was brevetted lieutenant-general,
to take rank from March 29, 1847, in commemoration of his bravery in
Mexico. The Civil war found him still in command of the army, and
every inducement was offered him by the South to join their cause; but
his loyalty was proof against them, and he threw the weight of his
well-earned reputation upon the side of the government. During the
early part of the war Gen. Scott was much in consultation with the
government, and did his best to perform his official duties as
general-in-chief, but he was now too infirm for so colossal a charge,
and on Oct. 31, 1861, he retired from office, retaining, by special
act of Congress, his pay and allowances. He died at West Point, N.Y.,
on May 29, 1866.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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