In his career thus far we have seen him only as the brave and successful General; but we are now to view him in another aspect-one in which the finer qualities of his nature were brought out, if possible, in a still stronger light. The truly brave are always humane; and never was bravery so blended with humanity as in the conduct of Scott while on his way with his forces to put down Black Hawk and his savage tribes. On his passage from Buffalo to Chicago, with about a thousand troops, in the summer of 1832, the cholera broke out among his men with such terrible violence that on one vessel, on board of which there were two hundred and twenty, no less than one hundred and thirty cases of cholera and fifty-one deaths occurred in six days. On his arrival at the Mississippi river from Chicago, the same fearful pestilence made its appearance, making dreadful ravages among the troops. Nothing could exceed the kindness and delicate care with which he attended to the poor sufferers, fearlessly exposing himself to the contagion in his all-absorbing desire to alleviate the misery and suffering by which he was surrounded.

The Black Hawk war having been successfully terminated, General Scott and Governor Reynolds were appointed Commissioners to treat with the Northwestern Indians, in reference to all pending difficulties. It is sufficient to say that this task, which displayed the qualities of a statesman in no ordinary degree, was as successfully discharged as the others with which he had been entrusted. The Indians ceded the title to more than ten millions of acres, forming the greater part of the present States of Iowa and Michigan. In the same year (1832), by his prudence and firmness in South Carolina, which then threatened the country with all the evils of civil war, by her nullification principles, he saved the country from rebellion and its attendant horrors.

Next followed the Florida war, where he added new laurels to his already historic fame; his successful mission to the Canadian frontier, which was greatly excited by the burning of the Caroline; the removal of the Cherokees, which displayed his energy and humanity in a remarkable degree. In 1839,

by his judicious course on the Northeastern boundary diffi culty, he avoided a war with England, which at the time was regarded as inevitable.

But the crowning success of all these glorious achievements was his campaign in Mexico, which, in the brilliancy of its successes, the rapidity of its marches, and its results, will bear comparison with those of any other campaign of ancient or modern times. On the 10th of March, 1847, he arrived before Vera Cruz, and, on the 14th of September of the same year, having stormed the "impregnable castle" of San Juan d'Ulloa, and fought the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, San Antonio, Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, Chepultepec, besides lesser battles, and taken several cities, he entered the City of Mexico at the head of six thousand men.

Had his advice and directions been followed, before the unfortunate battle of Bull Run--which the veteran rightly styled a Congressional battle-the backbone of the Southern rebellion would have been broken ere this. But, unfortunately, the cry of "On to Richmond" drowned the prudent advice of the General, whose counsel would have saved the nation from a humiliating defeat.

As a commander, Scott had but few equals among his contemporaries, and even his enemies bear willing testimony to his great military genius. One of the British Generals who was opposed to him in 1812, speaking of his qualities in the freedom of conversation, expressed the most unqualified admiration of his genius and skill as a commander. In the opinion of many he was not second to Wellington himself, and there is certainly no campaign in the career of that great General which can be said to surpass, if it equals, Scott's campaign in Mexico. He was the only American General, with the exception of Washington, who received the title of LieutenantGeneral, and this was conferred upon him as the highest testimonial which could be bestowed by a grateful country.

His retirement from the high position which he has occupied so many years, with honor and distinction to himself and advantage to the interests of the nation, was an event well cal

culated to arrest attention at home and abroad, for it may be said with truth, that the principal events in the last fifty years of his life would, to a great extent, embrace the most prominent and important facts in the history of the country. Although he has never been honored with the highest office in the gift of the people, no man has occupied a more distinguished and exalted position, and none of his contemporaries will fill a larger space in the future annals of the Great Republic. His withdrawal from the active duties of official life, and his generous resignation of his command into the hands of a General so much his junior, indicate a self-abnegation which proves the truth of the time-honored adage, that he only who. can command himself is truly qualified to govern others.

XIII.

MCCLELLAN'S FIRST CAMPAIGN.

THE appointment of Captain McClellan to the responsible position of Major-General of the Volunteers of the State of Ohio (April 24th, 1861), was soon followed by the General Government's creation of the "Department of the West," over which he was placed in superior command. It comprised the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Western Pennsylvania, and Western Virginia.

The proposed assemblage (June 14th) of the Wheeling Convention, for re-organizing the State of Virginia as a State of the Union, rendered it necessary to arrange a campaign in Western Virginia, both to expel the rebel armies from that section, and to give stability to the new State Government.

The promulgation by McClellan (May 26th) of the following proclamation announced the movements on foot:

"HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF OHIO, CINCINNATI, May 26th, 1861.

"To the Union Men of Western Virginia:

"VIRGINIANS:—The General Government has long enough endured the machinations of a few factious rebels in your midst. Armed traitors have in vain endeavored to deter you from expressing your loyalty at the polls. Having failed in this infamous attempt to deprive you of the exercise of your dearest rights, they now seek to inaugurate a reign of terror, and thus force you to yield to their schemes, and submit to the yoke of the traitorous conspiracy, dignified by the name of the Southern Confederacy. They are destroying the property of citizens of your State, and ruining your magnificent railways. The General Government has heretofore carefully abstained from sending troops across the Ohio, or even from posting them along its banks, although frequently urged by many of your prominent citizens to do so.

"It determined to await the result of the State election, desirous that no one might be able to say, that the slightest effort had been made from this side to influence the free expression of your opinions, although the many agencies brought to bear upon you by the rebels were well known. You have now shown, under the most adverse circumstances, that the great mass of the people of Western Virginia are true and loyal to that beneficent Government under which we and our fathers have lived so long. As soon as the result of the election was known, the traitors commenced their work of destruction. The General Government can not close its ears to the demand you have made for assistance. I have ordered troops to cross the river. They come as your friends and brothers; as enemies only to armed rebels who are preying upon you. Your homes, your families, and your property are safe under our protection. All your rights shall be religiously respected.

"Notwithstanding all that has been said by the traitors to induce you to believe our advent among you will be signalized by an interference with your slaves, understand one thing clearly: Not only will we abstain from all such interference, but we will, on the contrary, with an iron hand, crush any attempt at insurrection on their part.

"Now that we are in your midst, I call upon you to fly to arms and support the General Government; sever the connection that binds you to traitors; proclaim to the world that the faith and loyalty so long boasted by the Old Dominion are still preserved in Western Virginia, and that you remain true to the Stars and Stripes.

"G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General Commanding."

This document gave the proper reasons for the contemplated movement. To his troops, then cantoned in Eastern Ohio, he addressed a stirring address, well calculated to win the confidence of the people among whom they were to move. It read:

"SOLDIERS:-You are ordered to cross the frontier, and to enter on the soil of Virginia. Your mission is to restore peace and confidence; to protect the majesty of the law, and to secure our brethren from the grasp of armed traitors. I place under the safeguard of your honor the persons and property of the Virginians. I know you will respect their feelings and all their rights, and will preserve the strictest discipline.

"Remember, that each one of you holds in his keeping the honor of Ohio and the Union. If you are called to overcome armed opposition, I know your courage is equal to the task. Remember that your only foes are armed traitors. Show mercy even to them, when in your power, for many of them are misguided.

66 When, under your protection, the loyal men of Western Virginia have been enabled to organize and form until they can protect themselves, you can return to your homes, with the proud satisfaction of having preserved a gallant people from destruction."

Prior to the issue of these documents, everything had been arranged for the advance. Colonel Kelly, in command at Camp Carlisle, in Ohio, opposite Wheeling, gave the word of command for the onward movement, Sunday evening, (May 26th), by reading the Proclamation and Address.

The announcement was received with wild huzzas by the troops, the First Virginia Volunteers. Monday morning they poured over into Virginia eleven hundred strong, and, at seven o'clock, were en route for Grafton, a place of some strategic importance, lying at the junction of the Baltimore and Ohio and the Northwestern Virginia railways. The First Virginia was followed immediately by the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteers, Colonel Irvine. The Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Steadman, crossed the river at Marietta, and occupied Parkersburg, the western terminus of the Northwestern railroad.

The rebels, then in possession of Grafton, designed a descent on Wheeling; but, hastily evacuated on the night of Monday, having previously destroyed railway bridges at various