General Scott eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 339 pages of information about General Scott.

General Scott eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 339 pages of information about General Scott.

“Your most obedient servant,

“ANDREW JACKSON.

General W. SCOTT.”

General Scott was gratified at the reply, and called at once on General Jackson, who received him kindly and graciously, and the next day he departed for the West.  In mentioning these facts General Scott adds that “it is painful to reflect that so amicable a settlement only meant with one of the parties a postponement of revenge to a more convenient season.”

This remark is in allusion to Scott’s recall from the Indian War in 1836.  General Jackson died the 8th of June, 1845, General Scott being then at West Point.  He was president of the Board of Examiners, which was in session when the news was received.  He at once arose, and, addressing the board of visitors and academic staff, said:  “Ex-President Jackson died at the Hermitage on the 8th inst.  The information is not official, but sufficiently authentic to prompt the step I am about to take.  An event of much moment to the nation has occurred.  A great man has fallen.  General Jackson is dead—­a great general, and a great patriot who had filled the highest political stations in the gift of his countrymen.  He is dead.  This is not the place, nor am I the individual, to pronounce a fit eulogy on the illustrious deceased.  National honors will doubtless be prescribed by the President of the United States; but in the meantime, and in harmony with the feelings of all who hear me, and particularly with those of the authorities of this institution, I deem it proper to suspend the examination of the cadets for the day, and to await the orders of the Executive of the United States on the subject.”

General Scott in his early training had studied the science of war, using the works of the greatest and best-known authors.  He was in his early life a close student, and when he entered the army was, better equipped, in the knowledge of the standard authors on the science of war than most men in the army.  In 1821 he prepared a work entitled General Regulations for the Army, or Military Institutes.  This was the first book published in the United States which could be accepted as a manual for both the regular troops of the army and the militia.  He had formerly, in 1814-’15, been president of a board of army officers which compiled a system of infantry tactics, a copy of the system which he had used in the camp of instruction at Buffalo in 1814.  This was revised by another board, of which he was president, and was published in 1825.

In 1826 a board of army and militia officers was convened by order of the Secretary of War, of which he was made president, for the purpose of reporting a plan for the organization and instruction of the militia of the United States, a system of tactics for the artillery, a system of cavalry tactics, and a system of infantry and rifle tactics.  The reports on the plan for the organization and instruction of the militia and that on the system of infantry and rifle tactics were written wholly by General Scott, and adopted by the board.  Under a resolution of Congress in 1835 there was published a new edition of infantry tactics prepared by him.

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General Scott from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.