finally recovered. As soon as the service pers mitted, Generals Dearborn, Bissel, and Major Porter, were appointed a Court of Inquiry, and witnesses summoned, according to General Ripley's request. General Brown used every exertion to prevent the sitting of the court, but General Ripley persisted in his request. However, to save the reputation of General Brown in public opinion, an order from the Secretary at war, by direction of the President of the United States was received in March, dissolving the court, and as a salvo for Ripley's wounded feelings, a Major-General's commission by brevet, was awarded him, bearing date the 25th of July, preceding the day on which the battle of Niagara was fought. Peace shortly after was announced, which caused a reduction in the army. The - General had not occasion to say entirely, that republics are ungrateful, whatever may have been the disposition of the Cabinet towards him, in awarding to others undeserved honours. The Legislature of the State of Georgia passed him a vote of thanks-that of New-York, a vote of thanks and a sword; and the Congress of the United States a vote of thanks and a gold medal, as a recognition of his valuable services. On the reduction of the army, the voice of the public in his favour was such, that he was continued on the peace establishment; although some others who had spent their lives in their country's service, through intrigue and cabal, were thrown into the vale of obscurity and private life.

In his person he is tall, but well formed. His features are strongly marked, and his countenance open-his disposition mild. His versatile talents had gained him celebrity, alike in the forum, the field, and the Cabinet, and should the

harsh clangour of arms, again call him to the field in his country's defence-his past life warrants the belief that he will do his country much more service.

MAJOR-GENERAL

WINFIELD SCOTT.

VIRGINIA claims the honour of General Winfield Scott's birth. He was born in Dinwiddie county, near Petersburg, on the 13th June, 1785. His classic pursuits were closed in William and Mary College. Having undergone the probationary studies of the law, he settled in Petersburg, and commenced its practice in 1806, after he had attained his 21st year. However he may have been flattered with the prospects of success is immaterial. After the affair of the Chesapeake in 1807, he applied and received a Captain's commission in the regiment of light-artillery raised by Congress, upon the enlargement of the United States' army, after that event. At Richmond late in the fall of 1808, Captain Scott received the pay of his men for the months of September and October, as appeared by the pay-roll of his company. Early in 1809, he embarked under Colonel Parker, from Norfolk, for New-Orleans. After his arrival at his destination, he complained of the appointment of a Captain Banckhead over him. His General informed him of the proper mode of redress, for which the Captain was very thankful. In the incipiency of the summer of the same year, he applied for, and obtained a furlough from General Wilkinson for 60 or 90

days, to return to Virginia, having declared that it was his intention to resign, his only motive for entering the army being the spur of the occasion, in consequence of the Chesapeake affair.

During this period, he was engaged with a Dr. Claude, of Maryland, a Surgeon in the army, in an affair of a personal nature, and, however great he may have displayed personal courage amid the conflict of armies, he is said not to have manifested that cool intrepidity on this occasion so highly appreciated in the character of a knight-errant, in the days of antient chivalry.

As soon as Colonel Parker had a knowledge of Captain Scott's furlough by report, he applied to General Wilkinson to know its truth. The General verified it. Upon this Colonel Parker remarked to the General, that he hoped Captain Scott would settle with his men for their two month's pay prior to his departure. Captain

Scott having departed for Virginia on furlough, his command devolved on Lieutenant John H. T. Estis, to whom his company preferred a formal complaint at Terre-au-Bœuf; which, with accompanying documents, was delivered to General Wilkinson, in 1810. The certificate from the War Department, verifying the pay-roll as given in by Captain Scott, is dated June 28, 1810. A number of the non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, of the Captain's command, made oath at Terre-au-Boeuf the 9th of July, 1809, that at no time had they ever receipted any roll for pay, or received any monies due them from the United States, for their services during the months of September and October, 1808.

On his arrival at the seat of Government, the Captain obtained an extension of furlough, and did

not rejoin his company until the last month of autumn or the first of winter, following.

Dr. Upshaw, a surgeon in the army had a difference with Captain Scott, prior to his departure to the Atlantic States, and a personal interview of parties was prevented by a sick-bed which almost prostrated the Doctor at the threshold of a more direful opponent. However, the Doctor having recovered, after the return of Captain Scott, he, upon a knowledge of the Captain's delinquency, preferred charges against him. A court of inquiry was held, which resulted in the call of a courtmartial. The court, after giving him a full hearing, in consequence of ample testimony, found him guilty in a qualified sense and suspended him from command for twelve months. The consequence of this, was an affair of honour, between Captain Scott and Dr. Upshaw. On this occasion the Captain is said to have behaved as he did in a similar affair with Dr. Claude.

Although the charges were exhibited against Captain Scott, while General Wilkinson commanded on the New-Orleans station, yet the court was held and the sentence made known while General Hampton was the superior officer.

Captain Scott next appeared on the public stage in the character of Judge-advocate, on the trial of Colonel Cushing, in March, 1812. On this occasion he overacted his part in the persecution of that officer, who had grown grey in service. As Judge-advocate, he prepared an account of that trial and gave it for publication in the Analectic Magazine, before it had received the sanction of superior power.

"Captain Scott left New Orleans with General Hampton, in 1812, and having arrived at the seat of Government, was appointed a Lieutenant-Co

lonel of the 2d regiment of artillery, under Colonel Izard, over the heads of men who had been from twelve to fifteen years in service. The confirmation of this nomination in the Senate of the United States met with some opposition, and owed its success to Mr. Giles, a Senator from Virginia.

Early in the autumn, after his elevation, Colonel Scott repaired to the Niagara frontier of the United States with two companies of his regiment, and took station at Black Rock. The first active service in which Colonel Scott was ever engaged with the enemies of his country was a brush with the British in consequence of the grounding of the Adams under the guns of the British batteries, after her capture from the enemy by Captain Elliot, of the navy, assisted by Captain Towson of the United States artillery, on the 9th of October. In the unsuccessful invasion of Canada on the Niagara frontier, under Major-General Van Rennselaer, Lieutenant-Colonel Scott was taken prisoner, with 139 of his regiment, when valiantly contending against a superior force on Queenstown Heights, and was sent as such to Quebec. About a month after he embarked for Boston, on parole, and was regularly exchanged in January, 1813. After his return to active service he joined General Dearborn in the character of Adjutant-General of the Northern army.

Major-General Dearborn, with near 5000 men, now determined on attempting the reduction of the Peninsula on the opposite side of the straits. Of this, Fort George was the bulwark. The necessary arrangements having been completed, at one o'clock in the morning, May 27th, the whole army embarked on Lake Ontario, three miles east from Fort Niagara. It was arranged in six divisions