Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/207

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Cherokees to the Indian Territory. On the death of Gen. Alexander Macomb, June 25, 1841, he became general-in-chief of the United States Army, with headquarters at Washington, D. C. On the declaration of war with Mexico in 1846, he planned the campaign and accompanied the army to Vera Cruz, where he landed 12,000 men. After a siege of twenty days, March 9-29, 1847, he captured the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and 5.000 of the Mexican army. On April 17-18, he fought the successful battle of Ccrro Gordo; that of Contrcras, August 19-20; Cherubusco. August 20; Molino del Rey, September 8: Chapultepec, September 13; and the assault and capture of the City of Mexico, September 13-14, 1847, which end- ed the war. Gen. Scott had been looked upon as an available Whig candidate for President as early as 1839, and again in 1844. In 1852 he was nominated by the Whig national convention at Baltimore. In the election, the Scott and Graham electors received 1,380.576 popular votes to 1,601,474 for Pierce and King, and 156,147 for Hale and Julian, and when the electoral college met he received .the electoral votes of Ver- mont, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Ken- tucky; Pierce receiving those of all the other states. In 1859 he was commissioner on the part of the United States in the set- tlement of the northwestern boundary ques- tion, and successfully accomplished the pur- pose. He commanded the army during the early part of the civil war, and placed the national capital in a condition of defence and directed the movements of the troops until succeeded by George B. McClcllan, and he was placed on the retired list with the brevet rank of lieutenant-general, being seventy-five years of age. He visited Europe

in 1861-62, and on his return in 1862 made his home at West Point, Xew York. He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the College of Xew Jersey in .1814, and that of Doctor of Laws from Columbia College in 1850, and from Har- vard in 1861, and was elected an honorary member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. In November, 1814, congress .ordered a gold medal struck in his honor, and an equestrian statue to his honor was erected on Scott Circle, Washington, D. C. He was of stately proportions, possibly the most imposing of the illustrious soldiers of his time, if not of all modern times. His published works include: A pamphlet against use of intoxicating liquors (1821); "General Regulations for the Army (1825) ; "Letters to the Secretary of War (1827); "Infantry Tactics" (3 vols., 1835, 1847 and 1854) ; "Letters on the Slavery Question" (1843); "Abstract of Infantry Tactics" X1861); "Memoirs of Lieut-Gen. Scott, written by Himself (2 vols., 1864). He died at West Point, New York, May 29. 1866.

Meade» William, was born near Millwood, Virginia, November 11, 1789. His father, Richard Kidder Meade, was aide to Gen. .Washington, and conducted the execution of Major Andre. The son graduated at Princeton College in 1808, was ordained deacon in 181 1 and priest in 1814. In 1821 he was made rector of Millwood parish, and was for many years active in promoting the work of the American Colonization Society. He was chosen assistant to Bishop Moore in 1829, served as rector of Christ Church, Norfolk, 1834-36, and in 1841 became bishop of the diocese of Virginia. Bishop Meade

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