Parentage and birth of Scott--Precocity--Enters William and Mary College--Leaves college and commences the study of law with Judge Robinson--Attends the trial of Burr at Richmond--Impressment of American seamen and proclamation of President Jefferson--Joins the Petersburg troop--Leaves for Charleston--Returns to Petersburg--Appointed captain of artillery--Trial of General Wilkinson--Scott sends in his resignation, but withdraws it and returns to Natchez--Is court-martialed--On staff duty at New Orleans--Declaration of war with Great Britain--General Wade Hampton and the Secretary of War--Hull's surrender--Storming of Queenstown--March to Lewiston--Scott's appeal to the officers and soldiers--Indians fire on a flag of truce--Incident with a Caledonian priest--Letter in relation to Irish prisoners sent home to be tried for treason 1 CHAPTER II. Scott ordered to Philadelphia--Appointed adjutant general with the rank of colonel--Becomes chief of staff to General Dearborn--Death of General Pike--Leads the advance on Fort Niagara--Anecdote of Scott and a British colonel--Commands the expedition to Burlington Heights--March for Sackett's Harbor--Meets a force at Cornwall--Retreat of Wilkinson--Scott appointed brigadier general--Attack on and surrender of Fort Erie--Battle of Chippewa--Lundy's Lane and wounding of Scott--Retreat 23 CHAPTER III. Is received and entertained by prominent civilians and military men in Europe--Marries Miss Mayo--Offspring--Thanks of Congress--Thanks of the Virginia Legislature voted, and also a sword--Controversy with General Andrew Jackson and correspondence--Prepares general regulations for the army and militia--Controversy with General Gaines and the War Department about rank--In command of the Eastern Division--War with the Sac and Fox Indians--Black Hawk--Cholera breaks out among the troops 41 CHAPTER IV. Troubles in South Carolina growing out of the tariff acts apprehended, and General Scott sent South--Action of the nullifiers--Instructions in case of an outbreak--Action of the South Carolina Legislature 60 CHAPTER V. Events that led to the war in Florida--Treaty of Camp Moultrie and its stipulations--Complaints of Indians and whites--Treaty of Payne's Landing--Objections of the Indians to complying with the latter treaty--Councils and talks with the Seminoles--Assiola--Murder of mail carrier Dalton--Murder of Charley Amanthla--Dade's massacre--Murder of General Thompson and others--General Clinch--Depredations by the Indians on the whites and by the latter on the Indians--Volunteers--Military departments of Gaines and Scott 72 CHAPTER VI.