Note 73 — Front matter (continued 4)

(page page 202).—Martin Scott was born in Vermont, and entered the army as a second lieutenant in 1814. In 1828 he was commissioned captain of the Fifth Infantry, the post he was filling at the time of which our author speaks. He was made major of his regiment in June, 1846, in recognition of gallant conduct at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma; in September following he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for notable services in the several conflicts at Monterey, and was killed September 8, 1847, in the battle of Molino del Rey. Captain Scott was an eccentric character, of the misanthropic type, well known throughout the country as an expert marksman; he had obtained his training among the sharpshooters of the Green Mountains. His devotion to the chase partook of the nature of a craze. At the various posts where he was stationed, he maintained numerous kennels for his blooded dogs; those at Fort Howard were pagoda-shaped, and presented so striking an appearance that the little village of dog-houses was popularly styled “Scott’s four-legged brigade quarters.”