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| Charles Lewis Scott |
Scott, who lived a truly remarkable life, was born on Jan.
26, 1827 in Richmond, Virginia. He went on graduate from the College of William
& Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and he became a lawyer before traveling to
California during the Gold Rush of 1849. He later served in the California
State Assembly from 1854 to 1856 and represented California in the U.S.
Congress from 1857 to 1861.
When the War Between the States began, he resigned his seat
in Congress and joined the Fourth Alabama Volunteer Infantry as a private. He
was later elected major only to suffer a serious leg wound at the Battle of
First Manassas on July 21, 1861. Due to his severe injury, Scott resigned his
commission in 1862 after the Battle of Seven Pines.
Scott moved to Wilcox County in 1864, where he farmed for
a number of years. He later got into the newspaper business, working as a
journalist from 1869 to 1879. Sources describe him as “taking an active part in
public questions” and say that he was a “forcible writer, an effective speaker
and an interesting companion. A ready discernment, an ardent temperament and a
resolute will unite to give him much force of character.”
Scott was very active in Democratic Party politics and was a delegate to every Democratic National Convention from the end of the War Between the States to 1896. In 1885, President Gover Cleveland appointed Scott as U.S. Minister to Venezuela, and Scott served in that position until he resigned in 1889. Upon his return to the United States, Scott settled in Monroe County’s Mount Pleasant community, where he farmed up until his death in 1899.
News of Scott’s death was reported in the May 10, 1899
edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era. Here’s what the newspaper had to say
about this prominent citizen – “The many friends of Major Charles L. Scott will
regret to hear of his death, which occurred at his home at Mt. Pleasant on May
1. Major Scott was for a long time a resident of Wilcox County and was ever
recognized as a true friend, a loyal Democrat and a valuable citizen.
“He filled many places of trust and filled them with credit
to himself and his friends. His career in our county during the dark days of
Reconstruction is too well known to need any comment at our hands, so we
conclude this sad announcement by saying a good and loyal citizen has gone to
obtain his final reward.”
In the end, I highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Scott’s life to read a book called “The Adventures of Charles L. Scott, Esq.” Published in 1997 by the Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville and the late Samuel F. Crook Jr., this 168-page book details Scott’s eventful life and career. Edited by former museum director Kathy McCoy, this book contains a wealth of information that will interest anyone wanting to know more about this prominent Wilcox County citizen.
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