Captain Martin Scott: The Army and the "Coon" - Part 2

Captain Martin Scott — A Three Part Series

As he was plowing in the field one day during the year 1814, the postmaster of the village brought 25 year-old Martin Scott a letter marked “War Department, Adjutant-General’s Office,” addressed to “Ensign Martin Scott.” Upon opening it, he discovered a commission for himself as ensign in the United States Army. The appointment had come without any application on his part, leaving a mystery that would remain unsolved until the day of his death. Despite the ambiguity surrounding his commission, he accepted the appointment with a sense of duty and promptly joined his Company at Sacket’s Harbor. Soon after, he was dispatched to the Western frontier, where he found ample opportunity to hone his skills as a marksman. This unexpected turn of events marked the beginning of a significant chapter in his life, one that would shape his character and destiny in profound ways.

As told by Randolph Barnes Marcy, fellow soldier in the United States Army:

When I first joined my regiment, the 5th U.S. Infantry, at Fort Howard in Green Bay during the spring of 1833, I was assigned to “D” Company under the command of Captain Martin Scott, a figure whose reputation precedes him—most notably for a rather amusing tale involving a “coon.” This story, later appeared in a newspaper in Utica, N.Y., around 1840 and serves as an apt illustration of Captain Scott’s character.

"You need not shoot; I'll come down."

The narrative goes that while Captain Scott and his friends were out hunting in the woods, they became separated. As fate would have it, one of the party spotted a raccoon perched on a high limb of a tall tree and fired at it—only to miss. This pattern continued with several others in the group taking their shots, yet the elusive coon remained unscathed. Eventually, Captain Scott arrived on the scene. As he raised his rifle to take aim at the raccoon, it spoke up, asking, “Who are you?” to which he replied, “My name is Scott.” The raccoon then inquired further, “What Scott?” and upon learning he was Captain Martin Scott, it cheekily declared, “Then you need not shoot; I’ll come down.”

This whimsical encounter speaks volumes about Captain Scott beyond just his marksmanship; he had served for many years at our most remote frontier posts and earned a solid reputation as one of the best shots of his time. His passion lay in owning the finest horses, dogs, and firearms—embodying the spirit of a dedicated sportsman and hunter while also being a faithful and gallant soldier.

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Author Randolph Barnes Marcy (April 9, 1812 – November 22, 1887) was also an officer in the United States Army, chiefly noted for his frontier guidebook, the Prairie Traveler (1859) which became a key handbook for thousands of Americans wanting to cross the continent. General Marcy also prepared two volumes of reminiscences, Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border (1866) and Border Reminiscences (1872), which contain many stories about Texas. Marcy’s Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border - Chapter XIV told tales of Captain Martin Scott, namesake of Fort Martin Scott in Fredericksburg, Texas.

en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Randolph_B._Marcy

Cited: Excerpts from Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border -Chapter XIV

by Randolph Barnes Marcy, U.S. Army Inspector General, Retired

(Stories retold/modernized English)