Annotation:Scott's Return
SCOTT'S RETURN. AKA and see "Scott's Farewell," "Hounds in the Briar Patch." American, Reel (cut time). USA; Virginia, Southern Ky. The tune was in the repertory of Milo Biggers of Glasgow, southern Ky., born around 1890. Biggers, according to fiddler and collector Bruce Greene, learned the tune from Henry Carver, an influential regional fiddler and head of a musical family that included the Carver Boys, Cousin Emmy and Noble (Uncle Bozo) Carver. The Carver Boys were a group that recorded in the 1920’s. Fiddler Biggers maintained the tune was a Civil War melody, and thought it had to do with an old soldier returning from the war. Field collector Herbert Halpert recorded a “Scott’s Return” for the Library of Congress (2743-A-4), 1939, from the playing of H.L. Maxey (of Ferrum, Franklin County, southwestern Va.). Kerry Blech records that “Maxey was born in Bedford Co., VA on Dec. 9, 1882. He moved to Ferrum, in Franklin Co., VA., and, in addition to playing music, he worked as a barber and had a stint as sheriff. He died on August 6, 1947.” Maxey can be heard on the recording associating his tune with “the war” as well, probably referring to the Civil War, and both Biggers and Maxey maintained the tune was for listening, not for dancing. There is a slight possibility “Scott’s Return” is related to the tune was published by George P. Knauff under the title "Scott's Favorite" in his Virginia Reels, volume III (Baltimore, 1839), which itself is a distanced variant of Alexander McGlashan’s strathspey "Duke of Gordon's Rant (The),” published in 1786. “Hounds in the Briar Patch” has also been suggested as an alternate title.