Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-06-18

teers whose services are to be accepted.
In the midst Of these multitudillons and in
Idispensabe occupations, have learned from
you that much Impotence is already felt, per-
haps In high quarters, that have not already nut
myself in route for the Rio Grande; and now.
with fourteen hours day of preliminary work
remaining on my hands for many days, | find
myself compelled to stop that necessary work
to guard myself against. perhaps, utter con-
domination In the quarters alluded to- | am
too old soldier, and have had too much special
| experience, not TO feel the infinite importance
OF securing myself against danger Gil will or
pre-condemnation) in my rear before advan-
cling upon the public enemy.
Not an advantageous step can be taken in a
forward march without the confidence that all
is well behind. Ii insecure in that quarter no
general can put his whole heart and mind into
the work to be done in front am, Therefore,
not little alarmed. nay, crippled in my ener-
gies, by the knowledge of the impotence in
question, and beg to say fear no other
niger.
MY intentions have been, after making all
preliminary arrangements here, to pass down
the Ohio and Mississippi, to see, or to assure
| myself by correspondence, that the volunteers,
! on whom we are mostly to rely in the prosecu-
ton of the existing war; are rapidly assembling
for the service; to learn the probable time OF
thei. readiness to advance upon Mexico; to as
certain if their supplies Of every kind are in
place, are likely to be in place in sufficient
time; to hasten one and the other; to harmo-
nize the movements of volunteers; and to mod
ify their routes Gf necessary so that all, or at
least sufficient number, shall arrive at the in
dlcated points in the Mexican frontier at the
J, best periods, and, as far as practicable, about
| the same time. All that have but sketched
deem to be not only useful to success, but in
|dispensable. AS soldier make this asser-
ton without the fear Of contradiction from any
honest and candid soldier
| Against the ad captandun condemnation of
all other persons, whoever may be designated
! for the high command in question, there can
be no reliance Gin his absence) other than the
active, candid, and steady support eff his gov
eminent. If cannot have that sure basis to
rest upon. it will be infinitely better for the
country (not to speak Of my personal security
that some other commander Of the new army
against Mexico should be selected. No mat
ter who he may be, he shall, at least, be judg-
ed and supported by me, in this office and eve
rywhere else, as would desire, if personally
in that command, to be myself judged and sup
ported.
My explicit meaning is, that do not desire
to place myself in the most perilous Of all posi-
| tions-a fire upon nly rear from Washington,
and the. fire in front from the yMenicans.
The remainder Of the letter is occu-
pied with a detail of the manner in
which the volunteer, cavalry, and in
fantry should move to the Rio Grande
and into Mexico, and an opinion ex-
pressed that they could not be organ
lied and ready for action till the first of
September next. .- .o
To this letter, the Secretary of War
replied on the 25th of May, communi-
eating the desire of the President, that
General Scott should be continued in
his present position, in Washington,
and devote his efforts to making ar
engagements and preparations for the
early and vigorous prosecution of hos
tilities against Mexico. The reasons
ofthis decision are explicitly stated
namely, the Generals reflections on
the motives and objects of the Presi-
dent in rendering to him the command
ofthe forces. ~
.'The passages in your letter." writes the
Secretary, (which have excited his surprise
and deep regret, are those in which you impute
to the President, in terms not ineXplicit, III
aciu towards yourself, or re-condenmation,
and course of conduct on his part which has
already, as you allege, impeded your labors Of
preparation and crippled your energies"
81; was" he elsewhere writes, ''a matter
of unfeigned surprise to me that you should
have attributed to the Presiden, the intention
of opening a fire upon your rear, while fire in
front was opened upon you by the enemy. On
what foundation could such an assumption
rest? Had not the President, in frank and
friendly spirit, just intrusted you with COM
mand on which the glory and interest Of the
country depended, to say nothing Of the sue
cess of his own administration? How could
you, under these circumstances, arrest your la
bors of preparation and suffer your energies to
be crippled, for the purpose of indnlging in il
liberal imputations against the man who had
just bestowed upou you the highest mark of
his confdence?"
TO this letter of Mr. Marcy, received
just as he sat down 'to take a hasty
plate Of SOUP, General Scott promptly
replied. He disavows any intention
of offending the President, or of per-
sonal dIs:espcct to the COMMANDMENTS
Chief of the Army and Navy Of the
United States. He says he did not
use the phrase "highest quarter but
"high quarters" and referred not to
the President, but the Secretary him
self, and "severaI leading and suppos-
ed con6dants of the President, In the
two Houses of Congress- who con-
demned him openly and violently, "be-
cause Ito use his own terms on an
n.imation-not an order-I did not
fly to the Rio Grande, without waiting
for the invading army, yet to be raised
nay, abandoning it to get to that riv-
er as itcould, and without the least re-
card to the honorable pride and dis