New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-11
,r.. ,,,,nr6sr,,and,us between the President
Cen. scott,

-,.a5s,re between Gen. SCOTT ane Secfe'a'J
,yi,b reference TO the proposed departure OF
- c,rr,er TO the Rio Grande, to take command OF
80 ,,,v operating against Mexico. We deeply re-
--s, that such correspondence has taken place
deening i, by no means credtable To our Govern
mept The Substance Of the whole matter Is as fol
lows:
l. Immediately on the passage OF the War Dill
bv Congress lappropria.ing $4,000 0OO and calling
out 50. 0oC Volunteers to fight Mexico Gen. Scott
was rerbalIv informed by The President and secfe-
,srv Marcy iha, he expected 10 proceed TO inc
frontier and take command of the Army OF Opera
lions But no tcritte7 order such as is always
given 10 every officer dispatched on important ser
v;ca yrss given him to that effect then or al any
subsequent time.
Gen. Scot, wrote to Secretary Marcy, May 2ls''
setting forth his receipt OF orders ou' 'ne' ne
had been verbally told to hold himself in readiness
for service ON the froner-stating that ne had been
hard a, work from the moment of receiving the Presi
denrs in,iuation in making the preliminary arrange
uepts for the mpaign indicated, with Inc cn'els
of the General Staf-to wit the AdJutant General
Quarter Master General, Commissary General Cher
of Ordnance, &c-which could only be done at,
Washington. Gen. S. proceeds 10 say
srn too old soldier and have bad too much special
exnerence not 10 feel II finite importance OF secur
ing myself against danger m kill, or precondeHnd8TJ
in nv rear before advancing upon the public enemy
Not advantageous step can be tskenn neIcn
v :hou, the confidence that all well behind II insecure
in that quarter General put his whole heart and
mind into the be done IN front am therefore
not little sarmed-nsy crippled in my energles-oy
the knowledge and the Impotence IN question ano
beg TO soy, fear no 0tter danger.
An that have but stetced deem TO be NOT only use
TO success but Indispensable As soldier make TINS
assertion without the fear OF contradiction ron any o
and candid soldier. Against the al cdptdn'Ha conoehH
ton of all other personsvhoever be designated Tor
the high commands In qaeson-there can be no Ieance
Gin his ABSENCE other than the active candid ano steao
support Of his Government. II cannot nave lhal sure
basis TO rest upon will be Infinitely better for the coun
try mot to speak my personal security that some othef
commander OF the army against Mexico should DC
selected No matter who ne may be he shall az ieast DC
and SUP ported y me- in this Office and every where
else as would desire, If personally In that command 10
bemyse judged and supported. Ny explicit meaning IS
that Go not desire place myself in the most peous Oh
all positions "a IRE upon my rear, from bd@d"g", aAo
the IRE IN 'front.' from me Wer'cdHs
Gen. Scot, proceeds 10 set forth bis plan OF the
Campaign, stating that total force OF 10000 men,
oneihird Cavalry ia requisite for the invasion OF
Mexico on the scale indicated and 10 give assurance
of SUCCESS. OF this force, the Cavalry must march
from the Mississippi through Texas TO the hio
Grande The sickly rainy season in lowiand Mex
leo is about commencing, when no offensive opera
tons by raw troops be wisely or usetully car
red on The hoofs of horses and mules are so SOFT
ened in that region during the rainy season that the
animals are unfit for service He holds that suit
able force cannot be concentrated the Rio Grande,
with proper munitions provisions, &c. &c. earlier
than the Is, Of Superintendent his (Gen. SIS pre-
ference would be 10 remain al Washington until
every Thing had been put in train for securing the
concentration Of sufficient and effective force-then
to proceed 10 the of war by way Of the Ohio and
Mississippi, as TO arrive on the frontier at the
right time for commencing operations. unt such
force is concentrated Gen. S. would prefer not 10
supersede Gen Taylor in his present command
1T was to command such larger army that under.
stood myself likely TO be sent TO the Mexican frontier,
IL is dl0ays unjust 10 junior General who has done
we'll and supposed to be doing WELL TO supsrsede him
by General OF higher rank, without sending with the
latter Inducements. should esteem
self The unhappy instrument Of scoundtn the honorable
pride If the gallant and judico'is Taylor. i ORDERED TO SUI
persede him under different circumstances
- Secretary Marcy at once jumps to the conclu-
sion that Gen S. mputes the President hostility,
precondemnation, &c. and that it is from him that
he apprehends the opening FIRE on his rear &c.
&C. All Gen. SCOTS apprehensions are, without
hesitation or nmalion of doubt. treated attacks
on the President, and Gen. S. is lectured roundly
therefor Finally, the Secretary informs him that
he will continue in command at Washington. and
not be ordered to the frontier at ell.
Gen. Scott replies, disclaiming the construction
given 10 his language by the Secretary.
Another letter from Gov. Marcy of no importance
follows Gen. Scott writes again
IL still hope when the President shall have read that
explanatory letter and the foregoing exposition Of facts
attentively be may be willing 10 recur TO his original
purpose and accord 10 my senior rank the preference
which have ceased 10 entertain. and which
should have pressed with incessant zeal. but for the ap
prehea.ions heretofore expressed and which your let
tiers have nearly il not quite removed therefore beg
to claim that command whenever the Presdent may
deem II proper give the assgum ent-whether
day at any other better time he may be pleased TO
designate
In your rejoin6er 10 me OF yesterday (May 26th)
which have acknowledged above, you quote from my
letter of explanations the words, You also OF
other csuses of uneasness have against the Depart
meut,' &c. &c.
Your notice OF this complaint my part is 30 liberal
not say knd-that bound 10 be frank and explicit
of those had upon my mind, In hasli-
" penRug those words these facts-Brigaer General
Wool called 10 this place BY letter OF your writ
ing. TO command, under OF the detached columns
against Mexico according 10 an understanding May l3h
between the President, you and TO that effect.
Gen Wool first, the day Of his arrival MAY 7th) and
communicated TO him the purpose Of his being called
this place. In day two learned from Gen. Wool
that notwithstanding my !nmsion TO him he had been
told by you he might be ultimately assigned that
command becsuc, perhaps other generals might be
thoized and appointed for the army and called into
vice from the That information gave no ser-
apprehensons for Gen. Wool myself. until saw on
the morning Of the goth. Bill reported in the Senate Cat
your immediate instance kec ;he day betore-provd
ing for two Major Generals and four Brgadie Generals
10 be sdded 10 the regular military establishment, be-
sides giving the president, the power OF selecting
State Generals for the command OF the COO volunteers
then thought saw strong probability that both Gen
Wool and myself would be superseded-at least the
aSotRs. MEXICO Sy two OF the regular Generals
Of our respective erades-;o be appointed as was gen.
orally understood from cril political life Il then
that my appreheDsions became serious may be seen
in my letter you OF the following day MAY 2lsD and
in many Of my subsequent acts. From tina, moment
before my letter OF the 2ls have had bu, little doubt,
down TO last nighhat il tina, Bill became lsw-con
meeting IL with the camors against 20 which have
alluded should not be sen, against Mexico.
will now. however hope for better fortune and ap-
pesng the justice Of the President and the rights of
senior rank
:" have the honor TO remain Sir,
Your mos, ob't serv't
Signed WINFIELD SCOTT
-.