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

.uS tOli VI ~" f'N'iHiiiS w wy
the prosecution Of the existing war be-
tween the United States and the re-
public of Mexico" he communicated
to General Scott, through the Secreta.
ny of War, and also in personal inter-
view with that officer, his desire tina,
he should take command of the army
on the Rio Grande, and of the volun-
teer forces, which, he informed him, it
was his intention forthwith to call out
to march to that frontier, to be employ
ed in the prosecution of the war against
Mexico.
"The tender Of the command TO
General Scott" Che President goes
on to say at the conclusion of his mes
sage to the Senate on Monday last,
"was voluntary on my part, and was
made without any request or intima-
ton on the subject from him. 1t was
made in consideration Of his rank as
Commander-in Chief of the Army
My communications with General
Scott assigning him the command were
verbal, first through the Secretary Of
War, and afterwards in person. No
written order was deemed to be neces-
sary. General Scott assented to as
sumo the command, and on the follow
ing day had another interview with
him and the Secretary of War, in rela-
ton to the number and apportionment
among the several States, of the vol
unteer forces to be called out for imme-
date service; the forces which were
to be organized and held in readiness,
subject to a future call, should it be-
come necessary; and other military
preparations and movements to be
made with view to the vigorous pros
ecution Of the war. 1t was distinctly
settled and was well understood by
General Scott, that he was to COM
mand the army in the war against
Mexico, and so continued to be settled
and understood, without any other in
tention on my part, until the Secretary
Of War submitted to me the letter of
General Scott, addressed to him under
date of the 21st May, 1885,, copy of
which is herewith communicated
The character Of that letter made 1t
proper, in my judgment, to change my
determination IN regard to the commend
Of the army; and the Secretary of War,
by my direction, in his letter of the
18th of May, 1916, copy of which is
also herewith communicated, Cor the
reasons therein assigned, informed
General Scott that he was relieved
from the command of the army destin-
ed to prosecute the war against Next
co, and that he would remain in the
discharge of his duties at Washington.
The command of the army on the from
tier of Mexico has since been assigned
to Gen. Taylor with his brevet rank of
Major General, recently conferred upon
him."
The Secretary of War reiterates and
confirms the account Of the President,
furthermore stating that, in. an inter-
view between himself, the President
and General Scott, the latter immedi-
ately entered upon the necessary ar
engagements to carry into effect the
Presidents views and instructions, land,
down TO the present time, had been as
siduously engaged in the duties Of his
Office. Interviews and consultations
between General Scott an1 the Secre-
tary, often at the latter's particular in
stance, had very frequently taken place
in regard to arrangements and prepar
atoms for carrying on the war. When
the Secretary first communicated to
General Scott the Presidents in,en-
ton to place him in the command Of
the army, he replied, that he should
neither decline or solicit that service;
but at once, on receiving the Presi-
dents verbal order, entered readily in
to the preparatory measures to carry
them into effect.
On the 2lst Of May, the Secretary,
without any previous intlmation from
General Scott, received an extraordi-
nary letter from him, of which the fol-
lowing is the first and most material
portion:
HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, May 81, 1876
SIR: have received no orders, as yet, as
signing me to the immediate command of the
army about to be raised to conquer a peace
within Mexico; but | have been told to hold
myself in readiness for that service. From
that moment have occupied myself, inces=
sanity, with the vast preliminary arrangements
which can only be made advantageously at
this place, through the respective chiefs OF the
general staff-.he. adjutant general, quarter
master general, commissary general Of subsis-
tence, chief Of ordnance, and surgeon general.
| have been much occupied also in the distri-
button of the quotas of volunteers needed among
the several States; in appor'oning the horse 10
the foot; in the study of the routes Of march
and water conveyances for the several bodies Of
troops to the best points IN the frontiers OF