Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-09-03
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
SECRETARY OF WAR TO GENERAL SCOTT.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
SECRETARY OF WAR TO GENERAL SCOTT.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHlscros, April 81, ls4s
Sir: II would be respectful 10 pass unnotlcei
your extraordinary letter OF the Gath Of February nor Just
10 myself permit remain unanswered on the files OF
th. department.
To attempt 10 dispel the decisions which you
have long perrinacouy cherished and TO the errors
into which you have fallen devoves upon me duty which
must not decline but in performing il, | mean TO be
cautious profess 10 have been 10 abstain from anr
discourtesy, and hope TO be alike successful
Your prudent for the 18th article of war; has ndu
ced you hold osiensby responsible for many things
which you fairly chargeable TO me The
device YOU adopted assa the President by aiming
your blows al the Secretary War; credit your
ingenuity accuser than to your character as soldier
Indicate intention not 10 do wrong.
The Of letter dScloses evident de-
sign belief that you drawn forth from your
QUIET position bureau of this department. and ASST gned
command OF armies IN Mexico for the purpose Of
being Sacced and that accomplish this end neglecis
dlsa ppunr menIs injuries and reouHrs were inflicted
you and the means OF prosecuting the with
success withheld; in other words, the government after
peferrlns YOU other OF the gallant generals within
range OF its choice, had laboed TO Illustrate its
plans bring defeat upon ls armies and involve Il.
self Ind disgrace for object unimporant in its
bearing upon public affairs 4 charge entirely preposer-
utterly all the probabilities OF human
conduct calls for no rrfutation.
For other purposes combat this fondy
Chniea IL il proper that should notice OF
clhc allegations
II is true that after you were designated Tor tho chief
your departure should not be unnecessarily eayet pui
not restricted You ulirge. "ony four days. -
make necessary preparations al Washington You
ordered anti had reported that these prepare
ons 50 Ear completed that your presence here
YOU were permitted, your own request 10 take circuit
Gus route through New York and there remain lew
DAYS. Yoa sa!d ~ New io;a nearly entire week. and
until The 9ih OF December wenysix days after Ieav
ing washnsron) did You New Orleans where you
~od nave , This so,ns ao ndasenr sv
arrival New Orleans deaye nearly three
weeks is Incompatible with your allegation that you
allowed "only four days al Washington, where twenty
might have been most advantageousty employed" This
complaint has relation 70 facts within knowledge;
error therefore, is hardly reconcae with any soiciiude
be accurate As this is your opening charge against
Var Department and may be regarded as indicative Of those
which follow shall make the recitation OF il still more
complete ov the purpose OF showing with what reck!esnesS
you performed the functions OF accuse and how little
reliance in the present state OF your feelings be placed
On your memory You the witness BY whom your al
legation De disproved On the day Of your departure
from Washington, you left with me paper, il your
hSEdsrng dated November IS, lsib, with the following
Notes suggesting topics 10 be embraced in the secrea
Instructions General drawn haste) al the
quest of the former
From that paper extract the following paragraph:
II the Secretary OF warl pleased learn from you
General Scott TIA, you have in very few days already
through the general staff of the army Ibid suicen,
basis the purposes with which you charged
you nk i. bes 10 proceed 10 the Southwest in
order organize agcs: troops that can be
obtained in time fnf that important cXpedion'-h
expedition against Vera Cruz.
Here is your explicit admission that you repre-
scented the Secretary OF War; before leaving Washing
ton, that arrangements were lar completed that you
though! be, 70 proceed at 10 the army in Me3co yet
you make il ming charge against the Department
that you forced away Mexico before you had time
for necessary preparations.
present the charge in your language:
Il handed 10 you written request that of three OF
accomplished captains therein named might be appointed
assistant Adutani General with the rank nuur du,v
with The field and there vacancy the time for
one. My request has been attended TO, and thus
nave had no ohc"r Of the A:Juan Generals Department
Win IN lht Gan another instance be cited
denying 10 Genefain.ch in The field head OF
large amy small the selection of his CHIEF OF
the siai-a L. the chief in the department OF orders
correspondence
Were precisely you have stated il 10 be- Won
have given too much prominence, of compani
Presidents refusal be controlled his exercise of
the appointing power br your wishes Had there been
vacancy such mention for he accomplished
captsins named knows better than YOU that
could no, have accsded without depart
INK from The uniform inie OF selection for staff appointments
without violating the right OF officers regular pro-
motion, and offering an rdsnv 10 all those who held The
position OF assistant duiant General with the rank OF Cap
lam ~" rule OF regular promotion in the staff is ntex-
ee an has been uniformly observed that in the line
II mast appear surprising 10 you. VINO deeply
anu distressed al the suggestion Of appointing
by authority OF Congress, citizen Lieutenant General"
or ve-'nc The President with devove the command
OF h' sny on Major General without regard 10 priority
10 me GATE {" his commissions should in first request
after being assigned 10 comman the President 10 disrs
gard The rights OF a; least four officers as m,rorious ma OH
three accomplished captains" named hy you Tha p,cs
denis views This subject undoubtedly differ from your,
His regard for the rights OF officers is not hv bn;
rank Those of Captains Major Generals have equal
value in hs estimation, and equal claim resrcct
and protection. cannot sdm il lust ground OF
cen-us and rehukc against the head OF War Depart
ncnt tina, tie President did FL order 10 CRAFTY
your feelings Of iavorisml, disregard the claims
a't me nights NJ all the assistant Aduans General OF the
fank "' Sapiatn then in commission.
p - lt as II Ia made ground of complaint and reproof
N> :, ~ VI. "ofs' aspect OF the You entirely
'sseh III 'h assertion TINT there was then vacancy in
ie ou AM. lIth'ta'> staff with The rank OF major 10
winch '''' u 'e captains recommended BY YOU could
have been properly appointed Tier, vs., M s,rb ya,,nrv
To show the correctness oi his sa,,m,n md ~ 1.m,r
siraie erc-, appeal ~ Arnv Hr,.,- I'D ~, ~
cotds uf tnc Ailuanl- Generals o.tc, W ;,a,. :.
obvious fact lying within range al ,,,,,n, .b
which pIcsWmct 10 be familiar, c>r,,. a. 49,
p;ise than the declaration that, by The coml,nc -
your request, you Rave had officer OF the Adlusn
ras department, with (you) in the campaign" Every
hcef OF that departmen-at least egh-wRs, YOU w.
Knew, subject 10 your command. When you arrived in
Mexico there were with the least I'VE assistant
all AZ your service That choose
oF none o! them 10 head quarters and detached from
"'her appropriate duties officer assistant
Ju!ahsentai may well be regarded slight the whole
OF mat staff then with you in Mexico and Of
paint 'ut certainly mol complaint enlapate
against Inc war Department Willing as am 10 presume
thoush unable 10 conceive that circumstances Won
IN passing over al the assistant then with
the army, ana IN selecting office. line e.orm
the duties OF aoatant though there vacancy in the
adIuant generals staff OF the grade OF major for which
only recommended the accomplished CAPTAINS and
which only they properly eligible there was vacsn
CIV o. the rank of captain. For this position Won re
commended officer in General Woors staff then on The
Chihuahua expedition This officer was subsequently, an
desired and since been al the headquarters
o. tha, general Thus i, will be perceived that your re-
quest So ar as it proper and reasonable actually
complied with.