The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-17
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF
WAR AND LIEUTENANT GENERA SCOTT


for and communicated to the Senate The correspondents
is too vouminous find place in any of the daily paps
and the extracts heretofore given by ieterwriters Tor the
distant press are chiefly confined to such portions as en-
hibt the personal relations of the parties emitting almost
entirely thoce portions which discuss questions Of real
and they therefore calculated to produce an
erroneous impression as to the nature of the conttoVen
To correct this impression and give readers succinc
view of the discussion, present the following abstract
the correspondence giving references to the pages Of the
document (senats Ex Doc s4 from which derive our
information To explain how the controversy brought
on, we insert the first three letters In full
The Seeraaryef Var TO General Scot, July IL, 1855.
WAR DEPARrxEsr,
Washington, July IL, 1856.
SR: Understanding that Brevet Brgader General Hitch.
cock colonel second infantry has recently received from
YOUR headquarters leave Of absence for four months
have respectfully inquire upon what grounds the indu
genee was accorded as under the circumstances Of the
active Campaign and the general himself assigned to the
command Of the most advanced and important postths
should be peculiarly urgent to justify his exemp
ton from duty especially the practice of the de-
partment has refuse leaves OF absence to officers
serving with troops in the field.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant
Secretary of War.
Brevet Lieut. Gen. WINFIELD ScoTr,
Commanding the Army, New York.
Gen. Scot to the Secretary Of Var, judy IT, 1856
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
New York, July II, 1855.
SIR Your letter Of the ~ b instant demanding why
had given leave of absence Brevet Brgader General
Hitchcock colonel Of the second infantry, received
yesterday
Your predecessors in the War Department have in their
mandatory communications to the higher army onice
very generally, and believe always when they expected
to be obeyed condos to speak In the name Of the
President of the United States but in the very dogmsc
letter before do not perceive the sghtest ausioh
the wishes instructions Of the constitutional commander
in-chef of the army and navy of the United States
Nevertheless will assume for once that you have writ
the proper authority and accordingly have the honor
report for the information OF common superior that
the leave of absence granted to Brevet Bgade Gen
era Hitchcock to enable him to attend to private
business of great importance him aud certain orphans
under his charge and because his regiment likely
be separated into many small detachmeuts in the mpend
ing campaign against the Sioux Indians and that such de-
tachments might be better commanded by the lieutenant
colonel majors and senior captains respectively than BY
any brevet brgader general colonel who would
sary be considered az supeseding some junior in com.
mand, appropriate to the grade of the latter
Very respectfully your obedient servant
Hon. J. DAVIS, Secretary of War, Washington D. G.
The Secretary Of Var to Gen. Scot, July rs, 1855.
WAR DErARrAENr
Washington, July %, 1885,
SIN Your letter Of the 18th inst in answer TO mine Of
the 18th, is before me-
leave unnoticed the exhibition of peevish temper in
your reply inquiry from this department in relation
to matter of importance to the military service and
you have though under species of protest. furnished me
the Information requested have to acknowledge tre
will therefore revoke the leave Of absence Colonel and
Brevet Brgader General Hitchcock and direct that off,
Ger to repair to the headquarters of his regmentby the
first opportunity.
In your statement to the practice of the department
you have been less than careful about the facts.
You say that my predecessors in the War Department
have in their mandatory communications TO the higher
army officers generally and you believe always when
they expected to be obecd spoken in the Of the P
dent Such has not been the PRACTICE and reference
your correspondence with the department will show
that commanding general of the army you have received
and executed directions from every of my predecessors
in Office since you attained that position which contained
the constitutional commander-nchef of the army but
which there be no question were expected to be
obeyed' Ii therefore, not only for once" that you
such communication to be written by the proper
authority but you have invariably acted upon the
assumption or rather upon that reasonabe not necessary
conclusion. &
The President speaks and acts through the heads of the
several departments in relation subjects which apper
tain to their respective duties aud within the limits Of
those which enjoned nrusted to the Secretary
Of War by the President Of the United Sa'es the act Of
the Secretary Is in legal contemplation the act of the Pes
dent and such claims to be respected and obeyed The
authority OF the department extends to military commits
sons and to matters respecting the military affairs of the
country and is not measured by the grade of the officer
concerned.
By asserting that in communications to the higher army
officers my predecessors have observed certain FORM you
seem to propose for my observance rule in which the
rank Of the military officer e to determine the In
which the Secretary Of War will communicate orders to
him.
Such rale could only rest the superstition that the
Secretary of War has relative rank among the officers Of
the army which is too absurd for consideration.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
JEFFN DAVIS
Secretary Of War.
Lieut. General WIHFIELD ScoTT,
Commanding the Army, New York.
His reply to this last letter General Scott commences
follows
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
New York, July 80, 1855.
SR Your letter Of the 25th instant in reply to mine Of
the lth was received at this Office when CHANGED to be
absent on account of the extreme heat
IL would be easy to show that the whole letter, in which
you charge me with exhibiting apeevsh temper is as
hprant in its statements and logic in that Of ACCUSE
ton
Certainly, Secretary of War; YOU have done enough
10 warrant more than suspicion that from the first you
had considered it your special mission by repeated az
gressions on my rights and feelings goad into some
Peous attitude OF official opposition To prove my long
forbeaanceor at time life all angry discussions
painful win proceed to enumerate some of the
Provocaons alluded to- without dilang in this place on
your partisan hostility the breyet general
and to the compensation that Congress intended attach
thereto
lie then enumerates numerous In which, he con-
tends the Secretary has acted in disregard of bis rights
In each of these the Secretary replies in order General