Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-08-02

Ma Gen Scott is represented as talk
ing as follows We do not know how cor
rectly he is reported, and give the state
ment as we find it. II the statement is
correct, the defeat at Bulls Run will prove
better results than victory, by opening
the eyes Of the President and the people
to the true character of the bad advisers
who oppose Gen Scott:
If the matter had been left to him. he
S id, he would have commenced by per
feet bl, ekade Of every Southern port or
the Atlantic and the Gulf Then he would
have collected large force at the Capita
for defensive purposes-and another large
one on the Mississippi for offensive opera,
tions. The summer months, during which
it is madness to take troops South Of St.
Louis, should have been devoted to tacti,
cal instruction ;-and with the first frosts
of Autumn be would have had column Of
10000 well-disciplined troops down the
Mississippi, -and taken every important
point on that river, New Orleans included
1t could have been done, he said, with
greater ease, with less loss Of life, and
with far more important results than would
attend the marching Of an Army to Rich
mond. At eight points the river would
probably have been defended, and eight
battles would have been necessary; but in
every one Of them success could have been
made certain for US. The Mississippi and
the Atlantic once ours the Southern States
would have been compelled, by the natural
and inevitable pressure of events, to seek,
by a return to the Union, escape from the
ruin that would speedily overwhelm them
out Of it.
This, said he, ''was my plan. But
| am only subordinate. 1t is my bus
mess to give advice when it is asked, and
to obey orders when they are given, l
shall DO it. There are gentlemen in the
Cabinet who know much more about war
than do, and who have far greater infu-
ence than l have in determining the plan
of the campaign. There never was more
just and upright man than the President,
never one who desired more sincerely to
promote the best interest of the country
But there are men among his advisers who
consult their own resentments far more than
the dictates of wisdom and experience, =
and these men will probably decide the
plan Of the campaign. | shall do, or at
tempt, whatever I am ordered to do. But
they must not hold me responsible. If |
am ordered to 20 to Richmond, shall
endeavor to DO it. But know perfectly
well that they have no conception of the
difficulties we shall encounter. | know the
country, admirably adapted it is for
defence, and how resolutely and obstinate
ly it viii be defended Iwould like moth
ing better than to take Richmond now
that it has been disgraced by becoming the
capital of the rebel Confederacy, | feel a
resentment towards it, and should like
nothing better than to scatter it's Congress
to the winds But I have lived long
enough to know that human resentment is
very bad foundation for the public policy
and these gentlemen will live long enough
to learn it also. I shall do what | am or
dered. shall fght when and where I
am commanded. But if am compelled to
fight before I am ready, they shall not
hold NE responsible. These gentlemen
must take the responsibility Of their acts,
as | am willing to take that Of mine But
they must not throw their responsibility
on nv shoulders y