The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-11-07

the President on Thursday afternoon
."HEAp-qUARTERs OF THE Army,
Washington, Oct 81 ,ls64 &.
Z" To Hon. Simon Cameron, Sec y OF w arr.
"SIR-For more than three years |
have been unable, from hurt, to mount
a horse or walk more than few PAGES at
a time, and that with much pain. Other
and new nfrmities-dropsy and vertigo
adlnonish me that a repose OF mind am
body, with the Appliances of surgery and
medicine are necessary to add little more
to life already protracted much beyond
the usual span of man 1t is under such
circumstances made doubly painful by the
unnatural and unjust rebellion now ra-
ging in the Southern States of our so late
prosperous and happy Union, that l am
compelled to request that my name be
placed on the list of army officers retired
from active service. AS this request is
founded on an absolute right, granted by
a recent act of Congress, / am entirely at
liberty to say that it is with deep regret
that withdraw myself, in these momen-
tous times, from the orders of President
who has treated me with distinguished
kindness and courtesy, whom | know, up
on much personal intercourse to be patriotic,
without sectional partialitics or prejudices,
to be highly conscientious in the perfor-
nance of every duty and of unrivalled ac-
tivity and perseverance And to you Mr.
Secretary, whom / now officially address
for the last time, l beg to acknowledge my
many obligations for the uniform high
consideration [ have received at your
hands, and have the honor to remain, sir,
1-o,,,. ~,
WINFIELD SCoTT"
A special cabinet meeting was convened
on Friday morning, at nine O'Clock, to
take the subject into consideration. 1t
was decided that Gen. SCOTS request,
under the circumstances of his advanced
age and infrmities, would not be declined
Gen. NJ 'Clellan was thereupon, with the
unanimous agreement of the cabinet, no.
tilted that the command Of the army would
deyolve upon him. AT four o'clock in
the afternoon the cabinet again waited up
on the President, and attended him to the
residence of Gen. Scott. On being seated
the President read to the General the fol
lowing order:
ssOn the 1st day of November, A. D.,
1861, upon his own application to the
President Of the United States, Brevet
Lieutenant General Winfield Scott is or
dered to be placed, and hereby is placed,
upon the list of retired officers of the army
of the United States, without reduction In
his current pay, Subsistence or allowances.
The American people will hear with sad
ness and deep emotion that General Scott
has withdrawn from the active control of
the army. While the President and the |
unanimous Cabinet, express their own and |
the nations sympathy In his personal |
affiiction and their profound sense of the !
important public services rendered by him |
to his country during his long and brilliant |
career, among which will ever be grateful |
ly distinguished his faithful devotion to
the Constitution, the Union and the flag, |
when assailed by parricidal rebellion.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
Gen Scott thereupon rose and address
sed the President and Cabinet, who had |
risen, as follows:
"President-This honor overwhelms me- !
1t overpays all the services | have at |
tempted to render to my country. IL L |
had any claims before, they are all obiit- |
Grated by this expression of approval by |
the President with the unanimous support |
of his Cabinet. | know the President |
and this cabinet well. L know that the |
country has placed its interests in this
trying crisis in safe keeping. Their coun-
sells are wise their labors untiring as they
are loyal, and their course is the right one.
President, you must excuse me; L am
unable to stand longer to give utterance
to the feelings of gratitude which Cypress
me. In MY retirement [ shall offer up
prayer to God for this administration and
for my country. [ shall pray for it with
confidence IN its success over its enemies,
and that speedily
The President then took leave Of Gen.
Scott, giving him his hand, and saying
that he hoped soon to write him private
letter, expressive Of his gratitude and
affection
The President also added: General
you will naturally feel solicitude about the
gentlemen of your staff, who have render
ed you and their country such faithful
service. | have taken that subject into
consideration. ] understand that they 90
with you to New York. | shall desire
them, at their earliest convenience after
their return, to make their wishes known
to me. l desire you, however, to be sat
isfed that, except the unavoidable priva-