Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-08

From washington.
WAsHINoroN, Nov. i


WASHINGTON, Nov. i.
The following letter from Gen. Scott wa
received by the President on Thursday af
ternoon:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army,
WAsHiNeToN, Oct, 81, 1851.
The Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary 0
War:
VSm: For more than three years | hav
been unable, from a hurt, to mount hors
or 10 move more than few PAGES at time
and that with much pain. Other and nev
inffmities--dfopsy and veriigo--admonis
me that repose Of mind and body, with th
appliances of surgery and medicines, ar
necessary to add little more to life al
ready protracted much beyond the usus
span Of man. 1t is under such cireumstau
ces, made doubly painful by the unuatura
and unjust rebellion now raging in th
Southern States of our so lately prosperou
and happy Union, that i am compelled t
request that my name be placed on th
list Of army officers retired from active ser
vice. As this request is founded on an ab
solute right granted by a recent act of Con
gress, / am entirely at liberty TO say it is
with deep regret that withdraw myself in
these momentous times from the orders OF
aPresideDt who has treated me with much
distinguished kindness and courtesy, whom
know, upon much personal intercourse,
tobe patriotic without sectional partialities
or prejudices, 10 be highly Conscientious in
the performance of every duty, and of un-
rivalled activity and perseverance.
And TO you, Mr.. Secretary, whom now
officially address for the last time, beg to
acknowledge my many obligations for the
uniformly high consideration have receiv-
ed at your hands, and have the honor to
remain, Sir, with high respect,
(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT.
A special Cabinet council was convened
on Friday morning at o'clock to take the
subject into consideration. 1t was decided
that Gen. SCOTS request, under the circum
stances Of his advanced age aud infirmities
could not be declined
Gen. Mcclellan was thereupon, with th
unanimous agreement of the Cabinet, not
fled that the command of the army woul
bedevolved upon him.
AT o'clock in the afternoon the Cab
net again waited on the President and al
tended him to the residence of Gen. Scott
Being seated, the President read to tn
General the following order:
On the first day of November, A.
1851, upon his own application TO the Pre-;
ident of tho United States, Brevt Lieu
General Winfield Scott is ordered to b
placed, and hereby is placed upon the Ii;
ofrelieved officers Of the army of the Un
ted States, without reduction in his currer
pay, subsistence or allowance.
The American people will hear with sad
ness and deep emotion that General Scot
has Withdrawn from the active control {
the army, while the President and unan
nous Cabinet express their own and tn
nations sympathy in his. personal affiictiol
and their profound sense Of the importar
public services rendered by him to his coul
try during his long and brilliant earee
among which will ever be gratefully distir
guished his faithful devotion to the Const
tuition, the: Union and the Flag, when as
sailed by faatricidal rebellion, IA y,
lSigned,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
iaGen. Scott thereupon arose and address
ed the President and Cabinet as follows:
Prcsident-This honor oyerwhelms me
1t oyer-pays all services have attempfe
tofender my country. If / had any claim
before, sthey are all oblitefated BY an el
preston of approval by the President, wit
the unanimous support Of bis Cabinet
know the President and his Cabinet wei
l know that the country has placed its in
terests 10 this trying crisis in safe keeping
Their counsels are wise; their labors are a
Hntiring as they are loyal, and their coars
is the right one. The President must eJ
cuse me, as / am unable to stand longer I
give uttesanee to tbs feelings Of gratitud
which oppress me. In my retirement,
shall offer my prayers TO God for this "A,
rninistFation, and for my country. / sha
pray for il with confidence ia its succei
over al enemies, and that speedily. e.
The President then took leave Of Gel
efal Scott, giving him bis hand, and sayin
he ahoped Soon 20 write him a private le
ter. expressive Of his gratitae and affection
eEs. Mo'qrELLAxs ORDER ON Assaults
cossizAED OF THE ARsuEs OF THE o. s.
HAP QuARrzRs OF THE AH1Y,
WAsHINoFos, p. O., Nov. l., 1851,
II hereby assume command Of the armi,
Of the United States. IN The midst Of n
difficulties which encompass and divide Il
nation, hesitation and self -distrust may we
accompany the assumption Of so vast !
sponsibility, but eonfdipg asI do in Il
loyaltH discretion, and courage Ofour troop
and believing, as | do, that PEogidepee VI
favor ours as Che just cause, can not dou
that succcss VIII crown OUT efforts aud So
ffices 1t @
The army @ilf unite with me IN The fec
ing of regret that tho weight Of mar
years, pnd' the effect Of increasing infirn
ties, eontAesed and intensified IN bis coui
sfy's service, should Just bow remove fto
our head Tia Great Soldier Of our naiion.
ihe hero who n lis youth raised high II
fep6iation d his country ID ne feds
Canada, which he sahcii6ed with bis bio.
who. 10 more fllathse years, ptovsd 10 d
world, ihat American slin and saIbf eoa
Iepeats i not eclipse the exploits of Ooit