The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-04
The Retirement of General Scott.
The following letter from Gen. Scott was re

! HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, }
WASHINGTON, Oct 81, 1861. {
Hon. s. Cameron, Secretary Of War,
SIR:-For more than three years have been
unable from hurt to mount horse or to walk
more than Il few PAGES at a time, and that with
much pain ; other and new inirmities, dropsy
and virtigo, admonish me that repose Of mind
and body, with the appliances Of surgery and
medicine, are necessary to add little more to q
life already prolracted much beyond the usual
span Of man It is under snch circumstances
made doubly painful by the unnatural and un-
just rebellion now raging in the Southern States
of our SO lately prosperous ana happy Union,
that 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 all
absolute right granted by 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 II Presi
dent who has treated me with much distinguished
kindness and courtesy; whom | know upon
much personal intercourse, to be patriotic with
out sectional Partially or rrejudices; to be
highly conscientious in the performance of eve
ny duty, and Of unrvalled activity and persc
veranee And to you, Mr. Secretary whom |
now officially address for the last time, beg to
acknowledge my many obligations for the uni
form high consideration have received at your
hands, and have the honor to remain, Sir with
! high respect, Your obedent servant,
(Signed) WINFIELD SCoTT.
4 special Cabinet Counsel was convened on
Friday morning, at o'clock to take the sub
ject into cons Iteration. 1t was decided that
Gen. SCOTS request, under the circumstances
of his advanced age and infrmties, could not be
refused Gen. Mcclellan was therefore, with
the unanimous agreement of the Cabinet, no,i-
fed that the command Of the army would be
deyolved upon him.
At four 0 clock in the afternoon, the Cabinet
again waited upon the President, and attended
him to the residence of Gen. Scott. Being seat
cd the President read to the General the fol-
lowing order:
On the first day of November, A. D. 1861,
upon his own application to the President Of
the United States. revet-Lentenat General
Winfield Scott is ordered to be placed and il
hereby placed, upon the list of retired officers of
the army of the United States, without reduc-
ton in his current pay, subsistence or allow
ance.
The American people will hear with sadness
and dcop emotion that Gen. Scott has with
drawn from the active control Of the array
The President and unanimous Cabinet expires.
their own and the nations sympathy in his per-
sonal affection 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 gratefully distin-
guished his faithful devotion to the Nonsttu-
ton, tho Union and the Flag, when assailed by
Il paricidal rebellion.
(Sgned) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Gen. Scott thereupon rose and addressed the
President and Cabinet, who had also risen, as
follows;
Mr.. President, this honor overwhelms me-
1t overpays all services have attempted to rem
der 10 my country. If had any claims they
arc all obliterated by this expression of approval
by tho President, with the remaining support
OF his Cabinet. know the President and this
Cabinet well. | know that the country has pla-
ced its interests IN this trying crisis in safe
keeping. Their counscs are wise. Their Ia
bors are as untirng as they are loyal, ard
their course is the right one. Mr.. President,
you must excuse mo. | am uuabe to stand
longer to give utteranee to the feelings of graft
tude which Cypress me. In my retirement, |
shall offer up my prayers to God for this Ad-
ministra!ion and for my country. | shall Pray
tor it with confidence IN its success over all enc
mics, and tina! speedily.
The President then took leave of Gen. Scott,
giving him his hand, and saying he hoped soon
70 write him private letter, expressive Of his
gratitude and affection. The President added
General, you will naturally feel solicltude
about the gentlemen Of your staK, who have
rendered you and their country such faithful
services. have taken that subject into consd-
GRAFTON. | understand that they 60 with yoa
to New York. | shall desire them at their ear
lest convenience after their return, to make
their wishes known to me | desire them now.
however, to be satisfied that except tho unavod-
| able privahon OF your council and secretary.
which they have SO long enjoyed, the provision
which will be made for them will he such as to
render their situation ~ agreeable hereafter as
it has been heretofore. Each member of the
Administration then gave his hand to the yeter.
an, and retired in profound sllcnce
The following i, the response of the Secretary
of War to the letter Of Gen. Scott:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington. Nov. | 1861.
GENERAL 1t was my duty to lay before the
President, your letter of yesterday, asking to be
relieved under the recent act of Congress. In
separating from you, cannot refrain from ex-
pressing my deep regret that your health. shat
tered by long service and repeated wounds re-
ceived IN your Countrys defence, render it ne
cessary for you to retire from your high position.
AT this me;nen.ous period OF our history, al
though you are not to remain in active service,
yet hope that while continue in charge of the
department over which now preside, / shall at
times be permitted to avail myself of the bcne-
~ of Your WISE counsels and sage experience
- Us been my good fortune to enjoy u personal
acquaintance with you for over thirty wears
and the pleasant relations of that long time
have been greatly strengthened by your cordial
and entire corporation in all the great oues-