Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-08-01

minnesota ana seven gI!nDDatS at Old Point are
ready to assist should Newport News really be
attacked. Col. Phelps says he can hold the
place against twice his force which now consists
of four effective regiments.
The Entertainments of formidable char
acter, and the enemy will meet with a warm
reception. Both flags of truce of course repre-
sent that there is a very large Confederate force
between Yorktown and Old Point. The Con-
ledcrates have to-day been practicing from
battery at Wioughby Point, some FIVE miles
below Scwells Point and just below the Rip
Raps. AS am closing this letter, heavy firing
is going Oh at Pig Point-cause not ascertaincd
Gen. Scott and the Cabinet-yvho Controls
the Army Movements
In reply to an article that appeared in the
New York Tribune, stating that General Scott
had .tiN control Of oil the acar movements and
also o'yanizedMe columns, appointed the officers,
anil selected the time and points Of attack at Bulls
Run, the New York Times of Friday gives
what purports to be the substance of the remarks
made by the General on the Tuesday preceding
the battle, at his own table, in the presence of
his ails and single guest.
F. Gen. Scott, it is said, discussed the whole sub
ject Of this war, in all its parts, and with the
utmost clearness and accuracy. He had dis
tinct and we'll defined opinion on every point
connected with it.; and stated what his plan
would be for bringing it to a close, if the man
agement of it had been left in his hands.
The main object of the war, he said, was to
bring the people Of the rebellious States to feel
the pressure Of tie government; to compel them
to return to their obedience and loyalty. And
ulture of life, compatible with the attainment
of the object. No Christian nation can be justi-
fed he said, in waging war in such way as
shall destroy SOL lives, when the object of the
war can be attained at cost of 500. Every
man killed beyond the number absolutely re-
quired, is murdered. Hence, he looked upon
all shooting Of pickets, all scouting forays not
required in order to advance the general object
of the war, all destruction of life, on either side,
which did not contribute to the general result,
as so many acts of uniustifiable homicide
If the matter had been left to him, he said, he
would have commenced by perfect blockade
of every Southern port on the Atlantic and the
Gulf. Then he would have collected large
force at the capital for defensive purposes, and
another large one on the Mississippi for often
sive operations. The summer months, during
which it is madness to take troops South of St.
Louis, should have been devoted to tactical in
struction, and with the first frost of autumn he
would have taken a column of $4,000 we'll dis
ciplined troops down the Mississippi, and taken
every important point on that river, New Or
leans included.
1t could haze been done, he said, acih greater
ease, acih less loss Of life, and aci far more I'M
porta,at results than acould attend the marching Of
an army to Richmond. 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 GER
tain for us. The Mississippi and the Atlantic
once ours, the Southern States would have been
compelled, by the natural and inevitable pres
a aBap t to FIJI r RH W E6HGp R A
whelm them out Of it.
'This," said he, 'was my plan. But I am
only a subordinate 1t is my business to give
advice when it is asked, and to obey orders when
they are given [ shall do it, There are gen.
tlemen in the Cabinet who know much more
about war than I do and who have far greater
influence than have in determining the plan of
the campaign. There never was a 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 re-
sentiments far more than the dictates of wisdom
and experimental these men aviU probably de-
eide the pltssa Of the campaign. l shall do, or
attempt whatever / am ordered to do. But
they must not hold me responsible
"If am ordered to go to Richmond, l shall
endeavor to do it. But know perfectly well
that they have no conception of the difficulties
we shall encounter. l know the country-how
admirably adapted it is to defense, and how
resolutely and obstinately it will be defended.
would like nothing better than to take Rich
mond now that it has been disgraced by be-
coming the capital of the rebel Confederacy,
feel resentment towards it, and should like
nothing better than to scatter it's Congress to
the winds.
"But have lived long enough to know that
human resentment is very bad foundation for
a public policy and these gentlemen will live
long enough to learn it also. I shall do what
I am ordered. shall fight when and where
am commanded. But # I am compelled to fight
before I am ready, they shall not hold me respo1a-
sible. These gentlemen must take the RESPONSE
bility of their acts, as l am willing to take that
of mine. But they must not throw their respon-
sibility on my shoulders"
This is the substance and very nearly the
language of portion of Gen. SCOTS converse
ton on the occasion referred to. It proves con-
clusively that he was opposed to the advance
upon Richmond by way Of Manassas at that
time, and also that the administration was al
most certain to override his objections and COM
manl battle. Taken in connection with what
was said in the House of Representatives on
Wednesday, it leaves no doubt on the subject.
REMOVAL OF STATE PRISONERS FROM FORT
McHENRY.-The Baltimore american of Mon
day says: The steamship Joseph Whitney,
Captain Loveland, left here yesterday afternoon
for the purpose of conveying the State prisoners
confined at Fort McHenry to Fort Hamilton,
New York harbor. Previous to leaving, two
companies of the Twentieth New York Regi-
ment, Col. Pratt, left their encampment at Pat
terson Park to serve as an armed guard to the
steamer, all Of whom were armed and provided
with field pieces. Upon gliding out of the har-
Dor, aided by the steam-tug Viglant, Captain
Bandle, but few persons who witnessed the de-
parture of the boat could divine her mission
The soldiers mounted the rigging quite nimbly,