Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-11-08

beyond the usual span of man. Il is under
such circumstances, mnde doubiy painful By
the unnatural and uu Just rebellion now raging
ia the Southern States of our so lately pros
porous and happy Union, that ] am compelled
to request that my name shall be placed on
the list of army officers retired from active
service. As this request is founded on an
absolute right, granted by recent act Of
Congress, am entirely at liberty to say il is
with deep regret that withdraw myself in
these momentous times from the orders Of q
President who has treated me with much dis
tiuguished kindness and courtesy; whom |
know, upon much personal intercourse, to be
patriotic without sectional pariialities or pre-
;ndices; tc be highly conscientious in the per-
formance q every duty, and of unriv aled ac-
tivity and perse veranc4: and to you, Mr. Sec
retary, whom l now officially address for rhe
last time, beg to acknowledge my msny oh
legations for the uniform high consideration !
have received at your hands, and have the honr
or to remain, Sir, With high respect,
"Your obedient servant,
aWINFlELD SCOTT"
A special Cabinet Council was convened on
Friday morning, at O'Clock, to take the sub
ieet into consideration. 1t was decided that
Gen. Seott's request, under the circumstances
of his advanced age and ln6rmilies, could not
be declined Gen. McClellan was thereupon,
with the unanimous agreement Of the Cabinet,
notified that tie command of the army would
be devolved upon him.
At o'clock in the afternoon the Cabinet
again waited upon the President, and attended
him to the residence of Gen. Scott. Being
seated the President read to the General the
following order:
"On the lst day of November, A. D. 1861,
upon his own application to the President Of
the United States, Brevet Lientenaut General
Winfield Scott is ordered to be placed, and
hereby is placed, upon the list of retired Off
GERS 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 Gen. Scott has
withdrawn from the active coptrol ofthe army,
while the President and unanimous Cabinet ex-
press their own and the nations sympathy in
his personal sfiliotion, and their profound sense
of the important public services rendered by
him to his country during his long and bril-.
| liant career, among which will ever be CRATE.
| fully distinguished his faithful devotion to the
/
assaled by parricidal rebellion.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
/ Gen. Scott thereupon rose and addressed
tbe President and Cabinet, who had also risen.
as follows:
! "PREsInENT: This honr everwhelms me-
Il overpays all services have attempted to
/ render to my country. If bad any claims
before, they are all obiterated by this express
sion Of approsal By the President, with the
Remaining support Of bis cabinet. know
| the President and this Cabinet we'll. know
| that toe country has placed its interests in
this trying crisis i'll safe keeping. Their eoun-
sells are wise; their lahore are as untiring as
/ they are loyal, and their course is tie right
! oBe.
( ''ProRidont. you must excuse noe. / am
unable TO etend longer TO give utterauce 10
the feelings Of gratitude which oppress me-
In my retirement, / shall offer No my prayers
to God for this Administration, aod for my
country. / shall pray for it with confidence
in It's success over all enemies, and that speed.
! ily.'
Tho President tben took leave Of Gen.
Scott, giving him his hand, and saying be
hOpsd soon to write him private letter ex.
/ i
| President added:
"GENERAL: You will naturally feel solioi.
tude about the gentlemen Of your staff, who
have rendered you and their country such
faithful service. | have taken that subject
] into consideration. | understand that they 90
with you TO New York. | shall dsslrs them
at their earliest convenience, after their re-
turn, to make their wishes known to me. ]
desire you now, however, to be satisfied that,
except the unavoidable privAsion of your coun-
sci, and society, which they have so long en-
! joyed, the provision which will 5e made for
them will be such as to render their situation
hereafter as agreeable as il bss been hereto
! FORE"
EaOhu member Of tho Administration then
| gave his hand to tbe veteran, ard retired in
profound silence.
The Secretary of the Treasury and the
Secretary of War accompany Gen. Scott TO
New York to morrow by the carly train.
The following is the response of the Seere-
tary Of War TO the letter of Gen. Scott.
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
"WAsHINGToN, Nov. /, 1861,
itGENEgAL: 1t was my duty TO Law before
the President your letter of yesterday, asking
to be relieved, under the recent act of Con-
gress. In separating from you oanhot re-
fraiu from expressing my deep regret that your
health, shattered by long service and repeated
wounds received in your country's defense,
should render it necessary for you to retire
from your high position at this moucntious Pc
riod of our history. Although you are not
to remain IN active service, hope that while
continue in charge Of the Department over
which | uOE preside, shall at times be per-
nitted to avail myself of the benefits OF your
wise counsels and sage experience. II has
been my good fortune to enjoy psrsona ae.
qnaintance with you for over thirty years, and
the pleasant relations Of that long time have
been greatly strengthened by your cordial aud