Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-11-06
Resignation Of Gen. Scott.

has resigned his position as Commander in
Chief of the army of the United States
The place lie has filed SO long and well
will henceforth be occupied By Gen. Nc
Clelian.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81. 1861
The Hon. Simon Cameron. secretary Of
War:
SIR: For more thar three years [ have
been unable, from a hurt. to mount a horse
or to move more than a few pacos at a time,
and that with much pain. Other and
new infrmities-dropsy and vertigo-ad-
mOnish ne that repose Of mind and body
with the appliances of surgery and medi-
cines. sre necessary to add a little more to
a life already protracted much beyond the
usual span of man. 1t Is under such CIR
cumstances. made doubiy painful by the
unnatural and unjust rebellion now raging
in the Southern States of our 50 lately pros
porous and happy Union, that am COM
PEELED to request that my name be placed
on the list of army officers retired from ac-
tive service. As this request Is founded
on an absolute right, granted by a recent
act Of Congress. | am entirely at liberty
to say it is with with deep regret that L
withdraw myself in these monentous times
from the orders of a President who has
treated nc with much distinguished kind
ness and courtesy. whom | know. upon
much personal Intercourse, to be patriotic
without sectional partialities or %prejudicies,
to be highly conscientious in the perform
ance of every duty, and Of unrivalled ac-
tiyity and perseverance.
And to you, Mr.. Secretary, whom now
officially address for the last time, L beg
to acknowledge my many Obligati'ns
for the uniformly high consideration l have
received at your hands, aud have the
honor to remain, Sir, with high resi- EFT,
(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT.
A special Cabinet council was convened
on Friday morning at 9 o'clock, to take
the subject into consideration. 1t was de-
cided that Gen. SCOTS request, under the
circumstances of his advanced age and ir.
frmities, could not be declined.
Gen. Me- lellan was, ~there-5on, with
the unanimous agreement * the Cabinet,
notified that the cc.nmand of the army
would be devOlvci upon him.
At 4 o'clock in tie afternoon, the Cabi
net again waited on the President and at
tended HIP 70 the residence of Gen. Scott
BENZ seated, the President read to TIT
General the following order:
On the first day of November, A. ID.
, 1851, upon his OWL application to th'
President of the United States, breve
Lieut.. General Winfield Scott is ordered
to be placed, and hereby is placed upoI
; the list Of relieved officers of the army o
the United States, without reduction in hi
current pay, subsistence. or allowance.
The American people will hear with sad
ness ard deep emotion that General Scot
has withdrawn from the active control o
the army, while the President and unani
nous Cabinet express their own and tn,
nations sympathy in his personal afiiction
and their profound sense of the imPortan
public services rendered by him to his coun
try during his long and brilliant career
among which will ever be gratefully dis
tinguished his faithful devotion to tue Con
stitution. the Union aud the Flag, wheI
assaulted by patricidal rebellion.
(Signedy ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Gen. Sect thercupon arose and addressed
the President and Cabinet as follows:
Prcsident-This honor o~verwhelms me
1t ovcr-pays all services l have attempte'
to render my country. If had any claim
before. they are all Oblitcratcd by an ex
preston # approval by the President, witt
the unanimous support of his Cabinet.
know the President and his Cabinet well
l know that the country has placed its in
~terests IN this trying crisis in safe keeping
Their counsels are wise; their labors ar
as untiring as they are loyal. and thei
course is tie right one. The Presiden
must excuse me, as | am unable TO STAN
longer to gire u;terance to the feelings .
gratitude which Cypress me. In my re
tirement, 1 shall offer my prayers to Go
for this Administration, and for my cOuu
try. l shall pray for it with confidence i
its SUCCESS over al enemies, and tia
speedily,
The President then took leave ofGenera
Scott, giving him his hand, and saying h
'hopcd soon to write him a private letter
expressive Of his gratitude and affection
HEADQUARTERS OF TIL Army,
WASHINGTON, Nov. l.
GENERAL ORDER 80. 10.
In accordance with General Order Nc
o., from the War Department, l i ereb
assume command Of the armies of the Unite
States. In the midst of the dificultie
which encompass and divide the nation
hesitation and selfdistrust may well &C
company the assumption Of so vast a respou
sibility, but confiding as l do in the 10y
5 atty. discipline and courage of our troops
I and believing as l dc that Providence vii
T., favor ours as the just cause, | cannot doub
t that success will crown our efforts and sac
rifces.
t The army will unite with me in the feel
! ing Of regret that the weight Of many year
: and the effect Of Increased inlirmities, con
| tracted and intensified il his country
: services, should just now remove from GU
C head the great soldier of our natiOn-th
D hero who in his youth raised the reputation
of his country in the field Of Canada, Whic.
!, he sanctifed with his blood, who in NOR
e mature years proved to the world tina
American skill and valor could repeat ifro
t eclipse the exploits of Cortez in the land q
the Mcntezumas; whose whole life ha
been devoted to the service of his country
T whose whole efforts to uphold our honor a
] the smallest sacrifice of life-a warrior VII
scerned the selfish glories of the battle feel
d when his great qualities as 4 Statesman
0 could be employed more prO6tably for hi
: country-a citizen whose declining year
4 have given to the world the most shinin
instance of loyalty in disrcgarding all tie
e of birth, and clingipg still to the cause &
truth and honor. SDch has been the ca
reer and character Of Winfield Scott, whor