The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-11-08


President on Thursday afternoon
Headquarters of the Army,
Washington, Oct. 81, 1861.
To Hon. S. Cameron, Sec, of Var:
SIR-For more than three years have
been unable, from hur', to mount a
horse or to walk more than few PAGES
at time, and that with great pain. Other
and new in6rmites-dropsy and vertigo
-admonish me that repose Of mind and
body, with the appliances of surgery and
medicine, are necessary to add little
more 10 a life a!read, protracted much
beyond the usual span Of man. 1t is un
der such circumstances made doubly
painful by the unnatural and unjust rebel
lion Eow raging in the Southern States of
our so iatel prosperous and happy Un-
ion, that | am compelled to request that
my name be placed on the list of army off
GERS retired from active service. AS this
request is founded on an absolute right,
granted By recent act of Congress, am
entreiy at liberty to say it is with deep
regret that Withdraw myself in these mo
mentous times from the orders Of Presi-
dent who has treated me with much dis
| tingushed kindness and courtesy v-whom
know from much pleasurable intercourse
to be patriotic. without sectional partiali-
ties or preiudices to be high y conscien-
tous in the performance of every duty,
and of nntiring activity and perseverance
and to you, Mr.. Secretary, whom | now
officially address for the last time, beg to
acknowledge my many obligations for the
uniform high consideration have receiv>
ed at your hands, and have the honor to
,emain Sir, with high respect,
(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT.
A special Cabinet Council was convened
on Friday morning at nine o'clock to take
the subject into consideration. 1t was
decided that Gen. Scotts request, under
the circumstances of his advanced age
and infirmities could not be declined. Cen
Mcclellan was tLereupon, with the unan-
imous agreement of the Cabinet, notified
that the command of The army would be
devolved upon him
At four o'clock in the afternoon the
Cabinet again waited on the President
and attended him TO the residence of Gen.
Scott. Being seated, the President read
the General the following order:
On the first day Of November, A. D..
1861, upon his own application to the
President Of the United States, Brevet
Lieutenant General Winfield Scott is or
dered to lie placed, and hereby is placed,
upon the list of retired officers Of the army
of the United States, without reduction
in his current pay. subsistence or allow
ances. The American people will hear
with sadness and deep emotion that Gen
Scott has withdrawn from the active con
troll of the army, while the President and
he unanimous Cabinet express their own
and the nations sympathy in his personal
atliclion, and their profound sense Of the
important public services rendered by him
TO his county during his long and bril-
liant career among which will ever be
gratefully distinguished his faithful devo
ton to tile Constitution and the Union.
and the flag when assailed by parricdaI
rebellion.
[Signed] ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
General Scott thereupon rose and al
dressed the President and Cabinet, who
had also risen, as follows:
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-This honor over-
whelms me. 1t overpays all services |
have attempted to render my country. If
| had any claims before they are all OBJ
liberated by An expression of approval by
the President, with the unanimous sup-
port of his Cabinet. know the Presi>
dent and his Cabinet well. | know that
the country has placed lis interests in this
trying crisis in safe keeping. Their coun>
sells are wise their lahors are as untring
as they are loyal and their cause is the
right one. Mr. President, you must ex
cuse me; am unable 10 Stand longer to
give utterance to the feelings of gratitude
which oppress me In my retirement.
shall offer my prayers 10 God for this Ad
ministration and for my country. shall
pray for it with confidence in its success
over all enemies, and that speedily.
The President then took leave Of Gen
eral Scott, giving bin his hand, and say
ing he hoped soon to write him a privare
letter expressive of his gratitude aud affec-
tion.
FoREIGN NEws-Ear Russell, in a
speech at New Castle. deplored the dsas