The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-08
Retirement of General Scott.

day afternoon Of last week
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,l
WAsHINeToN, Oct. 81. 1851.
The Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary Of
War.
SlR: For more than three wears l
have been unable, from hurt, 10 mount
horse or TO move more than a few PAGES
al time, aud that with much pain
Other and new NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
Vertigo-admonish me that repose Of mind
and body, with the appliances Of surgery
ana medicines, are necessary TO add a
Iiltle more TO lite already protracted
much beyond the usual span OF mae. IL
is under such circum mstances made doubly
painful by the unnatural and unjust 70.
bellion now raging in the Southern States
OF our SO lately prosperous and 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 an absolute
right granted by a recent act Of Congress,
| am entirely at liberty TO say It is with
deep regret thatI withdraw myself in
these momentous times from the orders
Of a President who has treated me with
much distinguished kindness and courtesy,
whom L know, upon much personal in
tercourse, TO be patriotic without sectional
partialiries Or prejudices, TO be highly con
scientious in the performance Of every
duty, and Of unrivalled activity and perse.
verance.
And TO you, Mr.. Secretary, whom I
now officially address for the last time, l
beg TO acknowledge my manv obligations
Tor the uniformly high consideration |
have received at your hands, and | have
the honor TO remain, Sir, with high re.
spect.
(Signed,) WINFIELD SCOTT.
A special Cabinet council was convened
on Friday morning at 8 o'clock, TO take tho
subject into consideration. IL was decided
that Gen. Scoit's request. under the cir
cumstanccs ot his advanced ago and iDfirm.
itios, could not be declined.
Gen Mcclellan wns thereupon. with the
unanimous agreement Of the Cabinet, mott.
fled that the command of the army would
be devolved upon him.
At O'Clock in the afternoon the Cabinet
again waited on tho President and attended
him to tho residence ot Con Scott. Being
seated, the President read to the General
tho following order:
On tho first day of November, A. d. 1861.
upon his own application to tho President
Of tho United States. brevet Lieut.. General
Winfield Scott is ordered to be placed. and
hereby is placed upon the list Of relieved
officers of the army Of the United States,
without reduction in, his current pay, sub.
sisianco or aliOwance.
The American people will hear with sad.
ness and doep emotion that General Scott
has Withdrawn from tho active control of
the u-my, while the President and unani.
nous Cabinet express ;her own and the
nations sympathy in his personal affiiction
aud their profound sense Of the important
public services rendered by him to his coun-
try during his long and brilliant career.
among winch will over be gratefully dstIn.
| gushcd his faithful devotion to tho Consiitu.
ton, tho Union and tho Flag, whom assaiicd
by parricidal rebellion.
(Signcd) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Cen. Scott thereupon arose and addressed
the President and Cabinet as follows:
PresIdent--This honor Overwhoims mo.
lt Ovor- pays all services | havo attempted
TO render my country. IL had any claims
before. they aro all obliberated by AN ex-
preston of approval bv tho President, with
the unanimous support of his Cabinet. |
know the President and his Cabiret we'll
! know that the country has placed its in
terests in this trying crisis in snfe keeping.
Their cOunsels are wise thoir Iabors ure as
untiring rs thoy are loyal. and their course
is the right one. The President must OK.
cuso mo, ms ! am unable 10 stand longer to
give uttcranco TO tho feelings of gratitude
which oppress me. In my retirement, I
shall offer my prayers to God for this All.
ministration, and for my country. l shall
pray for it with confidence in its success
over all enemies, and that speedily. -.
The President then took loavo of General
Scott, giving him his hand, saying he
"hoped soon TO write him a private letter.
expressive of his gratitude and affection" I"
and added;
! GENERAL: You will naturally feei solici-
tude about the gcntiemen Of your stnff, who
havo rendered you and their country such
faithful service. have taken the subject
into consideration. understand that they
go with you 20 Now York. shall desire
them on thoir earliest convenience after
their return 10 make their wishes known to
me. dosire you now. however, to be satis.
fled that, except tho unavoidable privation
of your counsel and society, which they have
80 long enjoyed, the provision which will be
made for them will be such as 20 render
their situation as agreeable hereafter as it
has been heretofore. ......
Each member Of the Administration then
gave his hand to tho veteran, and retired in
profound silence
The following is the response of tho Soc
rotary of War to tho letter Of General Scott,
WAR DEPARTMENT, !
| WASHINGTON, Novl.
| GENERAL: 1t was my duty to lay before
tho President your letter of yesterday, ask.
ing TO be relieved. under tho recent not OF
Congress. In separating from you | cannot
refrain from expressing my deop regret that
your health. shattered by long service and
repeated wounds received in your country's
defenso, should render IL necessary for you
to retire from your high position at this
momentous period ofour history. Although
you are not to remain in active service,
yet hope that while 1 continue in charge OF
tho department. over which now preside,
l shall at times be permitted TO avail myself
of the benefits of your wise counsolb and
sago experience 1t has been my good for.
tune to enjoy personal acquaintance with
/, you for over thirty years. aud the pieasan,
+, relations of that long time hsVo been greatIy