Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-11-05
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army,
Washington. Oct. II, 1861

The Hon. s Cameron, Secretary Of War:
'SIR-For more than three years have
been unable. from hurt, to mount horse,
or TO walk more than a few PAGES at time,
and that with pain. Other and new in
irnities-dropsy and vertigo-admonIsh
me that repose Of mind and body, with tne
appliances of surgery and medicine, are
necessary to add little more to life al
ready pretracted much beyond tbs usual
span of man. II is under such circum-
stances, made dOubly painful by the unnat
ural and unjust rebellion now raging in
the southern States Of our so lately pros.
perous 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 IN
an absolute right granted by recent act of
Congress, | am entirely at liberty to say it
is with deep regret that withdraw myself
In these m0ment0us times, from the orders
! of a President who has treated me wi{h
much distinguished kindness and courtesy
whom know, upon much personal in
tercourse, TO be patriotic without sectional
partialties or prejudices, to be highly con-
scicntious in the performances of every
duty, and of unrivalled activity and pcrse-
vererce. And to yau, Mr.. Secretary,
whom l now officially address fog the last
time, beg to acknowledge my many
obligations for the uniform high considers
tons have received at your hands.
| have the honor to remain, sir,
With high respect.
(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT
A special Cabinet council was convened
on Friday morning at o'clock to take the
subject into consideration. 1t was decided
that Gen. Scott's request, under the cir
substances Of his advanced age and iuflrm
ifies, could not be declined. Gen. McCleI-
Ian was thereupon, with the unanimous
agreement of the Cabinet notified that the
command of the army would be devolyed
upon him
At 5 o'clock in the afternoon the Cabinet
again waited on the President, and atterd,
ed him to the residence Of Gen. Scott. Be-
ing seated, the President read to the Gen.
the following order:
On the lst day of November, s. D. 1861
upOP his own APT LEGATION to the President
of the United States, Brevet Lieutenant
General Winfield Scott is ordered to be
placed, and hereby is placed, upou the list
OF retired officers of the army of the Unit
ed States, without reduction in his current
pay, subsistence. or allowance.
The American people will hear with sad
ness and deep emotion that Gen. Scott has
Withdrawn from the active control of the
army, while the President and unanimous
Cabinet express their own and the nations
sympathy in his personal afflictop, and
their profound sense OF the important rub
lie services rendered by him to his country
during bis long and brilliant career among
us, which will ever be gratefully distin-
guished, his faithful devotion to the consti>
tuition, the Union, and the flag, when as
sailed by parricidal rebellion.
(signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Gen. Scott thereupon rose, and addressed
the President and Cabinet, who had also
risen. as follows:
''PREsIDENT-This honor oYerrhelms
me. 1t overpays al services ! have at
tempted to render my country. If | had
any claims before, they are all obliterated
by an expression of approval by the Presi-
dent, with the unanimous support of the
Cabinet. l know the President and his
Cabinet well, | know that the country its (,
Interests IN this trying crisis in safe keep
ing. Their counsels are wise, their iahors
are as untiring as they are loya, and their
cause the right one. President. YOU must
excuse me; l am unable to stand any long
er to give utterance to the feelings of graf
itude which Cypress me- In my retire
ment shall offer 10y prayers to God for
this administration aud for my country. |
shall pray fol it, with confidence in its sue,
cess over all enemies, and that speedily |
The President then took leave of Gen.
Scott, giving him his hand, and saving |
that he hoped soon to write him a private |
letter expressive eff his gratitude aud affec-
ton.
Gen. Mcclellan has issued an order ac,
cepiing the Command-in Chief of the ar. |
my, and eulogising Gen. Scott,
Washington, Nov. l.
Highly trustworthy information from |
France establishes in diplomatic circles !
here the fact that the Emperor Nnpo- /
leon and his government consider the in> |
IegrIty, greatness, and prosperity of the
Ameriacn Republic to be iden tical with the !
present and futuie prosperity of France.
Gen. Scott will go to New York on Sat-
lrday morning. on the 6 O'Clock trair. ae-
,emPapied by his staff Ii is expected !
hat next week, while in the city, he will
-etire from his high rank, and immediately
hereafter sail for Europe, 10 company with
ais son in>law