Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-29
Ttle RAFTsNlAN's JOURNAL,
GEN. scorr,s YrNp1cAr1oN.

| Gen. WlSEIELD Scorf, deeming his past q.
delity to the Union and his disposition e
maintain it by force, when necessary, distrust
ed by some recent publications, submits il
self-defense the following memoranda, which
be makes public through the National Inieli
gencer. They cannot possibly damage the
reputation OF the thief and traitor Floyd, nor
OF his confederates, Howell Cobb and Jacob
Thompson but We should really like to know
what ex-President Buchanan and ex-Secre.
tary Toucey have to say to them:
'9r SOUTHERN FoRrs-A SUMMARY, ETC.
October 30, 1901 emphatically called the
attention of the President to the necessity of
strong garrisons in all the forts below the
principal commercial cities of the Southern
States, including, by name, the forts in Pen
sacoia harbor. October 81 suggested to the
Secretary of War that circular should be
sent at once to such Of those forts as had gar
risons to be on the alert against surprises and
sudden assaults. (See my 81 Yietrs," since prin-
ted.)
Alter long confinement to my bed in New
York, came to this city (Washington) Dec.
IL Next day personally urged upon the
Secretary of War the same views, viz : strong
garrisous in the Southern forts-those OF
Charleston and Pensacola harbors, at once !;
those on Mobile Bay and the Mississippi, be-
low New Orleans, next, &c, &c. / again
pointed out the organized companies and the
recruits at the principal depots available for
the purpose. The Secretary did n OF concur
in any of my views, when begged him to
procure for me an early interview with the
President. that might make one effort more
to save the forts and the Union.
By appointment the Secretary accompanied
me TO the President, December l6, when the
same topics. Secessionisn, &c. we're again
pretty fully discussed. There being at the
moment Gin the opinion of the President) no
danger OF an early Secession, beyond South
Carolina, the President, in reply to my argu-
ments for inmed lately reinforcing Fort Sum.
ter, said
s'The time has not arrived for doing so
that he should wait the action of the Convrn.
ton OF South Carolina. in the expectation that
a Commission would be appointed and sent I o
negotiate with him aud Congress respecting
the Secession of the Stale, and the property
of the United STATES held within its limits
and that If Congress should decide against the
Secession, fben he would send re einforce-
ment, and telegraph the Commanding officer
Major Anderson) OF Fort Moulirie to hold the |
Forts (aouitrie and Sumter) against attacks
And the Secretary, with animation added
1--WE have vessel of war Ohe BrookIyn) |
held IN readiness at Norfolk, and he would |
then send three hundred men in her from Fort |
Monroe TO Charleston
To which replied, first, that so many men |
conld not be Withdrawn from that garrison. |
but could be taken from New York Next. |
that il would then be too late, as the South
Carolina Commissioners would then have the |
game in the ir hands, by first using and then |
cutting the wires; that as there was not SOL |
dier in Fort Sumter, any handful of armed Sc |
cessionists might seize and occupy it, &c.
Here the remark may be permitted, that If |
the Secretary's 800 men had then, or some |
time later, been sent TO Forls Moultrie and |
possession of the United States, and not |
battery below them could have been erected by |
the Secessionists; consequently the access to
those forts from the sea would now (the end of |
March) be unobstructed and fres.<
The same day, December Is, wrote the
following note: 81 aiaa
"Lieut. Gen. Scott begs the President to
pardon him Tor supplying. 10 this note, wha,
ne omitted tn say this morning at the inter-
view with which he was honored by the Pres.
ident. ~
s.Long prior to the force bill March 2.
1859, } prior to the issue of his proclamation,
and In part prior to the passage of the ordi. |
nance Of qualification, President Jackson, un.
Ter the act of March 8, 1907, authorizing the
employment of the land and naval forces
caused reinforcements to be sent to Fort Aoul-
rie, and a sloop- of war, the Natchez, with
two revenue cutters, to be sent to Charleston
narbor, In order, 1, TO prevent the seizure oil
hat fort by the nuilifers, and 9, to enforce
he execution of the revenue laws. Gen
Scott himself arrived at Charleston the day
alter the passage of the ordinance of nuIlifica.
lion, and many of the additional compan les
we're then en- route for the same de stuation.
''President Jackson faniliarIv said at the
lime, 'that by the assemblage ofthose forces.
Tor the lawful purposes. he was nor making
var upon South Carolina; but that if South
Carolina attacked them, it would be South
Carolina that made war upon the United
States."'
Seen. S., who received his frs, instruction
,oraD from the President, in the temporary
absence OF the Secretary OF War. Gen. Cass.1
those expressions we'll
.'Saturday Night, Dec. Is, 1902
Dec. 2S.-Again, after Major Anderson had
sallantly and wisely thrown his handful of
men from Fort Moultrie into Fort Sumter
earning that, on demand OF South Carolina.
here was great danger he might be ordered
oy the Secretary back to the less tenable work.
Dr. out OF the harbor-I write this note:
Il
s.Lieut. Gen. Scott (who has had a bad
night, and can scarcely hold up his head This
norning) bcgs to express the hope to the Sec