Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-13
NEWS FROM REBEL SOURCES.
SC0TT'S REPLY TO BUCHANAN.
Beginning of the Rebellion.
Full and Important Details.
sCOTTs REPLY TO BUCHANAN.


NEw YORK, Nov. Y.
General Scott publ hes a rejoinder to
Ex-President Buchanan. He, Scott, is
sorry to perceive that the publication Of
his official report to President Lincoln has
given ofense; that the result was purely
incidental, and it did not enter into his,
Seott's, purpose in drawing up the paper,
but on reflection, he supposes that under
the circumstances the offense was una
Voidable yet it be remembered, he says,
that the new President had right to de-
mand of me, N the immediate command of
the army, how it happened that the in
cipient rebels had been allowed TO coerce
several of those forts, and from the bad
condition of others, were likely to gain
possession of them also; that primarily
the blame rested exclusively on me-
Hence, to vindioate my sworn allegiance
to the Union, and my professional con-
duct, the report was submitted to Presi-
dent Lincoln ct an early day in his admin
istration, and recently to the world.
First, to account for not having garris-
oned sufficiently the southern forts to Sc
cured anticipated treason and rebellion,
according to my recommendations begin
ming October 29th, 1850; repeated the next
day, and again earnestly December 18th,
18th, 28th, and Both, the ex-President
says there was no available troops within
reach. He (Scott) then proceeds to show
that small garrisons would at first have
suficed for the twin forts Jackson and St.
Phillips; also that Scott's object was to
save the Union by all means at hand, all
those works until Congress could have
time to authorize call for volunteers; O
call which the President for such purposes
might no doubt have made without any
special legislation, with the full approba-
tion of every loyal man in the Union.
On the second point, Scott says, that the
ex-President almost loses his amiability in
having his neglect Of the forts attributed,
as he says, without the least cause to Gov
ernor Floyd and he adds, all my cabinet
must bear me witness, that I was the
President myself responsible for all the
acts of the administration. Now, notWith-
standing the broad assumption of respOn-
sibility, be (Seott) would be sorry to be-
ieve that the ex-President specially con-
sented to the removal by Secretary Floyd,
of 115, 900 extra muskets and rifles, with all
their implements and ammunition, from
northern repositories to southern arsenals,
so that on the breaking out of the maturing
rebellion they might be found without cost,
except to the United States, in the most
oonvenint position for distribution to it
among the insurgents south. Of the 40
or 140 pieces of artillery which the same
Secretary ordered from Pittsburgh to Ship
Island, in Lake Borgne, and Galveston,
Texas, for forts not yet erected, he says:
Accidentally learning early in March,
that under this posthumous order the ship
ment of these guns had commenced, COM
municated the fact to Secretary Holt (act-
ing for Cameron) just in time to defeat the
robbery. But upon this point we may
hear Ex-Secretary Floyd himself At
Richmond he expressly claimed the honor
of defeating all my plans and solicitations
respecting the forts, and received his re-
ward,-it being there universally admit
ted that but for that victory over me there
would have been no rebellion.
TRiTd-Mr. Buchanan complains that I
published without permission, on January
l8 1861, my views addressed to him and
the Secretary of War October 10Th and
explained to him at the time, by the mis-
representation of my views in one of the
earlier speeches of the same ex-Seoretsry,
after his return to Virginia.
Folyth-0ne of my statements, COM
planning of the joint eountermand, sent
through the Secretary of War and Navy,
to prevent the landing at Fort Pickens Of
Captain Volges' company, unless the fort
should be attacked, is cited by the ex-Pres-
ident to prove a singular want Of memory
on my part, and note from ex-Seeretary
Holt is alluded to to show that I had entirely
approved Of the joint countermsnd the day
that it was prepared. Few persons are as
little liable to make a mis-statement by
accident as Mr. Holt, aud no one is more
incapable Of making one by design, yet
l have not the slightest recollection Of an
interview with him on this subject. 1 do
remember, however, that Mr.. Holt, on some
matter Of business approached my bedside
about that time when was suffering from
- $1,000 . ~ D--l--S, AZ
Holt and myself were all landsmen and
could know but little Of the possibility of
landing troops on an open sea beach and
amid the surf. Mr.. TOucey, Secretary of
the Navy, with officers ofintelligence and
nautical experience, ought TO have said
plumply, that if Captain Volges had
not to land, except in case OF
an attack upon Fort Pickens he might as
well have remained at Fortress Monroe, as
the prohibition placed the fort, so far as
he was concerned, at the mercy or as the
event showed the want of enterprize on
the part Of the rebel commander at Pen
sacols. Possibly there are other parts of
the reply which superficial reader may
think requires comment or elucidatiOn,
and indeed here is another marked
for me by my kind visitor.
9th. The ex-President has brought To-
gether labyrinth of dates, respecting the
arrival and departure of the rebel Com
missioners, armisties &C., with which, as
had no official connection, may have
made an unimportant mistake or two, but
as have not by me the means of recover
ing the clue to those windings, I shall not
attempt to follow him.
(Signed,J WINFIELD SCOTT,
9th Avenue Hotel, Nov. 9Th, 1862.
EDnTT naUDn