Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-21
Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Time
From Washington.

Gen Scots Letter TO the PresideRt-The Pre-
dictOns of The Old Hero FulflLfd-Necessuy
for a Million Of DISCIPLINED 7roops--The Army
must hare one Head, and that Head must be
Cen Mcclellan.
WASHINGTON. Oct. l6.
The remarkable letter OF Gen. Scott to the
President written on the dav before Mr.. Lincoln's
inaus uration, aud sent TO him through the Secre
tary of State and which Is now Tor the hrst time
made public has created the most profound i'm
preston here No one can be found tn doubt the
patriotism at Winfield Scott no on G can be found
to doubt his WISDOM. the fruit of the experience
OF long lite spent IN the public service. There
is probably no man living who hes IA more highly
cultivated mind than Winfield Scott. or Is better
able to Judge upon all questions affecting the wei
iare OF nations. and particularly of this nation.
The views OF such man. therefore, upon the n l.
tional crisis, aie being pondered upon by public
men here with an eaTneStness that may result in
good Prince John Van Buren, is certainly EN-
titled to the national thanks for making the doc
ument public.
Ii Is startling to see how actually the old heros
predictions have been fulfilled. Instead of re
quiring. Gen. Scott supposed. 3o,OOO troops aad
no Notifications to defend Washington. il is now
found necessary to keep $50 900 troops here, aud
even with that immense force. and with the
thirty two strong forts around the city. ashing
ton is not regarded ms sale YETI And in the
midst of al, this tremendous military array, the
friends of the President are clamoring for
strong body guard to attend him. because. as
thev alese. he is IN danger of assassination
The President himself very sen~ibly deSpises
these groundess lie rs. But 10 quiet the appre-
tensions OF these 0iiciOus friends, he came riding
into town a few DAYS ago with private soldier
bundled into the carriage with him and another
one mounted ON the box with the driver, both
armed with their loaded bluhdeIbu-se>l Such
are mis- ideas OF the state in which an American
H. e>ident ought to ride. But to returH to Gen.
Scots letter.
Ii will he observed that he saws the South my
be conquered in three Years 10y army oi 800 900
disciplined troops, le-i 10y young and able Gen
eral. such IA one a. he said. seven months after
wards. Mcclellan has proved himself tobe I'm
der the most favorable circumstances, II cannot
he expected that the work can lie accomplished
in less time than he has specified Hall the time
Las now elapsed. But. 80 far from hens half
through with the task il has just commenced, or.
rather. We are worse off now, 80 far a. any pos
pect of a successful termination OF the war Is
concerned than We were at the beginning In
stead OF Richmond being attacked, It l. Wash
/ inrtun that is beleagued Instead OF invading
/ the South, are virtually standing on the de-
/ ieusi,e and the northern States are beng invaded
and the northern towns captured Although we
have three times 300.O00 troofs N the field. We
have not got 800 900 disciplined troops. nor more
than one third that many The South has now
500 900 disciplined troops; and II i very evident.
from the experience of the past sixteen months,
/ that an equal number ct our troops cannot con
ouer an equal number Of southern troops. 1t IS
not the fault oi the men: they fight well enough.
IL is not altog ether the fault OF the officer; many
of them are brave, skiliiul ami prudent enough,
although some OF them are neither skilliui nor
prudent But Il is mn memorable rule oi military
science rule that has receiN ed the sanction OF
all military history from the times Ot Alexander
the Great, Caesar aud Hannbal. down to the time
of Napoeuu-that no nation can he conquered
unless the attacking army is from one third
larger to twice a. large rs the nation which Is at
tackled; and not always then.
Our experience therefore. | say, has shown
that We cannot conquer the South until We have
in the held an army OF million oil discipllnei
soldiers under one head Ii the radiaaI and
Abolitionists had not inlerfered with Gen. Nc
Celan. aud broken up his plans, We would have
haG that force now. A. II l.. and owing directly
TO that inieriereuce and to the fact that the for
ces and resources OF the rebels have been con
stantly unidentified We have just one tenth OF that
many Under the enei getic rule of Gen. Casey
however. and owing to the wise plan of filing up
the old regiments with new recruits. and sireng
ihening the old brigades and divisions with new
regiments the number of our disciplined troops
l. fast increasing
But il must be in borne in mind that General
Scott STIMULATES, AS one OF The conditions without
which she war cannot be brought to a successful
termination. that the army is to lie led by young
and able general. In seven months after this let
ter was written. the Old General. admOni>hed by
the weight OF Years. was obliged 10 retire from
active service During that interval. however.
he had mnrked the extraordinary abilities mani
tested by one OF he young Generals in the Union
army. aud. when he resigned his commission. II
was with the express understanding with the Co
yernmeut that that Young General should be his
successor. The President. in his annual message
OF Dec 3. ls6l saw: With the retirement OF
Gen Scott ami the Executive duly Of appointing
in his stead General ~ Chef. neither
ii council nor country vas there
any difference of opinion Ia tie proper person
to be seectea" Aud the person selected b! the