Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-12-03
GEN. SCOTT AND Mr.. BUCHANAN
GEN. SCOTTS REJOINDER.
WAsulNGToN. Nov. ii

WASHINGTON, Nov IL.
General Scott publishes a rcjoinder tc
+ the recent letter of ex-Presidcnt Buchan
'".., ~ 20 10 SO sorry tn perceiye that
the publication Of his official report 10
President Lincoln has gwen offence, and
that the result was purely incidental. il
did not enter into his purpose in drawing
up the paper, but on reflection he sup.
poses that under the circumstances Of.
tense was unavoidable. Let it be remem-
be.ed he remarks, that the new President
had the right to demGud of me, the i'm.
mediate commander Of the army, how it
/ happened that tho incipIeUt rebels had
been allowed to seize severa! forts, and
, from the bad condition of others were
lkoly to gain them also. Primarily the
blame rested on me hence to vindicato
my sworn allegiance to the Union and my
professional conduct, the report was sub
mltted 10 President Lincoln at an early
day in his administration and recently to
the world. First, to account for not htY
ing garrisoned sufficiently the Southern
forts named against anticipated treason
and rebellion. According to my recon-
mendatiOns, beginning October Goth, 1860,
and repeated the next day and again
more earnestly on December 18th, 18th,
2Sth and 30th, the cX>President says
there we're no available troops within
reach. Gen Scott proceeds to show that
small Carrisons would at first have suhiced
for the twin forts jackson and st. Phillip.
His object was to save 10 the Union, by
means at hand all those works until Con-
gress could have time to authorize call
for volunteers, a call which the PreSiden!
for such purposes might no doubt have
made without any special legislation with
the full appreciation ofeyery loyal man in
the Union.
On the second point Gen. Scott SAYS:
The ex-President almost loses his amia-
billty in having his neglect of the forts at
trbuted, as he says, without the least
cause to the influence of Gov Floyd
And he adds: All my Cabinet must bear
me witness tina. was, as the President,
myself responsible for all the acts Of the
Administration.
Notwithstanding his broad assumption
OF espOnsibiity, ! should Re very sorry to
believe that Mr.. Buchanan consented to
the removal by Secretary Floyd of fifteen
thousand extra muskets and rifles, with
all their implements and ammunition,
from their Northern repositories to S0uth>
ern 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 convenient positions
for distribution among the embryo insurN
gents. So, too, Of the one hundred and
forty pieces ofartillery which the same
Secretary ordered from Pittsburg to Ship
Island, in Lake Borgne, Galveston, Texas,
for forts not yet erected. Accidentally
learning early in March. that under this
posthumous order the shipment of these
guns had commenced, communicated to
Secretary Holt acting for Secretary Cam
eron, Just in time TO defeat the robbery :;
but on this point we may hear ex>Secre.
tary Floyd himself, at Richmond. He
expressly claimed the honor of defeating
/ all my plans and solicitations respecting
/ the forts, and received his reward, it be.
ing universally admitted that but for that
victory over me there could have been no
rebellion.
! Tblrd-Mr. Buchanan complains that
published without permission, on Janua,
ry 18th, 1861, my views, addressed to him
and the Secretary of War on October Goth
and 3Oth, 1860; but that act was excused,
as | explained to him at the time, by the
Interpretations Of my views in one Of
the earlier speeches ofthe same ex'Secre-
tary after his return to Virginia.
Fourth-One of my statements, com,
planning of the joint countermand sent
through the Secretaries of War and Navy
to prevent the landing at Fort Piclens Of
Capt. Wedges company unless the fort
should be attacked, is cited by the ex.
President to prove a singular want of
memory on my part and note from Sec
retary Holt is adduced that had entirely
approved of the joint countermand on the
day Of January 29th that it was prepared.
Few persons are as little liable to make o
mis.stalemcnt by accident as Mr.. Holt,
and no one more incapable of making one
by design, vet | have not the slightest
recollection ocan interview with HIM on
rthis subject } DO remember, however,
that Mr.. Holt, on some matter OF business,
approached mv bedside about that time,
Wien | was suffering from an attack Of
pain. Nr. Buchonan, Mr.. Holt and NY
self were lGndsmen, and could know Lut
little of the impossjbiIity oflanding troops
on an open sea. beach with high wind
and surf Mr. Toucey, Secretary of the
Navy, with officers about him Of intelli~
gence and nautical experience, ought to
have said plainly that If Com. Nodgcs had
not to land except in case Of an attack on
Pickens, he might as well have remained
at Ft. Monroe, us the prohibition placed
the fort 20 far as he was concerned, at
the mercy, or as events showed, on the
want of enterprise on the part of the rob-
lei commander at Pensacola.
Possibly there are other parts of the
reply which superficial reader may think
require comment OF elucidation- and, in.
deed, here is another marked !or me by
my kind visitor
Fifth-Tbe ex,President has brough
together labarynth of dates respecting
The arrival and departure of the rebe
Commissioners, armstices, &C., with which
as had no official connection, | ma.
have mpde an unmportant mistake o
two. And us have not by me the mean
Of recovering the clue to those winding
shall not attempt to follow him.
Signed WINFIELD SCOTT.