Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-13
{. Gen. Scott,s Reply to MIR. buchanan.

Gen. Scott has published reioinder to
eX-president Buchanan. He (Scott) is sorry
to perceive that the publication of his official
report 10 president Lincoln has given offence.
That result was purely incidental, and did not
enter into his (Scott's) purpose in drawing up
the paper, but on reflection he supposes that
under the circumstances the offence was I'M
ayoidable. Let it be remembered, he says,
that the new president had a right to demand
OF me, the immediate commander of the army,
how it had happened that incipient rebels had
been allowed to coerc eseveral 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 vindicate my sworn allegiance to
the Union and my professional conduct the
report was submitted to president Lincoln at
an early day in his administration, and recent
ly to the world
|. TO account for not having garrisoned
sufficiently the southern forts named, against
anticipated treason and rebellion. According
to my recommendations, beginning Oct 20,
1860, reported the next day, and again more
earnestly Dec. 18th, 10Th, 9th and Both, the
| eX-presldent says there were no available
troops within reach. He, (Scou) then pro-
ceeds to show that small garrisons would at
first have sutficed for the twin forts, Jackson
and St. Philip. Also, that his (Scott's) OBJ
jeCt was to save to the Union by any means
at hand, all the works, until congress could
have time to authorize call for vounteers-a
call which the president, for such purpose,
might no doubt make without any special
legislation with the full appreciation of every
| loyal man in the Union.
2. He (Scott) says that the ex-president al
most loses his amiability in having his neglect
OF the forts attributed, as he says, without the
least cause, to governor Floyd, and he adds
''All my cabinet bear me witness that | was
| the president, myself responsible for all the
acts of the administration" Now, notwith-
standing this broad assumption of responsible
ity, he (Scott) would be sorry to believe that
the eX-preSident specially consented to the re-
moval by secretary Floyd of lis, 900 extra
musketS and rifles, with all the 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 U. s., in
the most convenient place for distributing
among the insurgents; so, too, of 120 or
one hundred and forty pieces of artillery,
which the same secretary ordered from Pitts
burg to Ship Island, in Lake Borgne and Gal
weston, Texas, for forts not yet erected. Ac-
eidentally learning, early in March, that I'M
der this posthumous order the shipment of
these guns had commenced, | communicated
the fact to Secretary Holt, acting for Secreta-
ry Cameron, just in time to defeat the rob-
berry. But on this point we may hear ex-sec-
rotary Floyd himself at Richmond. He ex-
presSly claimed the honor of defeating all nv
plans and solicitations respecting the forts,
and received his reward-it being universally
admitted there that but for that victory over
! mo tbara vg,,il h,,, h.,
3. Mr. Buchanan complains that publish
! ed without permission ON Jan. Is, 1861, my
views addressed to him and the secretary of
war Oct. 20 and 30, 1860. But this act was
caused, as | explained to him at the time, by
the misrepresentation Of my views in one of
the earlier speeches of the same ex-secretary
after his return to Virginia.
4. One OF my statements complaining of the
Joint countermand sent through the secreta-
rles OF war and the navy, to prevent the land
ing at fort PickenS OF captain Wedges compa-
ny, unless the fort should be attacked, is cited
by the eX-preSident to prove singular want
OF memory on my part, and note from ex-
secretary Holt is adduced to show that |
had entirely approved of the joint coun-
termand, January 20, the day that it was
prepared. Few persons are as little LA
bic to make misstatement by acct
dent as Mr.. Holt, and no one more inca
pable Of making one by design, yet | have
not the slightest recollection of an interview
with him on this subject. l do remember,
however, that Mr.. Holt on some matter of
business approached my bedside about that
time, when l was suffering from an excess of
pain. Mr.. Buchanan, Mr. Holt and myself
were all l&ndsmen, and could know but little
Of the imposSibiity of landing troops on an
open sea beach with high wind and surt Mr.
Toucey, secretary Of the navy, with officers
about him Of intelligent nautical experience,
ought to have said plumply that if he had not
to land except in the case OF an attack upon
tort Pickens he might as well have remained
at fortress Monroe as the prohibition placed
the fort, so far as he was concerned, at their
mercy, as the event showed the want of en-
terpnse on the part of the rebel commander at
Pensacola.