Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-11-20
Gen. SCOTS Reply 10 Ex.Prc.ident Bu.
chanan.


Gen, Scott has published in the National
lntelhgencer rejoinder to Ex-Presdent Blu
chanan, The substance of ii is as follows;
First-'ro account for not having garrison
cd sufficiently the southern forts named against
anticipated treason aud rebellion, according TO
my recommendations, beginning October 18th,
1860, repeated the next day, aud again more
earnestly December 18th, 18th, 2Sth, e.,
3lst. The EX-Presideut says, There were
no available troops within reachn He (Scott)
then proceeds to show that small parrisons
would at first have suiRced for the two forts
jackson and st. Phillip; also that his
(Scott's) object was to save the Union bv
any means at hand, all these works nm Con-
gress could have time to authorize call for
vognteerS--a call which the President, for
SUN purpGse, might no doubt have made
WITHOUT any special legislation, with the full
/ appreciation of every loyal man in the
Union. | .. ........ t...
On the second point, he says the Ex- Presi-
dent almost loses his amiability in having his
neglect of the forts attributed, as he says, with
out the least cause TO Governor Floyd, and he
adds: "All my cabinet must bear me witness
that was the President myself, and respon-
sible for the acts Of the administration Now,
notwithstanding the broad assumption of re-
sponsiblity, he would be sorry to believe that
the Ex-President specially consented to the re-
moval, by,Secretary Floyd, Of $4,000 extra
muskets, and with all their implements and
ammunition, from northern repositories to ar
senals South, 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 insurgents. So, too, of the 100 or
lao pieces of artillery which the same Secre-
tary ordered from Pittsburg to Ship Island,
in Lake Borgne and to Galveston, re as, for
forts not yet erected. Accidentally learning,
early IN March, that under this posthumous or
der the shipment of these guns had commenc-
ed, communicated the fact TO Secretary Holt,
acting for Secretary Cameron, Just IN time to
defeat the robbery. But on this point we may
bear Elk Secretary Floyd HIMSELF at Rich
mond, expressly claiming the honor Of defeat
ing all the plans and solicitations respecting
the forts, and he received his reward, it being
then universally admitted that but for that
strategy over nue., there could have been no
I rebellion. r....... .....#
Third--Mr. Buchanan complains that |
published without permission on January Is,
1861, my views addressed to HIM and to the
Secretary of War, October 20, 1860 But
that act was caused as | explained to him al
the time, by the Misrepresentation of my
views in one of the earlier speeches of the
same Ex-Secretary after his return to Yr-
ginia.
! Fourth-One of my statements complaining
OF the Joint countermand sent through the Sec
retares of War and Navy TO prevent the land
! ing at Pickens of Capt Vogdes' company un-
less the fort should be attacked, is cited by the
/ tX-Presldent to "prove singular want Of
memory on my part, and a note from Fix Sec
reary Holt is adduced to show that | had en-
tlrely approved of the Joint countermand, the
dayt January 29th) that it was prepared. Few
persons art as little liable to make a mis-state-
ment by accident as Mr.. Holt; and no one is
more incapable of making one by design; vet
have not the slightest recollection of an inter
view with him on this subject | do remem-
her, however, that Mr.. Holt on some matter of
business approached my bedside about that
time, when | was suffering from an excess of
pain. Mr. Buchanan, Mr.. Holt and myself
were all landsmen, and could know but little
of the impossbility of landing troops in an
open sea beach with high wind and surf
Mr.. Toucey, Secretary of the Navy, with Off
GERS about him Of intelligence and nautical ex-
perience, ought to have said plumply that if
Vogdes had not to land except in the case OF
an attack upon Fort Pickens, he might as we'll
have returned at Fortress Monroe, as the pro
hibitlon placed the fort, so far as he was CON
| cerned, at the mercy, or as the event showed,
''the want of enterprise on the part of the Reb-
ell commander at Pensacola. Possibly there
are other parts which superficial read
er may think require comment or calculation ;
and indeed, here is another marked for me bv
my kind visitor. ~
Fifth-The Ex7President has brought to-
gether labyrinth of dates respecting the arri-
val and departure Of Rebel Commissioners,
armistices, etc, with which, as had no Off
cial connection, may have made an mIm-
portant mistake or two, but as l have not by
me the means Of recovering the clew to those
| shall not attempt to follow him.