The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-11-14
Reply of Gen. Scott to Mr.. Buchanan.
A SHARP REJoINDER.

~
A SHARP REJoINDER.
WASHINGTON, Nov u.
Gen. Scott publishes rejoinder to Ex-Pres-
ident Buchanan. He (Scottl is sorry to per-
ceive that the publication Of his official report
| to President Lincoln has given offense. 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, un-
der the circu instances, the offense was unavod-
able.
Let it be remembered, he says, that the new
President had right to demand of me, the
immediate commander of the army, how it
happened that incipient rebels had been al
lowed to coerce several OF those forts, and,
from the bad condition of others, were likely
to gain possession of them also: that primar
lily 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 recently to the
world.
First. to account for not having garrisoned
sufficiently the Southern forts named against
anticipated treason and rebellion, according to
my recommendations, beginning Oct 20, 1850,
repeated the neXt-day, and again more recent
ly Dee Is, Is, 2S, and 80, the Ex-President
says there were no available troops within
reach"
He (Scott) then proceeds to show that small
garrisons would at first have been sufficient
for the two forts, Jackson and st. Philip
Also that his (Scott's) object was to save to
the Union by any means at hand, all those
works, until Congress could have time to au-
thorize call for volunteers, a call which the
President, for such purpose, might no doubt
have made without any special legislation,
with the full appreciation of every loyal man
in the Union.
On the second point he (Scott) says the
President almost loses his amiability in having
his neglect of the forts attributed, as he says
without tue least cause, to Governor Floyd,
and he adds: 'All my Cabinet must bear me
witness that / was, as President, myself res
ponsible for all the acts of the Adnnistra-
ton"
Now, notwithstanding this broad assumption
of responsibility, he (Scott) would be very
sorry to believe that the ex-President special
ly consented to removal by Secretary Floyd
of 10000 extra muskets and rifles, with all
their implements and ammunition, from the
Northern repositories 10 Southern arsenals, so
that on the breaking out of the maturing re-
belIion they might be found without cost ex-
ccpt to the United States, in the most conveI-
lent positions for distribution anon the insur
gents.
So. too, of the 120 or 140 pieces of artillery
which the same Secretary ordered from Pitts
Galveston, Texas, for forts not yet erected.
Accidentally learning early in March that I'M
der this posthunous order the shipment of
these guns had commenced, L communicated
the fact to Secretary Holt, acting for Secreta-
ry Cameron, just in time to defeat the robbety.
But on this point we may hear ex-Secretafy
Floyd himself at Richmond He expressly
claimed the honor OF defeating all my plans
and solicitations respecting the forts, and re-
caiya1 his reward II hain0 thara aIIy
admitted that but for that victory over me
there could have been no rebellion.
Third. Mr.. Buchanan complains that i
published without permission on Jan. Is, 1861,
my views addressed to him and the Secretary
of War Oct. 20 and 30 1860. But that act
was caused, as l explained to him at the time,
by the misrepresentation of my views in one
of the earlier speeches of the same eX-Secre-
tary after his return to Virginia.
Fourth, one of my statements complaining
of the joint countermand sent through the
Secretaries of War and Navy to prevent the
landing at Fort Pckens OF Captain Wedges
company, unless the fort should be attacked,
is cited by the ex-President to prove singu-
lar want of memory on my part, and a note
from ex-Secretary Holt is adduced to show
that | had entirely approved of the joint coun-
termand the day tJan. 29) that it was post
poned.
rev PERSONS are as little likely 10 make q
misstatement by accident as Mr.. Holt, and no
one is more incapable of making one by de-
sign; yet / have not the slightest recollection
of an Interview with him on this subject do
remember, however, that Mr. Holt, on some
matter of business, approached my bedside
about that time, when was suffering from ex-
cess of pain. Mr.. Buchanan, Mr.. Holt and
myself were all landsmen, and could know but
little of the impossibility of landing troops in
all open sea beach, with high wind and surf.
Mr.. Toucey, Secretary of the Navy, with
officers about him of Intelligence and nautical
experience, ought to have said plnmply, that
il Wedges was not to land except in case of
an attack upon Fort Pekens, he might as well
have remained at Fortress Monroe, as the pro-
hibtion 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 rebel
commander at Pensacola.
Possibly there are other parts of the reply
which superficial reader may think require
comment or calculation, and indeed here is an
other marked for me by my kind visitor.
Fifth-The President has brought together
labyrinth of dates respecting the arrival aod
departure of rebel commissioners, armistices,
&c, with which, as had no official connec-
ton, may have made an unmportant mis-
take or two; but as l have not by me the
means of recovering the clew to these wind
ings, shall not attempt to follow him.
(SVned) WINFIELD SCOTT.
New York, Fifth Avenue Hotel, Nov, s, '62.