Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-13
LAST NIGHTS DISPATCHES.
Gen. Scott Replies to Ex-President
Buchanan.

WARRINGTON, Nov. I2.-Gen. Scott pub
fishes q rejoinder to the recent letter OF Ex-
President buchanan. He says he is sorry %
perceive that the publication of his official
report TO President Lincoln has given Of
Tense. That result was purely Incidental i. 1t
did not enter into his purpose in drawing
up the paper bot on reelection be supposes
that under the circumstances oHeuse was
unavoidable. Let It be remembered, he
remarks, that the new President had the
| right to demand ofme, the immediate COM
mander OF the army, how It happened that
the incipient rebels had been allowed to
seize several forts and fron the bad condi-
ton of others were likely to gain posses
sion Of them also.
Primarily the blame rests on me. Hence
to Tindicate my sworn allegiance to the
Union and LyprofessionRl conduct, the re-
| port was submitted to President Lincoln at
an early day in his administration, aud re-
Gently to the world:
First, To account for not having proyis-
Toned sufficiently the Southern forts named
against anticipated treason aud rebellion
according to my recommendations, begin
ming October 18th, 1860, repeated the next
/ day, and again more earnestly on December
| 18th, 10th, 2Sth and 30th, the ex-President
says there were ''no available troops with
in reach"
Gen. Scott proceeds to show that small
garrisons would al first have suficed for
the twin forts of Jackson aud st. Philip.
His object was to save to the Union by any
means at hand all those works until Con-
gress could have time to authorize a 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. 500
On the second point, Gen. Scott says
The Ex-President almost loses his amia-
bility in having his neglect of the forts
attributed as he says without the least
cause to the influence of Gov. Floyd, and
he adds, all my Cabinet must bear me wit
ness that was as the President myself re-
spousible for all the acts of the Adminis.
trotion.
Now notwithstanding this broad assump-
tion, Of responsibility l should be sor-
~ to believe that Mr. Buchanan consented
TO the removal by Secretary Floyd, OF 49,
600 extra muskets AMI rifles with all their
implements and ammunition from their
northern repositories to southern arseuaIs
so that on the breaking out of the matur-
ing rebellion they might be found without
cost, except 70 the United States, in the
most convenient positions for distribution
among the insurgents. So, too, of the one
hundred aud fifty pieces of artillery which
the same Secretary ordered from Pittsburg
to Ship Island, ia Lake Borgne aud Gal
weston, Texas, for forts not yet erected.
Accidently learning early in March that
under this pnsthumRs order the shipment
| of these guns had commenced commune
Gated to Secretary Holt, acting for Secre-
taTy Cameron, just in time to defeat the
robbery. But, on this point we may hear
i q 2aRPaHnRu EInvn hinaaarf af
He expressly claimed the honor Of defeat
ing all my plans aud solicitations respec-
ting the forts, and received his reward, il
being universally admitted that but for
that victory over me there could have been
no rebellion.
Third. Mr.. Buchanan complains that
published, without permission, on January
ID, 1861, my views addressed TO bin and
the Secretary of War in October 20, 1860.
But that act was caused, as l explained a
the time, by the misrepresentation OF
my views 10 one of the earlier speeches of
the same Secretary of War, after his
return TO Virginia.
Fonrth. One of my statements com.
planning OF the joint oOuutermand sent
through the Secretaries of War aud Navy
to prevent the landing at Fort Pickens Of
Capt. Yogdes' company, unless the Fort
should be attacked, is cited by the EXPIRES
ident to prove n singular want Of memory
on my part, and a note from Secretary
Holt is added TO show that l had entirely
approved of the joint countermand on the
day of January 20, as it was prepared.
Few persons are as little liable 10 make
misstatenent by accident IA Mr.. Holt.
and no one more incapable Of making one
by design. 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 an attack Of
pain. Mr.. Buchanan, Mr.. Holt and myself
were all Iandsmeu aud could know but lit
tie of the impOssibility Of landing troops on
an open sea beach with high wind and
surf
Mr.. Toucey Secretary of the Navy, with
officers about him Of intelligence aud nau-
teal experience ought TO have said plainly
that If Commodore Rodgers had not 70
land except in case of an attack on Pick
ems he might as well have remained at
Fortress Monroe ms the prohibition placed
the fort, so far as he was concerned, at the |
mercy, or as the event showed, on the want
Of enterprise on the part of the rebel CON-
mander at Pensacola. Possibly there are |
other parts OF the reply which superficial |
reader way think require comment or elu- |
eidation.
Fifth, The ez.President has brought to. |
geLber labyrinth Of dates respecting the |
arrival and departure Of the rebel commits |
siouers, armistices, &c, with which, as |
bad no official connection, may have !
made an unimportant mistake or two but |
as have not BY me the means of recover
ing the clue to those windings, shall not |
attempt to follow him.
(Signed) WINFIELD ScoTT,
New York, 9th Avenue Hotel, November
9Th, 1869.
I" Yankee" Operations in North Ca.
rollna- /