The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-11-13
Ccott VS.. Buchanan.

WASHINGTON, November l2.-General
Scott publishes a rejoinder to President
Buchanan's letter He (Scott) is sorry
to perceive that the publication of his
official report to President Lincoln has
given offence. He trusts the result was
merely incidental 1t did not enter into
his (Scott's purpose, but on reflection he
supposes that under the circumstances
the offence was unavoidable
Let it be remembered that the new
President had right to demand of me,
as the immediate commander of the
army, how it had happened that the in
cipient rebels had been allowed to coerce
several of those forts, and from the bad
condition of others we're likely to gain
possession Of them, and also that prima-
rily the blame rests on me. Hence, to
vindicate my sworn allegiance to the
Union and my professional conduct, the
report was submitted to President Lin
coin at an early day in his administra-
ton and recently to the world.
First, to account for not having gar
risoned sufficiently the forts named
against anticipated treason and rebellion
according to my recommendations, be-
ginning October 29th, 1860, repeated
the next day, and again earnestly No
vember 18th, 18th, 2Sth and Both.
The Ex-President says there were no
available troops within reach
He (Scott) then proceeds to show that
small garrisons would at first have suf-
feed for the twin forts, Jackson and St
Phillip Also that his object was to
save the Union by any means at hand,
and also all these works until Congress
could have time to make call for vol
unteers, a call which the President could
have made for such a purpose without
any special legislation, with the full APP
probation of every loyal man in the Union
On the second point Gen. Scott says
the ex-President almost lost his anna
bility in having the neglect of the forts
attributed, as he asserts without cause, to
Gov. Floyd, and he says: " All my Cab
met must bear me witness that | was
President myself-responsible for all the
acts of the Administration
Now, Notwithstanding the broad as
sumption of responsibility, he (Scott)
would be sorry to believe that the ex-
President specially consented to the re-
moval by Secretary Floyd of 10000
extra muskets and rifles, with all their
implements and ammunition from North
ern repositories to Southern arsenals, Sc
that in the breaking out Of the maturing
rebellion, they might be found without
cost except to the United States, most
convenient for distribution to the insur
gents South.
OF the one. hundred and twenty OF
one hundred and forty pieces Of artillery
which the same Secretary ordered from
Pittsburg to Ship Island, Lake Borgne,
and Galveston, Texas, for forts not yet
erected, accidentally learning early in
March that under the posthumous order
the shipment of these guns had commenced
/ communicated the fact to Sect ry Holt
acting for Cameron, just in time to de
feat the Robber But on this point We
may hear Ex-Secretary Floyd himself at
Richmond.
He expressly claimed defeating all my
plans, and solicitations respecting the
forts and received his reward, it being
there universally admitted, that sbut fol
that victory over me there wonld have
been no rebellion.