The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-18

the gallant Anderson did, with hand =
full Of men, in Fort Sumter, and leaves
out of the account what he might have
done with like handful in Fort Moul-
trie, even without further augmentation
of men to divide between the garrisons.
Twin forts, on the opposite side of a
channel, not only give cross-fire on the
head of an attack, but the strength OF
each is more than doubled in the flank
ing fire of the other. The same remarks
apply 10 the gallant Lieut.. Slemmer,
with his handful Of brave men. in Fort
Pickens With what contempt might
he not have looked upon Chase or Bragg,
in front of him, with varying masses OF
from 1000 TO 5000 men, if Fort Pickens
and its twin Fort McRae had between
them only 200 men.
have thus shown that small garrisons
would at first have sufIiced for the other
twins, Forts jackson and Fl Philip, also
My object was to save TO the Union, by
any means at hand, all those works, un-
I'll Congress could have time 10 authorize
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.
Secomd--The ex-President almost loses
his amiability in having his neglect OF
the forts attributed as he says, "with-
out the least cause, TO the influence of
Gov Floyd;" and, he adds, call my
Cabinet must become witness that was
the President myself responsible for all
the acts of the Administration"
Now, Notwithstanding this broad as :
sumption Of responsibility, should be
sorry TO believe that the President
specially consented to the removal, by
Secretary Floyd, of 115,000 extra mus
kets and rifles, with all their implements
and ammunition, from Northern reposi-
tories, to Southern arsenals, so that on
the breaking out of the maturing rebel
lion they might be found without cost,
except TO the United States, in the most
convenient positions for distribution a.
mong the insurgents. So, too, of the
l2O or lao pieces Of artillery which the
same Secretary ordered from Pittsburg to
Ship Island, in Lake Borgne, and Gal
weston, Texas, for forts not yet erected.
Accidentally learning, early in March.
that under this posthumous order the
shipment of these guns had commenced,
| communicated the fact to Secretary
Holt (acling for Secretary Cameron) just
in time to defeat the robbery. b.
But on this point we may hear EX-
Secretary Floyd himself. At Richmond
he expressly claimed the honor of de-
feating all my plans and solicitations re-
specting the forts, and received his re-
ward; it being there. universally admit
ted, that but for the victory over me
there could have been no rebellion. sy
Third-Mr. Buchanan complains thai
/ published, without permission, on Jan
| Is, 1861, my views addressed TO him ant
the Secretary of War, Oct. 20 and 80
| 1860 But this act was caused, as / ex-
planned TO him at the time, by the mis-.
representations of my Uiess in one of The
earlier speeches of the same Ex-Secre
tary after his return to Virginia.
| Fouth-One of my statements com.
! planning of the joint eountermand, sen
through the Secretaries of War and NAYS
to prevent the landing at Fort Pickens o.
Capt Wedges Company unless the for
should be attacked, is cited by the Elk.
President TO prove "a singular want o
memory on my part" and a note from
Ex-Secretary Holt is adduced to show
that had entirely approved of the join
countermand, the day Dan, 29) that i
was prepared, Few persons are as littl,
| liable to make a misstatement, by acct
dent, as Mr.. Holt, and no one is more in
capable of making one by design. Yet
have not the slightest recollection of al
interview with him on that subject.
do remember, however, that Mr.. Holt, OF
some matter of business, approached M
bedside about that time, when was sui
fering from an excess OF pain.
Mr., Buchanan, Mr.. Holt and mysel
were all landsmen, and could know bu
little of the impossibility of land troop
on an open sea- bleach with high wine
and surf Mr., Toucey, Secretary OF tn
Navy, with officers about him Of intelli
gence and nautical experience, ought 4
have said promptly that if Vodges ha,
not to land except in case of an attacl
upon Fort Pickens, he might as well hav
remained at Fortress Monroe, as the pro
| nlDltloh plaCeu TUG ioltj % iai an uS W
concerned, at the mercy, or Gas the even
showed) the want Of enterprise on III
part of the rebel commander at Pensa
cola.
Possibly there are other parts Of th
reply which a superficial reader ma,
think require comment or calculation, an
indeed here is another marked for me b
my kind visitor.
| FJth-The Ex-President has brougt
together labyrinth of dates respectin
the arrival and departure of rebel Con
missioners, armistices, &c, with whicl
as | had no official connection, ma
have made an unimpOrtant mistake {
two But as have not by me the mear
of recovering the clue to those winding
shall not attempt to follow him.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Nav YORK, Fifth-Ayenue llOtel,(
i Nov. 8, 1862.