The sun., 1883-12-16
Anscdote. OF the civil War.

nous women VINO outstrlps Justice hh tuo
generosity OF her judgments on her literary
contemporaries"
Anecdotes OF the civil War.
Gen. E. d. TOWNSEND. who was Assistant
Adjutunt- General on the staff Of Gen. Scott at
the outbreak Of the rebellion. and who contin-
ued to discharge tho same functions during the
civil war. had, OF course. opportunities OF ac-
Quiring much curious Information. Some OF
tho facts thus brought to his knowledge he may
never feel at liberty to dvulge. but there 10. on
the other hand. a good deal which the lapse OF
time has made 1t proper to publish. such OF
his recollections rs belong to the latter cate
CORY are now set forth in Medium sized vol
ume called Anecdotes Of the Cird War tApple-
tonsl. Gen. Townsend's stories are related In
an entertaining way. and even where they bear
somewhat severely on the character or motives
OF the persons namcd. seem free from any pro-
pensity to exaggeration or taint OF malice. The
personal "reminiscences OF man holding confi-
dental relations to men in high authority
might be expected to throw light on several OBJ
scure transactions and this will be found to be
the case.
In the only anecdote relating to MIR. Buchan-
an. the author calls to mind dinner that took
place in the autumn Of 1860. at the quarters Of
an officer stationed near the Soldiers Home.
were present. and in tho course Of conversa-
tlon the action likely to be taken by the South
ern States in the pending trouble was dis
cussed. Tho opinion WAS expressed that
several Of them would secede. Mr.. Buchanan
seemed to be much annoyed. and said little
Presently some allusion was made to Massa-
chusetts. whom tho President said with con-
siderable warmth I wish Massachusetts
would secede: she Is. practically. already out
OF the Union by her action In the fugitive slave
matter Now. l." continues the writer. be-
ing q Massachusetts man. felt rather awkward
ly at this Questions US to what ought to DO
coursed rapidly through my brain. Suddenly
an inspiration seized me. Looking up at the
President. who was directly opposite me. I said
with mock humility: Mr.. President. II Massa-
chusetts should secede. would it be my duty to
resign from tho army. sr2' There was n dead
silence. The President looked a little con-
fused. and asked. Are you from Massachu-
sets p but made no direct answer to tho i'll
Qury. the conversation taking o more general
turn"
Gen. Townsend quotes in an appendix Gen.
Scott's letter of March 8. 1861. in which occur
red the famous sentence. Say to the seeded
States. Wayward sisters depart in peace" The
writer deems it unfair to quote this sentence
as II it stood alone. since it defined the last OF
four courses which. in Gen. Scotts opinion.
were open to the President. But. If the text OF
the letter be carefully examined. it will be seen
that the first two courses were out Of the uues-
tion. and that the third method of dealing
with the problem. viz the attempt to conquer
the seeded States BY invading armies. was
pronounced by Scott extremely difficult. and Of
very dubious utility. even II successful.
The author OF this book was present In Gen.
Scotts Office. on April 10. 1851, when Col.
Robert E. Lee called in compliance with q
summons from headquarters, Col. Lee had
commanded the military department OF Texas.
but was then on leave Of absence and was lv-
ing at the house OF his father in law. Mr. Gus
tis. on Arlington Heights. When Lee came in
Gen. Scott 1t seems. secretly motloned Col.
Townsend to keep his seat. and the following
conversation ensued: You are at present"
said Gen. Scott. 'on leave OF absence. Col.
Lee2" Yes. General" was the reply. Il am
staying with my family at Arlington" These
are times" Gen. Scott went on. when every
officer in the United States service should
fully determine what course he shall pur-
sue. and frankly declare it. No one should
continue In Government employ without
being actively engaged" To this Lee made o
response. and after q pause Scott proceeded:
Some OF the Southern officers are reslSning
possibly with the intention OF taking part wit h
their States. They make n fatal mistake. The
contest may be long and severe. but eventually
the issue must be in favor OF the Union"
Thore was another pause. but no reply from
Lee. whereupon Scott. seeing that the other
had no disposition to declare himself loyal
came directly to the point: Il suppose you
will so with the rest II you purpose to resign.
1t is proper you should do so at once; your
present attitude is an equivocal one." Gen
al Tan aral
belonging to my children. all they possess. lies
in Virginia. They will bo ruined II they do
not go with their State. l cannot raise my
hand against my children" The General then
signlled that he had nothing further to say
| and Col. Lee withdrew. and the next day ten
dered his resignation. which WAS accepted Ave
days aiterward. Gen. Townsend thinks that
1t was about the same time that the following
incident. rel ated by the late Gen. Shiras. oc-
CURED. Shiras. 1t seems. was In the Office oi
Acknowledgement L. Thomas when Col. Lee
came In there. Standing on the side OF tho table
opposite to that at which Thomas WAS sitting
Lee said: Gen. Thomas. l am told you have
said l was a traitor" Thomas arose. and
looking him in the eye. replied: I have said
| 80; do you wish to know on what aut hority p
| Yes" said Lee. We'll. on the authority Of
| Gen. Scott" Lee mutterod. There must be
some mistake" turned. and left the room.
| Col. Townsend was at Gen. Scott's head.
quarters when the des spatches came in un.
| nouncin& the rout Of the Union forces In the
| hist battle OF Bull Run. In regard to the move
ment. by the way. which ended 30 disastrously
the author says that McDowslls plans were an.
proved In detail by the President and his Cabi.
net. and by Gen. Scott and his staff Among
others to whom they were submitted. Con
Fremont was especially asked By tho President
II he perceived any objection. or could sugges,
| any improvement; not word OF criticism how,
| ever. was forthcoming from any source, and
the unlucky programme was unanimously
| sanctioned in all its features.
Amid the panic and confusion that follow
| the defeat. Gen. Scott was at all events. A
seems. unwavering as rock. When reports
were brought him that the rebels wore adyanc G.
ing unopposod on Washington. and would soon
be on tho Long Bridge, the old soldier would
calmly look on the Informant and reply: II IL
impossible. sir! We are now tasting the 1rs
fruits of war. and learning what panic Is
We must be prepared for all kinds Of rumors
Why. sir. We shall soon hear that Jefferson Da-