The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-06-18
MR.. LINCOLN AND GEN. SCOTT.

The Former Diasuadcd from Adopting the
Aged Commanders STAN.
Mai.Gcn. Schuyler Hamilton in letter
to the editor of the New York Tribune:
Brcvct Lieut.. Gen. Winfield Scots let
ter asking to be placed on the retired
list of the United States army had been
handed by me to Hon. Simon Cam
cron, secretary of war. the afternoon
before President Lincoln's visit to
which this communication rcfcrs-Oc.
tohcr 81, 1851. President Lincoln was
very sorry to lose the aid and comfort
of Gen. SCOTS advice. lie was heart
lily obliged to him for many honest and
wise suggestions. No 'wayward sis
tcrs' among them.
lie entered Gen. SCOTS Office in Sew.
cntccnth street, | think, opposite the
old war office at about II n. m. Gen.
Scott was experiencing the sensation
of having ito give up 1t comes to us
all with the advance of time. He was
brave but sad. President Lincoln's
face had upon it the aureole of sadness
and sympathy. He opened the inter.
view as Gen. Scott rose up from II re-
rlining position on the historic lounge:
General, SO YOU are obliged by the
weight of years and many maladics and
wounds to ask to be retired. | am sorry.
| shall lose "A friend and an adviser |
have never found wanting"
Gen, Scott INTERCEPTED: MIR. Prcsi-
dent, whenever you want my counsel,
if requested, it will be most honestly
and heartily given
THANK YOU, most kindly" said Mr..
Lincoln, and there were tears in his
eyes.
General, | propose, having witnessed
the faithful services of your staff, tc
adopt them as my own he added II
think you will be gratiiied by this
small compliment to you and to them.
My heart goes with you in your retire
mcnt."
Turning to me a silent witness,
though not unmovcd, of n great event
in history-prcsidcnt Lincoln said;
Colonel, what do you think of that?'
He was in the way Of having an audi
cncc, and ! think he rather liked me. |
had seen him with nothing but his red
flannel shirt on.
"NIr. President" was the reply,
fully approaching the compliment in
tended to my aged chief have served
SO long with, by night and day, in peace
and war, and to his staff, will you al
low me to speak ON SO solemn an occa.
sion with perfect f~rankncss?'
Speak out, sir, just as You think"
"Mr. President, the papers opposed
to your administration loudly talk of
Capitalization and wen of military
dictatorship. Gen. Washington, Mr..
President. had no aidcs-dc-camp. as !
am informed. Mr.. jefferson Davis has
no aidcs-de-camp. However great the
compliment to Gen. Scott and the stalf
of his selection, it seems to me, Mr..
President, worthy of grave considcra-
ton whether it is cXpcdicnt for you to
have aidcs-dc-camp. There are other
reasons. Mr.. President. which occur to
mo. | beg to be excused from stating
to you why | deem ii incXpedicnt you
should have aidcS-dc-camp: Mr.. Presi.
dent, | am honest, | may he mistaken.
| fully appreciate the intended honor
Gen. Scott, said to President Lincoln
AZ One AS the colonel presents it. the
matteris worthy of grave consideration
Good-day."
In two or three hours Mr.. Secretary
William II. Seward appeared. lie cx.
pressed his sympathetic Interest and
spoke of the presidents Attentions ms
to Gen. SCOTS staff, including Col.
Townsend, assistant Acknowledgement.
Gen Scott requested that should re.
peat what had been said in the inter.
view with President Lincoln. The sec.
rotary deemed the matter worthy OF
very grave consideration" in which
Gen. Scott |concurrcd, but added: ''Col-
oncl, could you express to me the uneX-
pressed reasons. in addition, you de-
clined to mention to the prcsident?"
Eyes, sir, | can. A military staff to
the president would soon become Il
Kitchen cabinet IN. y. Tribune.