New-York tribune., 1891-05-10
MR.. LINCOLN AND GEN. SCOTT
THE FORMER DISSUADED FROM ADOPTING
THE AGED COMMANDERS STAFF"

An INCIDENT THAT ATTENDED IiiE
OF GENERAL SCOTT on THE RETIRED LIST
OF THE ARMY-GEYERAL SCHUYLER
HAMILToYts PRESENTATION
OF THE CASE.
To the Editor OF The Trl bu g,
Sir: Brevet Lieutenant-General Winfield SCOUTS
letter asking 70 be placed on the retireu nS' Vi
rho limited States Army had been handed oy me
70 the Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary OIL war;
,I,o ofternoon before President Lincolns visit to
ns1' ,[;s communication refers-October 81,
,oc, President Lincoln was very sorry 10 lose
49, Ia ond comfort of General Scotts advice. lie
.no taortilv obliged TO him for many honest and
w.. o,,,,ccStions. No "wayward sisters" among
them. .o,.o !. co,,ortoontb-
thinl, onnosite the old War Office, at about
-, General Scott was experiencing the
.a.,or, of having "to give up" 1t comes 10
- oII With the advance of time. lie was Dra'e'
S.t cad President Lincoln's face had upon. II
49, onroole Of sadness and sympathy. lie openeu
tto ,ntervieyi ns General Scott rose up from d
saoI,nino nostion on the historic lounge:
=" rororal 90 YOU are obliged by the weignC OIL
- IVA many maladies and wounds 10 ask W
~ ra+,red am sorry l shall lose 1riena anu
on odviser have never found wanting -,
coneral Scott interected: 'Mr President "nel,,
-. con want nv counsel, if requested IL Will
no most honestly and heartily gVen'
aTbanlt YOU most kindly said MI. Ain0oin'
and there were tears in his VOICE ..,.A
General. PROPOSE having witnessed one iaiVn-
o., eorvices of your staff, to adopt theih aS NY
oT-,, no added. u think you VIII De gratlneu
h, tbis small compliment to you anu 70 'helh
Nv heart goes with you III your ieVll' t,h NOT
Turning to me-a silent witness tnGSsa resideUt
urnooved of a great event in L ~
incop said: Colonel, what do you tnnH n and IL
tat ." lie was in the way of having an anu seep
encc and think he rather Liked me; Nh n"o IN
him with nothing put a ms [ep tIa nnIy. fully ap-
WOO; ;at;nr the compliment intended TO my aged d
Chief | have served SO long WIN .S oS vii Won
day in peace and war, ana 70 htS n occasion with
allow me to speak OIL eo sOieNiH 49,
perfcct. .frankness 7! .h;l-
Speak out sir, Just as you think. think, 90 ,,o,,
Mr. President, the papers opposGiu 10 and
Administration loudly talk OF centrallzaIlou anu
n,Cnn 90 military dictatorship General Washins
ron President had no aides-de-camp as aln M IL
formed Mr. jefferson DAYS mas no 10 e1eral Scott
and fhe staff Of his selection. 1t seems 10 me, ..
president worthy of grave consideration ~ ~mheunei
IL is expedent for you to have aiaes-GeJalp ap'
Tharo ore other reasons, Mr.. President when oc-
cnr to me / beg to be excused from stSIlng ~ "
Won why | deem it inexpedent you shouIu hu' E
Si1cs sdc-camp Mr.. President, l am honest l..
may be mistaken. l fully appreciate Vne III
General Scott said to President Lincoln at once
As the Colonel presents it. the m9t'er Is "'rVnS
If crave consideration. GOod-day." ,.,,,-
In two or three hours Mr.. Secretary William
II Seward appeared. He expressed his sympa-
thetc interest and spoke of the President a,n IN,
| Colonel Townsend, Assistant Adlutant-General
General Scott requested that | should repeat VIVA,
had been said in the interview with Presideh.
| Lincoln. The Secretary deemed the matter worthy
| If {" very grave consideration in which General
| Scott concurred but added: Colonel, could yoon
express to me the unexpressed reasons IN i aa9,
! lion. Won declined to mention TO the Presldent
| @Yes sir. | can. A military staff to the Presi-
dent would soon become Kitchen Cabinet
u'"' SCHUYLER HAMILTON,
| Maj.-Gen. Vols, U. S. A.
| New-Yorlx May 8, 1901.