Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13

value Indeed his own account Of his CONVEX
sation with Gen. Scott along this hne, and the
part he later played In bringing order out Of
apparent chaos, is well worth repeating here,
ut least in part. He says:
IAN who knew Washington IN the day Of
December, 1860, know what thoughts reigned
In the minds of all thinking men. Whatever
their daily occupations they went about them
with their thoughts always bent on the pos
sible disasters of the near future-Some wish
ing to see the Union destroyed, and laboring
night and day to that end; others stTaining
their minds to discover how 1t might be saved
and the Civil War, which seemed imminent.
might be averted.
"On the 31st Of December 1890, Lieut.. Gen.
Scott commander in chief Of the Army (who
had his headquarters in New York;, was In
washington The President, at last thoroughly
alarmed at the results of continued concessions
to secession, had called him for consultation
on the situation.
U0N the evening Of that day went to pay
my respects to my old commander, and
was received by him ct Wormley's Hotel. I
found the general alone at the dinner table.
just finishing his evening meal He chatted
pleasantly with me for few minutes, recall
ing past service in the Mexican War, etc.; and
when the occasion presented itself, remarked
that was glad to see him in good spirits, for
that proved to me that he took more cheer
full view of the state Of public affairs than he
had on his arrival-more cheerful than those
who resided in Washington had dared to take
during the past few days.
ayes, my young friend said the general,
I feel more cheerful about the affairs Of the
country than did this morning; for I believe
that a safer policy than has hitherto been fol-
mill ho ODD NtAA Tno TNOliN n
entire conciliation which has so far been pur-
sued, would soon have led to ruin. We are
now in such state that policy Of pure force
would precipitate q crisis for which we are not
prepared. mixed policy of force and con-
Citation is now necessary, and believe it will
be adopted and carried out He then looked
at his watch, rose, and said: I must be with
the President In quarter Of an hour and
ordered his carriage. He walked up and down
the dining room, but suddenly stopped and
faced me, saying: How is the feeling in the
District of Columbia? What proportion of the
population would sustain the Government by
force If necessary?
II replied: General, it is my belief that two
thirds of the fighting stock Of this population
would sustain the Government in defending
ITSELF if called upon But they are uncertain
as to what can be done or what the Govern
ment desires to have done, and they have no
IdlIyHlB pOHC.
1.-THE general walked the room again in
silence. The carriage came to the door, and I
accompanied him toward it. AS he was leav-
ing the room. he turned suddenly, looked me
in the face, placed his hand on my shoulder,
and said: These people have no ralIying point.
Make yourself that rallying pointI
GG'THE next day was commissioned by the
President colonel in the staff and in
spector general of the District Of Columbia.
was mustered into the service of the United
States from the I'd day of January, 1861. on
the special requiSition of the general-in-chief,
and thus became the first one of the million
citizens called into the military service Of the
Government to defend it against secession -
Having thus studied the ground, and taken
the first necessary steps toward security.
commenced the work Of providing force OF
volunteers. I addressed individual letters to
some 40 well known and esteemed gentlemen