Year: 1861

from Gen. Scott was received by the president
on Thursday afternoon -


"HEADoUARrERs OF THE ARMY, Washing
ton, Oct. 81 1861 To the Hon. Simon Gamer
on, Secretary Of Var Sir; For more than
thaee years | have been unable, from a hurt,
to mount horse or to walk more than a few
PAGES at time, and that with much pain.
Other and new nfrmities-dropsy and verti-
go-admonish me that gepose of mind and
body, with the appliances of surgery and med.
icine, are necessary to add little more to
life already protracted much beyond the usual
span of man. 1t is under such circumstances,
made doubly painful by the unnatural and un.
just rebellion now raging in the southern
states of our so lately prosperous and happy
Union, that l am compelled to request that
my name be placed on the list of army officers
retired from active service.


AS this request is founded on an absolute
right granted by recent act of congress-,
am entirely at liberty to say it is with deep re-
gret that l withdraw myself, in these moncn.
tous times, from the orders of president who
has treated me with much distinguished kind
ness and courtesy, VIII jim know, upon much
personal intercourse, to be patriotic and with
out sectional partialities or preJudices, 10 be
highly conscientious in the performance Of eve
ry duty, and of unrivaled activity and perse-
Jeraucc. 70 you, Mr. Secretary, whom l
now officially address for the last time, l beg
to acknowledge my many obligations for the
uniform high considerations have received at
your hands, and have the honor to remain,
sir, with high respect your obedient servant"


GSignedl WINFIELD SCOTT.


A special cabinet council was convened On
Friday morni G, at 9 o'clock, to take the
subject into consideration. 1t was decided
that General Scott's request, under the cir
cumslances of his advanced age and infrmities'
could not be declined. General Mcclellan
was thereupon, with the unanimous agreement
of the cabinet notified that the command Of
the army would be devolvee upon him. At
O'Clock in the afternoon the cabinet again
waited upon the president and attended him
to the residence of General Scott. Being
seated, the president read to the general the
following ORDER


''On the first day of November A. D. 1861,
upon his own application 10 the president OF the
United States, Brevet Lieutenant General
Winfield Scott is ordered to be placed, and
hereby is placed upon the list of the
retired officers of The army of the
United States, without reduction in his current
pay, subsistence, or allowances The Ameri-
can people will hear with sadness and deep
emotion that Gen Scott has Withdrawn from
active control Of the army, while the president
and the unanimous cabinet express their own
and the nation's sympathy in his personal
afcton, and their profound sense Of the i'm
portant public services rendered by him to his
country during his long and brilliant career,
among which will ever be gratefully dstin
guished his faithful devotion to the constitu-
ton, the Union, and the flag, when assaicd
by parricidal rebellion


[Signedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.


Gen. Scott thereupon rose and addressed the
president and cabinet, who had also risen as
follows: =


or Presideat-This honor overwhelms
me. 1t overpays nll the services lave at
tempted to render to my country. Ii l had
any claim before, they are all 0blitcrated by
this expression of approval by the presidents
with the unanimous support OF his cabinet. l
know the president and this cabinet well.
know that the country has placed its interests
in this trying crisis in safe keeping. Their
counses a.e wise, their labors are as untlring
as they are loyal, and their course is the right
one


Mr.. President, you must excuse me, lam
unable to stand longer to give utterance to the
feelings of gratitude which Cypress me. In
my retirement l shall offer up my prayers 10
God for this administration and for my coun-
try. l shall pray for it with confidence in its
success over all enemies and that speedily"


The president then took leave of Gen. Scott,
giving him lis hand, and saying he hoped
soon to writs him private letter expressive
of his gratitude and affection. The president
added


"Generai: You will naturally feel solicitude
about the gentlemen of your staff who have
rendered you and their country such faithful
service l have taken that subject into con-
sideration. l understand that they go with
vou TO New York / shall desire them at
their earliest convenience, after their return,
to make their wishes known TO me. l desire
YOU now, however, to be satisfied that except
the unavoidable privation Of your counsel and
society which they have so long enjoyed, the
proyision which will be made for them will be
such as to render their situation as agreeable
=. I,s b,o hnrainfora -


Each member of the administration then
gave his hand TO the veteran, and retired in
profound silence The secretary of the treas
ury and the secretary of war accompany Gen.
Scott to New York tomorrow, BY the early
train The following is the response of the
secretary of war to the letter of Gen. Scott -


"WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, Nov. l,
Geaerai-It was my duty to lay before
the president your letter Of yesterday, asking
to be relieved under the recent act OF congress.
In separation from you, can not refrain from
expressing my deep regret that your health,
shattered by long service and repeated wounds
received in your country's defence, should
render it necessary for you to retire from your
high position, at this momentous period OF our
history.