Diary of Edward Bates, November 1, 1861

A memorable day.  C.[abinet] C.[ouncil] called at the unusual hour of 9 a. m. to consider of Gen. Scott’s letter to sec: [of] War, declaring his wish by reason of age and increased ill health, to retire from active military duty, under the recent act of Congress.²⁵

The order was drawn up by the President himself (the retirement of the general being his absolute right, under the act) and was done chastely and in excellent taste.²⁶

– In the afternoon the Prest: and all the heads of D[e]p[artmen]ts. Waited upon  Genl. Scott at his quarters and had a very touching interview. The Prest. made a neat and feeling address, and the Genl. briefly replied, from the depths of his heart — I told the Genl. (what was told me by Revd. Dr. Halsey²⁷ of Norristown Pa.) that there were many religious associations, formed for the very purpose of daily praying for his health and happiness; and he seemed deeply moved.

At the suggestion of Mr. Seward, it seemed to be hastily agreed (tho' I never consented) that Genl. Stone should be deprived of his command for imputed misconduct in the matter of the battle of Balls [sic] bluff (Leesburg) in which Baker rashly threw away his life.²⁸ <note, at an other [cabinet council] some time after, Stone fully vindicated him self before the P[r]est: in council>

It was agreed that Genl. McClellan²⁹ should succeed Scott. Still the President doubted as to the manner of it, not being certain that there is any such Officer as “General in chief” — I said “the General in chief — or chief General — is only your lieutenant. You are constitutional “Commander in chief,” and may make any general you please, your second, or lieutenant, to command under you.”  It was so done[.]

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²⁵ “An Act Providing for the Better Organization of the Military Establishment,” Aug. 3, 1861 (Statutes at Large . . . of the United States, XII, chap. XLII, sec. 15, p. 289), provided that any officer who had served forty consecutive years might be retired with pay upon application to the President.

²⁶ See J. D. Richardson, Messages and Papers of the Presidents, VI, 40.

²⁷ Luther Halsey, former professor of theology at Western Theological Seminary in Alleghany, Pennsylvania, at the Seminary in Auburn, New York, and at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, now living in retirement at Norristown.

²⁸ Supra, Oct. 22, 1861. On January 28, 1862, Secretary of War Stanton gave an order for Stone's arrest on unfounded conspiracy charges made by a Committee of Congress. Stone was imprisoned in Fort Lafayette for six months.

²⁹ Supra, Oct. 22, 1861, note 17.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, The Diary of Edward Bates, published in The Annual Report Of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930 Volume 4, p. 199-200