Winfield Scott to James Buchanan, December 31, 1860

To the PRESIDENT: Lieutenant-General Scott again begs leave to trespass for a moment ‘ on the indulgence of the President of the United States, particularly as he learns by rumor that there is no head to the War Department.* Such are the necessities of the service that it is hoped the vacancy in question may be speedily filled, and, incidentally, that the new Secretary, if ad interim, may not be a junior officer of the Army, as it would wound the pride of any senior to serve under such Secretary.

Lieutenant-General Scott deems it to be his duty to lay the aecompanying letter before the President.t The writer is a distinguished

aduate of the Military Academy, and an eminent lawyer of the New

York bar. Major-General Sandford, mentioned by him, is an officer and citizen of great merit and discretion, commanding the City Division of Volunteers. :

General Scott does not recommend the acceptance of Mr. Hamilton’s proposition, t as we have disposable regulars enough for that single purpose; but that we already require many and large detachments for the protection of our coast defenses farther south is becoming daily more and more evident.

In reference to General Scott’s note of yesterday to the President, he respectfully adds: Of course, the War Department and General Scott cannot communicate anything to Major Anderson, or receive by mail or

_telegraphic wires anything from him (who must be regarded as in a state of siege), except by permission of the authorities in Charleston; and it is just possible in his state of isolation a system of forged telegrams from this place may be played off so successfully as to betray him into some false movement.

Most

respectfully submitted to the President of the United States.