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NOTES ON CHAPTER XXIX, PAGES 186-188

dalous letters alluded to did not write them, or specially procure them to be written, and the intelligent can be at no loss in conjecturing the authors — chiefs, partizans, and pet familiars. To the honor of the service, the disease — pruriency of fame, not earned — cannot have seized upon half a dozen officers (present,) all of whom, it is believed, belong to the same two coteries." The next two sentences were still stronger: "False credit," "despicable self-puffings and malignant exclusions of others," "the conceited and the envious," "indignation" of the honorable officers. Though in the right, Scott allowed himself to go too far in his use of language, as he did at other times. Commenting on the order, Braxton Bragg, though not one of Scott's friends, said in substance: Half the reputations in the war have been made by false reports and newspaper misrepresentations [this was to a large extent true], and it has gone so far that Scott has at last issued a strong order (210to Hammond, Dec. 20, 1847). Another correspondent of Gov. Hammond of South Carolina said he was glad that Scott had undertaken to expose "such quackery, charlatanry, imposture and lying braggadocio" (210Alvord, Apr. 21, 1848). This appears to have been the general sentiment of the officers (numerous citations could be given).

On the publication of gen. orders 349 Worth asked Scott whether the charge of scandalous conduct referred to him. Scott replied that it referred to the authors and abettors of the Leonidas letter, and that he could not be more explicit. Worth declared the reply' unsatisfactory, and handed to Scott a sort of appeal to the President that referred insultingly to the former (68Scott, charges, Nov. 27). Scott therefore charged him with "behaving with contempt and disrespect towards his commanding officer." He was arrested for insulting Scott in a letter to Marcy (Sen. 65; 30, 1, p. 471). The charges against Duncan were writing a (published) letter in violation of the army regulation no. 650, and making in it a false statement about the adoption of the Chalco route in order to magnify himself and Worth (68charges, Nov. 27). "Arrest" signified confinement to the city of Mexico. The New York Tribune said truthfully with reference to the troubles between Scott and the generals: "The duties of a Commanding General in the heart of an enemy country, with an army flushed with victory yet inactive, and under the influences incident to so perilous a position, are very delicate, and can only be met by firmness and the maintenance of rigorous discipline" (Nat. Intelligencer, Dec. 28, 1847).

32. (Conviction) Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1218 (Scott); infra. (Censures) Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 1229, 1248 (Marcy); Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 181 (Marcy). (Relieved) 256Marcy to Butler, Jan. 13, 1848. (Rank) 60Butler to Marcy, Mar. 2. (Deposed) Ho. 60; 30,1, p. 1044. Lee, Lee, 46. (Army) 152Claiborne, mems.; Oswandel, Notes, 481, 483; 221Hill, diary; 252Mackall, Feb. 21; Picayune, Mar. 23; 13Doyle, no. 27, 1848; Lee, Lee, 44; 210Alvord to Hammond, Feb. 24; Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 321. (Departure) Lowell Journal, Sept. 14, 1852; Picayune, Mar. 23; Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 328. (Looked) 327Sutherland to father, Feb. 15, 1848.

Jan. 9, 1847, a 137correspondent of Calhoun wrote, "Unless some powerful influence is soon brought to bear we [in Charleston, 8S. C.] fear we shall stand forth discredited and degraded in the sight of all the world." It is hard to see how the country, without Scott, could have avoided this.

Scott's chief complaints were a failure to supply seasonably the desired means for waging the campaign, interference with the rights of the com-