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WINFIELD SCOTT (1786-1866) Future Union Lieutenant General, known as "Old Fuss and Feathers." ALS...

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD
WINFIELD SCOTT (1786-1866) Future Union Lieutenant General, known as  Old Fuss and Feathers.  ALS...
WINFIELD SCOTT (1786-1866) Future Union Lieutenant General, known as "Old Fuss and Feathers." ALS, "W Scott", as Lt Colonel commanding, 4pp, Mar 29, 1813, legal folio, Greenbush, to Major General Henry Dearborn (1751-1829), excellent content re rank in the army. Reads in small part, "...Col [George] Izard addressed a note thro' me, to the three Captains of his regiment, then at Fort Mifflin, recommending a ballot between them for the settlement of their relative rank...I expressly declined giving any order upon the subject, and the only consequence which he denounced...was, detention at Phila...On my arrival, at this place, the same difficulty recurred, and I have not hesitated to determine the question...according to what I have uniformly considered the settled usage of the service. - Capts Hindman, Nicholas, Ogden & Biddle...under my command, take rank alike from the 6th July 1812...But Capts: Hindman & Nicholas, previously held the commissions of 1st Lieutenants in the army of the U States; therefore, I gave them precedence over the other two gentlemen...Capt Hindman continued in service up to the date of his present appointment...This circumstance was thought sufficient to settle the rank between them...I have always understood it to be a rule of our service, that 'anterior services' gave precedence to officers over those of the same grade & date...Such was the case on the augmentation of the army in 1808...This was done by the War Dept; but the same principles had been recognized by Genl [James] Wilkinson...and again acted upon by the commanding officer at N[ew] Orleans...April 1809...This course might have been indelicate, in the augmentation of Jany 1812, commonly called the army of 25,000, before it was known, in what precise mode the President [James Madison] would execute the law, placing all officers of the same grade, & of that army, appointed during the last session of Congress...upon an equal footing, without regard to priority of date...It is probable that the lineal rank of the whole army will be settled & published...but till that is done, inferior authorities must act upon particular cases, as they arise...Sir, I should as soon think of disobeying an order of the President...as to decline the exercise of the proper responsibility of my station..." Much. much more. VG. $1,500-2,500