“III.  Conquer the seceded States by invading armies.  No doubt this might be done in two or three years by a young and able general—­a Wolfe, a Desaix, a Hoche—­with three hundred thousand disciplined men, estimating a third for garrisons and the loss of a yet greater number by skirmishes, sieges, battles, and Southern fevers.  The destruction of life and property on the other side would be frightful, however perfect the moral discipline of the invaders.

“The conquest completed at the enormous waste of human life to the North and Northwest, with at least $250,000,000 added thereto, and cui bono?  Fifteen devastated provinces! not to be brought into harmony with their conquerors, but to be held for generations by heavy garrisons at an expense quadruple the net duties or taxes, which it would be possible to extort from them, followed by a protector or emperor.

  “IV.  Say to the seceded States:  ‘Wayward sisters, depart in peace.’

  “In haste, I remain very truly yours,

“WINFIELD SCOTT.”

The two months preceding the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln were fraught with great responsibility to General Scott.  He had moved his headquarters to Washington, as he thought, temporarily; but from the threatening aspect of the political troubles it soon became apparent that his stay there would be, if not permanent, prolonged a greater length of time than was at first expected.  As March 4th approached, rumors thick and fast filled the atmosphere of attempts to resist Mr. Lincoln’s taking the oath.  It was said that bodies of men were drilling in Maryland, Virginia, and even in the District of Columbia, for that purpose.  There is no doubt men were being put through military exercise within a few miles of the capital, which was known at the War Department; but if the object was violence of any kind it never developed.  Great apprehension was felt, and not without reason, for the general’s daily mail contained letters—­mostly anonymous, a few signed doubtless with fictitious names—­threatening him and Mr. Lincoln with assassination if the latter should attempt to be inaugurated.  Some idea of the difficulty may be gathered when it is known that the militia of the District was but poorly equipped either in officers or otherwise to cope successfully with the situation should an outbreak or invasion of armed men from Maryland or Virginia be attempted.  The military force of the District showed large on paper, but the actual force consisted of two or three companies tolerably well drilled.  In this emergency Captain (afterward Brigadier-General) Charles P. Stone, a graduate from West Point, offered his services, which were accepted, and about January 1, 1861, he was mustered into the United States service as colonel and inspector general of the militia of the District of Columbia, and assigned to the command of the District, with authority to organize volunteers.  Some members of the companies already in existence