On April 30, 1861, Alexander Henry, Horace Binney, William M. Meredith, a former Secretary of the Treasury, and others of Philadelphia, addressed a letter to General Scott, in which they said:  “At a time like this, when Americans distinguished by the favor of their country, intrenched in power, and otherwise high in influence and station, civil and military, are renouncing their allegiance to the flag they have sworn to support, it is an inexpressible source of consolation and pride to us to know that the general in chief of the army remains like an impregnable fortress at the post of duty and glory, and that he will continue to the last to uphold that flag, and defend it, if necessary, with his sword, even if his native State should assail it.”

The Charleston (South Carolina) Mercury of April 22, 1861, contained the following statement:  “A positive announcement was made at Montgomery, Ala.” (then the capital of the Southern Confederacy), “that General Scott had resigned his position in the army of the United States and tendered his sword to his native State—­Virginia.  At Mobile one hundred guns were fired in honor of his resignation.”  This shows in some measure the high estimation in which General Scott’s influence was held throughout the South.

The ceremonies of the inauguration passed off without incident.  There was no attempt to prevent it, or any show of violence.  Apprehension was shown in every countenance.  General Scott rode in front of the President’s carriage with the company of Sappers and Miners from West Point, commanded by Captain (afterward General) James Chatham Duane, of the engineers.  During the ceremonies the general, in order to be more free in case of emergency, remained outside the Capitol square (which was at that time surrounded by a strong iron fence) with the batteries.  The precautions thus taken were, like all of General Scott’s plans, wise, and possibly saved the city from one of those scenes incident to the French Revolution, and, it may be, saved the country.  At the conclusion of the ceremonies the march back to the White House was made, and Mr. Lincoln was President of the United States.

From long association in military and private life a warm personal friendship had existed between General Scott and General Robert E. Lee.  At the outbreak of the war the latter, then a colonel in the army, was at his residence, Arlington, near Washington, in Virginia, on leave of absence.  General Scott sent for him, and after an interview Lee tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and he entered the service of his own State as major general of State troops, and subsequently became commanding general of the armies of the Confederate States.