ank or command.

"Humbly protesting that this order deprives me of rights guaranteed
by these articles, and the uniform practice of the army under them,
from the commencement of the Government down to the year 1828, when
the new construction was first adopted against me, in obedience to
the universal advice of my friends, who deem it incumbent on me to
sacrifice my own connections and feelings to what may, by an apt
error, be considered the repeated decision of the civil authority of
my country, I have brought myself to make that sacrifice, and
therefore withdraw the tender of my resignation now on file in your
department.

"I also ask leave to surrender the remainder of the furlough the
department was kind enough to extend to me in April last, and to
report myself for duty. WINFIELD SCOTT.

"_The Hon._ J.H. EATON, _Secretary of War_."

To this the Secretary of War replied:

"WAR DEPARTMENT, _November 13, 1829_.

"SIR: Your letter of the 10th instant is received, and I
take pleasure in saying to you that it affords the department much
satisfaction to perceive the conclusion to which you have arrived as
to your brevet rights. None will do you the injustice to suppose
that the opinions declared by you upon this subject are not the
result of reflections and convictions; but since the constituted
authorities of the Government have, with the best feelings
entertained, come to conclusions adverse to your own, no other
opinion was cherished or was hoped for but that, on your return to
the United States, you would adopt the course your letter indicates,
and with good feelings resume those duties of which she has so long
had the benefit. Agreeably to your request, the furlough heretofore
granted you is revoked from and after the 20th instant. You will
accordingly report to the commanding general, Alexander Macomb, for
duty. J.H. EATON.

"_To Major-General_ WINFIELD SCOTT."

General Scott, on reporting to General Macomb, was assigned to the
command of the Eastern Department, while General Gaines was assigned
to the Western. From the assignment of General Scott to the command of
the Eastern Department, for a period of nearly three years, his duties
were those of an ordinary department commander, with no incidents
necessary to be ingrafted into his biography.

A tr