Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/216



206 ANDREW FISH

(in what is of equal importance in this case) your court- esies." 38 (The italics are the General's.) Subsequently, the plan outlined to Douglas by Scott in his "project of a temporary settlement" was accepted by the British Government. In March, 1860, a force of Royal Marines under Captain (ieor^v Ilazalgette, equal to the American force. was stationed on San Juan; the two forces, at opposite ends of the island, carrying out_ their duties until final settlement in 1871, in perfect friendliness.

GENERALS SCOTT AND HARNEY.

The responsibility for the crisis, so far as the American side is concerned, rested squarely with Harnev; Pickett was sup- ported in all he did by his general; Harney acted without orders from Washington. We have seen that he was not

supported at general headquarters ; General Scott in large measure reversed his (Hartley's) policy. Further evidence of disapproval is given by the suggestion of Scott that Harney should accept a transfer to St. Louis. Scott expected that the British would ask for Harney's removal and told Harney so, suggesting that in such a case it would be a relief 'to the President if Harney were no longer in that command. A con- ditional order to report at St. Louis was sent by Scott, but it was left to Harney to decide for himself whether he should take advantage of it. Said Scott : "If you decline the order, and I give you leave to decline it, please throw it into the fire." Harney elected to stay where he was; he could not believe that there could be any embarrassment to the Presi- dent in this, nor could he "suppose the President would be pleased to see [him] relinquish [the] command." After Scott left for the east, Pickett was re-instated in his command and Harney issued orders in connection with his duties that could scarcely be harmonized with General Scott's instructions. This led to his recall to Washington, where a reprimand was ad- ministered by the Secretary of War not a severe reprimand,

38 Ibid, p. 76.