Doc. 144.-General Scott's orders.
General orders no. 12
Headquarters of the army, Washington, July 30, 1861.
Searches of houses for arms, traitors, or spies, and arrests of of fenders, in such matters, shall only be made in any department by the special authority of the commander thereof, excepting in extreme cases admitting of no delay.
By command of General orders no. 13.
Headquarters of the army, Washington, July 31, 1861.
It has been the prayer of every patriot that the tramp and din of civil war might at least spare the precincts within which repose the sacred remains of the Father of his Country; but this pious hope is disappointed.
Mount Vernon, so recently consecrated anew to the immortal Washington by the Ladies of America, has already been overrun by bands of rebels, who, having trampled under foot the Constitution of the United States--the ark of our freedom and prosperity — are prepared to trample on the ashes of him to whom we are all mainly indebted for those mighty blessings.
Should the operations of war take the United States troops in that direction, the General-in-Chief does not doubt that each and every man will approach with due reverence and leave uninjured, not only the Tomb, but also the House, the Groves, and Walks which were so loved by the best and greatest of men.
By command: 