The last part of Scott’s statement was deliberately accentuated for both clarity and impact. As he paused to let that thought soak in Scott continued to scan the faces of his soldiers. “People,” he barked suddenly, “I intend to execute those orders. They are valid orders. They are orders passed down to me by my duly appointed superiors. As an officer in the United States Army I am pledged to defend and uphold the Constitution, against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We are the guardians of that Constitution. We are expected to defend it, regardless of our personal thoughts, feelings, or sympathies. We all came into this Army with the understanding that someday we would be asked to place ourselves in harm’s way. People, that day is at hand.”

Again Scott paused. When he started again, he did so with a softer tone in his voice, one more akin to a father talking to a son. “I would be a fool,” he stated flatly as he rocked back on his heels and bowed his head down for a moment to look at the toes of his boots, “to expect each and every one of you to snap to, salute, and blindly follow me without question or without reservation. The people we are going against, after all, are our fellow countrymen. They are Americans. Some of you are from Idaho. No doubt, some of you share the views of the governor of that state and fully support his stand. It has to be difficult for you, standing out there next to your fellow soldiers and friends, wondering what, in God’s name, is the right thing for you to do. Once before soldiers just like you were faced with the same question, the same moral dilemma. Like them, you will have to decide if you will stand by the colors that you have sworn allegiance to or with your state, your community, and your people back home.”

For the first time, Scott could see genuine looks of concern on some of the soldiers’ faces and hear feet shuffling about. When he started again, he did so using his stem, no nonsense general officer tone. “People, we have one chance to get this right, one chance to go out there and settle this matter. I hope to do so without bloodshed. I hope that the leaders of Idaho can come to an understanding with the President of the United States before we commence operations in that state. But I cannot base my actions solely on such hopes. I must prepare for the worst. I must prepare and deploy this division, you and your fellow soldiers for war, civil war.”