Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-13
CAPT. FIR RFmoNr..

CAPT. FREMONT.
CT The following interesting sketch of Capt.
Fremont, the celebrated explorer of Oregon and
California, which we copy from the N Y Mir
rot. will be read with deep interest at the pre-
sent time:
Captain Fremont whose celebrated cxplors-
tions in the farthest West is now.the theme Of
universal applause, is native Of South Caro-
lima the son Of widow, ane the architect Of his
own fortunes left an orphan at four years Of
age, with brother and sister younger than
himself, his mother until he was seventeen,
provided for his support and education; at that
age he began to provide for himself. and for
those connected with him. For three years
he taught mathematics, perfecfnC his own educ
cation. and giving all his earnings beyond his
necessary support, TO his mother and the two
younger children At the age oftwen'y his
skin In mathematics procured him employment
on the railroad explorations undertaken by The
state Of South Caroline 10 connect the Atlantic
ocean and the Ohio river at the two points Of
Charleston and Cincinnati; and this gave hu,
occupation in the mountainous region OF Noiib
Carolina and Tennessee, and, first Injured him u
mountain life, and led him to commence the
scientific observations of the heavens and the
earth, he has since extended over SO vast .
field. While engaged in this business an in
crease was made by congress in some branches
of the regular army. General Jackson was
Sc H. I,;,,1 Ct,,ae end d;ractoJ opo
half of the new appointments to be taken from
the class Of citizens and out OF this class the
young Fremont obtained place among the ju-
nior officers of the Typographical Engineers.
The wise and patriotic decision of Gen. Jack
son opened the door for ,h, Appointment, but
it required the merit of the applicant to obtain
it. The Typographical Corps is eminently
scientific and the young Fremont, never hav-
ing been at the national Military Academy, had
to stand an exmination before he could be sp.
| pointed A board Of eminent officers examined
him. He stood the test of this severe ardeal.
He triumphed in bis examination and this
won his way to place, which the enlieh'
tened patriotism of jackson had laid open to the
| compton Of friendless merit. This was first
fruit--a rich one--of having been teacher of
mathematics. What an encouragement tn
Young men who have to advance themselves by
/ their own eYertions.
No sooner was he appointed than he went
into active service in the field, and spent the
first year in the Cherokee country, in the ,opo-
gra aphical surveys (under Captain Willams)
which the apprehended bostities of the SOUTH
ern Indians rendered necessary to the expected
military operations. The next year he was
sent as an assistant to the celebrated astrono
mer, Mr. Nicollet, to the valley OF the uppe I
Mississippi, and was engaged two years in tb al
remote region, in aiding that eminent savan in
collecting the materials, verifying The facts
and insti.uting the seventy thousand me's,ora-
logical observations, upon which the greIt ny.
Geographic and topographic map of Nico'let
and Fremont was constructed, and from which
so many publishers of maps have levied "con.
!. tributions" without acknowledging the source
from which they came. In 1912 Lieutenant
Fremont first became commander OF separate
! expedition, and explored the country between
the Mississippi river and the Rocky Mountains.
: to The Mouth Pass ana fTenonts Feoh ana
the brief, modest, military ana sc'en''hc' fepoV
which he made OF THIS exploration 'nnro'a's
iy made his name known IN Europe Sn' amer
ca as one OF the distinguish 'Np .''''
age In io42 "A ne ~ep' '',' sS
pedil'cn to oregon soa N1'' l' ''
: report OF which paplshe' of o'o'. .' '...| ''