Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-02-27

mont, of the U. S. Army, the celebrated {
explorer of Oregon and California:
Capt. Fremont, whose celebrated explo-
ra,ons in the farthest West are now the
theme of universal applause; is native of
South Carolina, the son of widow and
the architect of his own fortunes. Left an
orphan at four years of age, with brother
and sister younger than himself, hls moth
err, nntil he was seventeen, provided for
his support & education; at that age he be-
gan 10 provide for himself, and for those
connected with him. For three years he
Taught mathematics perfecting his own
education, and giving all his earnings, be-
yond his necessary support. to his mother
and the two younger children. At the
age of twenty. his skill in mathematics
procured him employment in the railroad
explorations undertaken by the State of
South Carolina, 10 connect the Atlantic
ocean and the OHIO river. at the two points
of Charleston and Cincinnati, and this gave
him occupation IN the mountainous region
of North Carolina and Tennessee, and
him to commence the scientific observa-
TONS of the heavens and earth, that he has
since extended over so vast field. While
Engaged in this business, an increase was
made by Congress in some branches Of
the regular army. General Jackson was
then President of the United States, and
directed one-haf of the new appointments
to be taken from the class of citizens; and
out of this class young Fremont obtained
place among Junior officers of the Topo-
graphical Engineers. The wise and pa
triotic decision of Gen. Jackson opened
: the door for this appointment, but itrequir-
l. cd the merit of the applicant to obtain it.
The Typographical corps is eminently
scientific; and the young Fremont, never
having been at the national Military Acad-
envy, had to stand an examination before
he could be appointed. A board of emil
nent officers examined him. He stood the
test of this severe ordeal. He trumphed
e in his examination; and thus won his way
to place which the enlighted patriotism
of Jackson had laid open to The COMPETE
ton of friendIess merit. This was first
= Guit--a rich one-of having been teach
- er of mathematics. What an encourage
= menl to young men who have to advance
themselves by their own exerions!
No sooner was he appointed, than he
went into active service in the field. and
spent the first year in the Cherokee conn
try, in the Typographical surveys, (undel
Captain NiIIIams,) which the apprehen
ded hostIlities of the southern Indians rem
dered necessary TO the expected military
operations. The next year he was sen
: as an assistant to the celebrated astrono
mer. Mr.. Nicoliet, to the valley of the up
-, per Mississippi. and was engaged two
years in that remote region in aiding tina
eminent savant in collecting the materials
verifying the facts, and insituing The Sc
ven,y thousand meteorOlog ical observation:
- uponwhich the great photographic ant
topographic map of NicolIet and Fremon
was Constructed, and from which so many
publishers of maps have levied 'contribu
TONS without acknowledging the source
- from which they came. In 1912, Lieut.
Fremont first became commander of sc
parate expedition, and explored the coun
try between the Mississippi river and thu
Rocky mountains, to the South Pass ant
Fremont's Peak; and the brief. modest
. military and scientific report which h
made oflhis exploration, Immediately made
his name known in Europe and America
as as one of the distinguished explorers O
the age. In l842-'44, he went upon hi
- great expedition to Oregon and North Cal
lfornia; the report of which, published By
+ order of Congress, is now attracting uni
81 versa attention. In l945, he has gon
;, upon his third expedition, determined up
- on complete military and scientific ex
plOraton Of all the vast and almost unknown
regions between the Rocky mountains an
the Pacific ocean, and between the Orego
4. river ad the Gulf of California. Thi
expedition is expected to continue nea
two years, and its successful result is look
ed to with the highest degree of interes
!. by all the friends OF science in Americ
A. and in Europe.
W. Perhaps no man of his age, in any corr
ew try. has gone through such an amount {
pa labor and exertlon of body and mind a
Captain Fremont From the age of twer
- 'y the canopy of Heaven has been his co,
for er'ng-the mountains and plains, the lake
10 and rivers, from the Atlantic to the Pacif
lc' from the Gulf Of Mexico to the head {
}. the Mississippi, have been his home.-
. His military reconnaissance in which h
was engaged. became also scientific expl
nations; and geography, botany, geologil