Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-07-22
COLONEL JOHN c. FREMoNT-sKETCH OF
HIS LIFE.


From the Independence (Bfo.) Agrarian.l
! There is history of Fremont of very deeI
in,eres, TO every brave and honest American
TO be related in The plain sentences of truth
which the present is propi,ous time TO tell
How active merit of the highest order be.
comes by its intrinsic reflections from sound
popular instincts to be dreaded by tyrants
and hunted down till crushed and cxiirmina-
ted by such, is well known ever since in Je-
rusalem the assembled chief priests, elders,
scribes, pharasees, publicans and hypocrites
shouted against the Redeemer of the world :
"Cruciiy him Cruelty him ~
1t is thus: In the presidency of Van
Buren,, Mr.. Poinse,, OF North Carolina, being
Secretary Of War, the typographical survey
Of the interior Of the continent was com
menccd, and the examination of The whole
country west of the Mississippi aud between
il and The Missouri was committed TO Mons
Ncolet a scientific Frenchman, a resident
amongst us. and very learned in Topographic
cal knowledge.
|, was the wish of the secretary 10 place
under command of Mons. Nicolet, one or
more Of the young graduates of Wes, Point
10 have he benefit of his instructions, and
al a future day, on The retirement or death
of Mons. Nicolet, 10 ill his place and carry
forward the work. This being proposed TO
s1ch, they sneerinsly and unanimously refu-
sed, conteupuonsly setting forth service in
] ,riII oil, to bo
beneath the dignity and privilege Of West
Point pet. Under this rebuff, the democratic
secretary turned his eye TO civil life, disin-
! guished youth al once full Of talent and
modest, the son of a deceased friend, and
employed in contributing 10 the support of
his widowed mother, sometimes by teaching
school and sometimes assisting the engineers
upon the Charleston and Cincinnati railroad.
This youth, studous, full of the fire which
condenses when opposed TO difficulties and
poverty, received from the President the ap-
poiniment OF brevet second lieutenant Of
typographical engineers, and in 1888, joined
Mons Nicoe, and proceeded TO the explora-
ton of Northern Missouri and Iowa.
Thus commenced, some eighteen years
ago, the public service of John Charles Ere
mont. Accompanying Mons Nicolet, three
years were devoted to the complete fednc-
lon to astronomical profile of the whole
country embraced between The rivers Mis-
souri, aud Mississippi from their junction to
the British boundary line.
This celebrated map and report, the pro.
duction of Nicolet and Fremont under his
guidance and pre-eminent for accuracy,
coming freely into the hands of the people,
kindled everywhere an appetite for so deli.
cious country, previously unknown or es-
teemed to be desert. The simplicity, the
accuracy and wonderful completeness of the
work, al once sealed the efficiency, skill and
reliability Of the constructor in the public
confidence.
About this time Mons. Nicoe, died, .eav.
ing to be accomplished, alter the samo man.
ner, surveys onward TO the western ocean,
the great prairie plains, the primary noun.
tains and the table lands and coasts of Ore.
gon.
To Fremont, as his assistant and successor
was properly assigned this work in the grea
wilderness. He had in the mean time mar
red Jessie, the daughter Of Senator Benton
who. appreciating the abilities OF the mar
and the national importance of the work
stimulated his ardor and fortified him will
) his experience and counsel,
In 1912, Fremont ascended the Grea
Platte, explored the South Pass and reached
the summit aud measured the altitude of tn,
snowey crest, beyond which the waters flow
10 the Pacific. lie now produced his frs
, map and report. These, remarkable TO
brevily OF language, yet copious in matter
, and true in the delneations of nature, attra Il
ed the popular mind aud first kindled ,ha
: appetite for adventure in the vast aud su
bime portions of our'con,inent which, durin;
: the Twelve years since following, has yese
the affairs Of the American people on a new
J and grand order OF progress, aud has chaine'
! the admiration of the world.
The expedition Of 1913 and "a, made b,
. FIenou, through the continent and marked
BY the opening of a wagon road 10 the Pa
a cific, the exploration OF the Sal, Lake Basin
4 the planting of American settlements an,
government upon the willamette, and tn
1 winter passage of the CoIdileras into Cali
ionia, has been studied by every American
young oud old, and by millions in ioreig
lands.
i These expeditions, unparalleled Tor III
immense region explored, the novelty an
y grandeur OF the c0un,fies revealed, The N
/ tense aud desperate character OF the danger
u encountered and surmounled, served TO liI
/ completely the veil Of mystery as yeI enye
loplng iwo-lhiTJs Of our continent, and I
;, turn lhilheI tho electrified ailealion OF man
:, klaj, as with the rush Of an ocean OF wafer
y long peul up
), y To lill uP the details in The profile Of sue
" immense eonnllles Iapiily uayeTsed, Fre
!, moal again departed IN The spling OF lsia
crossing The eonlinsnl BY a line inlermediat
- bolws "a hls iofmeT explorations, revealing
], 10 Us tho eondgunllOa and ehaIaeleTisiies Q
!. tho cheat Mounlaia hasin, tho direction
g altitude ahd peculiar position Of the snow
u ADDE'S, and tho delicious character Of maIa
TINE Cal,lomia.
whil. susasei among the peaks Of III
a a