Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-04-27
JOHN G. FREMONT.
Hon. Mr.. DENrox, Washington City.
Letter from colonel Babbitt.

EDlroR OF THE HERALD.
SIR: observe in the Herald of the 9th instant.
the announcement Of the arrival of the steamboat
Goliah, and the news of the Whereabouts of Cot
Fremont, through myself, bearer of public docu-
ments 10 Washington, in which not ouIy Colonel
Fremont but myself Is placed in q wrong position,
although tue substance is true. PENN: me, there
tcre' Though Your paper, to make correct state
ment oil all the real facts alluded 10.
Fist. II is true that have the honor of bearing
the memorial OF the legislative assembly of thes
Territory OF Utah 10 the seat of government; Also
the report made up Ivy Lieut.. Beckwith, Of Capt
Gunnison's party, who took command after the
death OF his captain; together with the report of
Captain Morris, who commanded the escort.
Second. 1t is true that left the city OF Great
Salt Lake at the time mentioned, and encountered
Co!onet Fremont en- route at the point mentioned;
which, iron examination of my journal, was on
the 9Th day of February, instead of the 18th, I'M
DER the following circumstances. onthe afternoon
oil the Sth, while at our dinner, Ammon, the broth
er OF Walker. the chief of the Utah Indians, came
to my camp fire with several of his braves, who
informed me that he met, the day before COM
panY OF Americans; that they we've hungry. This
was about twenty-five miles from W hat is called
Little Salt Lake, i'll Patawan Valley, about two
hundred and sixty miles south of Great Salt Lake.
That night / overlook Colonel Fremont at
small Mormon settlement. Having the United
States mail i'll charge had TO proceed in the morn
ing en route for the coast Knowing that the
colonel would wish 10 avail himself OF the oppor.
tunlty OF sending 10 Washington, sent one Uf my
10 INFORM MIN oil ARRIVAL. tie
sent word to me that he would see me III the morn
ing, excuSing himself that he was so worn down
that he could not talk that night, having Just got
into camp, and various reports were abroad as to
their condition. Atan early hour IN tue moruIng
the COLONEL called upon ME, and from his own
mouth | learned this TO be his coalition. He
Stated from the frontier with several white men
| and some ten Delaware Indians hunters; that
they intended to kill sufficient game for their sub
Sistence, 10 which they succeeded ill the heavy
snow met them in the mountains. The game
then disappeared; and having exhausted Ii ir
supplies, they had to depend upon their mules aud
horses, which they SubSiSted on until they consum-
ed % in number.
The first change was little flour and dog that
they Swapped some blankets for with AnnUn.--
And as 10 the obligation that the colonel was un-
der to me, | herewith give copy of his letter to
his father in-law, Col. Benton.
The colonel was out of ready money, but had
evidence that he could draw on Palmer, Cook &
Co., and other responsible banking houses in this
city Tor any amount. This would not buy horses
and mules at that place, it being only small set
| Element, having no sto.ekeeperS OF business men
there. l. knowing the reputation of the banking
house in this city, and the same time being well
acquainted with the bishop of the onion church
at that place, made the arrangement that lie would
furnish the horses and mules 10 Col. Fremont for
the journey, and pay it out of tithlng money in
hand, and take draft on Palm er, Cook & Co.,
for tue whole amount in favor Of Governor
Young.
The colonel, though iaded and care-woEn :. MAS
tai route through from there to this city; the prac-
ticabiiity OF which we certainly doubt. But, from
the known character of Col. F., his report will i'm
part much valuable information touching the great
basin country.
As 10 the report of Captain Gunnsnn, under
stand 1t will be substantially the same as the me-
mortal of the legislature of Utah Territory the
same being made from the field notes OF Captain
Gunnlson, taken from the Indians, and made up
by his old colleague, A. Darlington, Esq.,, of Capt
Stonsbury's Survey OF Great Salt Lake Valley
! The same information obtained for Lieutenant
Beekwith, WHO made up the 6eId-uotes, and re-
duced them to map form, which 1 nm Instructed
to deliver to Col Albert, of the Topograp hical Bu-
| rsau at Washington.
discover further from the papers of this civ
that have the honor of recovering the body of the
lamented Gunnison. This is not true. L went
however, with fourteen men, after Captain Morris
had left his body, with other equally honorable
men, 10 be eaten by wolves, but recovered only
some OF his hair, which the governor of Utah sent
to his wife, and some few of his tones, which we
carefully inferred al Fillmore city. Great blame
IS attached to Capt Morris, who was on the ground
but short time after the death of Gunnison, and
before his body was mutilated, for not securing it
from further exposure. No one in Utah charges
Capt. Morris with cowardice, but with great neg
lect. Captain Gunnison seemed to have strong
hold upon the feelings of the people of Utah, and
they express the greatest regret that such a fate
should have befallen so competent an officer of
government.
a. W. BABBITr.
SAN FkANclsco, CAL, March Ia, 1854
P. S.-Instead ofseven men dying, understood
died twenty miles ftoln camp was Mr.. Fuller, of
st. Louis.