Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-06-28

tANeN1t ANt1llbuf AlNiu WHICH IFtdl political
as well as scientific results have flowed, their
merit is still less for, while equally innocent
OF lis conception, they were not equally pass
i've TO us perfurmanee-counierman the ex-
pediton after it had begun-and lavishine cen
sure upon the adventurous young explorer for
bis manner Of undertaking it, The fact was,
that his first expedition barely finished, Mr.
Fremont sought and obtained orders for sec
ond one. and was on the frontier Of Missouri
with his command when orders arrived a, ST.
Louis to stop him, on the ground ila, he had
made military equipment which the pescefol
nature Of his geographical pursuit did not re-
quire, as il Indians did not NIL and rob scien-
t6c men as we'll as others Il not in condition
to defend themselves. The particular point Of
complaint was that be had taken n small noun
lain howiizer, in addition 10 his rifles and
which. be was informed, was charged to him.
although 1t had been furnished upon a regular
reqnisiiion on the commander Of the arsenal a,
81. LOUIS, approved by the commander Of the
military department Colonel. afterwards Cen
eral keamey.) Mr.. Fremont had lei1 St Lou
is, and was al the frontier. Mrs Fremont being
requested TO examine the letters that came af-
ter him, and forward those which be ought 10
receive. She read the eouniermanding orders
ami detained them and Fremont knew nothing
Of their existence, until after he had returned
from one Of the most marvellous and eveniinl
expeditions Of modetR imes-one to which the
United States are indebted (among other ihings)
for the present ownership Of California. instead
OF seeing il British possession The writer
Of this View, who was then in St. Louis, sp-
proved Of the course which his daughter had
taken (for she had stopped the orders before be
knew Of it); and he wrote letter to the de-
par,ment eondemning the recall, repulsing the
reprimand which had been lavished upon Ere
mont, and demanding eouu-martial for him
when he should return The secretary Of war
was then Mr. James Madison Porter Of Penn
sylvania the chief Of the Typographical corps
the same as now Colonel Abert.) himself an
Office man, surrounded by West Point officers.
to whose Pursui; Of easy service, Fremont's ad-
veniurons expeditions was a reprosch; and in
conformity 10 whose opinions the secretary
seemed 10 have acted
On fremonf's return, upwards of year alier-
wards, Mr.. William Wilkins Of Pennsylvania,
80 ~-NANA~fl ~ iEICNGl Aut Young
explorer with all honor and friendship, and OBJ
iained for him the brerei ofcaptaIn from Pies
ident Tyler. And such is the inside view Of
this piece Of hislory-very different from what
documentary evidence would make it.
"fo complete his survey across the eouii-
nent, on the line Of travel between the state Of
Missouri and the iide-waier region Of the Col
unbia, was Fremont's object in this expedi-
ton; and it was all that be had Obtained ord
ers for doing; but only small part, and TO his
mind. an insignificant part, Of what be propoS-
ed doing People had been to The mouth Of
the Columbia before, and his ambition was not
limited TO making tracks where others had
made them before him. There was vas, re-
gion beyond the Rocky Moun,sins-ihe whole
western slops Of our contineni-of which but
little was known: and Of that little. uoihing
with the accuracy Of science. All that vast
region, more ihan seven hundred miles square
equal 10 great kingdom 10 Europe-vas
an unknown land-a sealed book. which he
loneed TO open, and to read. Leaving the fron-
tier Of Missouri 10 May, 1913, and onea diyeIs-
ing from his route for the sake Of expanding
bis field Of observation, he had arrived in the
iide-waier region Of Columbia in the month Of
November; and had then completed the whole
service which his orders embraced. lie might
then have returned upon his tracks, or been
brought home BY sea, or hunted the most pleas
ant path for getting back and il he had beea
a routine officer, satisfied with fulfilling an Or
der, he would have done 50. Notso the Young
explorer who held his diploma from nature,
- Il. i
my. He was a, Fou Vancouver, CUES, Of the
hospilable DR.. Mclaughlin, governor Of the
British Hndson Bay fur company and obtain
ed from him all possible information upon his
intended line Of retnm-faiihfnlly given, but
which proved TO be disasirously erroneous in
its leading and governing feature. A south
east route to cross the great unknown region
diagonally through its heart (making a line
from the Lower Colombia 10 the Upper Color
ado Of the Gulf Of California;, was his line of
return twenty-five men (the sane who had
come with him from the United Siaies) and a
hundred horses, were his equipment and the
commencement of winter the time Of starting
-all without guide, relying upon their gnns
for support; and, in the last resort, upon their
horses-sneh as should give out for one that
could carry man, or pack, could not be
spared for food.
''Ali the maps up to that time had shown
this region iraversed from east 10 west-fron
the base Of the Rocky Mountains to the Bay Of
San Franeiseo-bya great riysr called the Bl-
ena Ventura; which may be translated, the
Good Chance. Governor Mclaughlin believed
in the existence Of this river, and made out a
conjectnral manuscript map to show its place
and course. Fremont believed in it, and his
plan was TO reach il before the dead Of winter
and then hybernate upon it. As great river,
he knew that il must have some rich bottoms (;
covered with wood and grass, where the wild
animals would collect and shelter, when the
SHOWS and freezing winds drove them from the
plains; and with these animals to live on, and
grass for the horses, and wood for fires, he ex-
pected 10 avoid suffering. if moi to enjoy com
fori, during his solitary sojourn in that remote
and profound wilderness.