Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-26
John G.. Fremont,

ploring expedition in search of the lost and
almost forgotten landmarks of the Consti-
tuition, is still young man. His father,
who died when he was child, was a French
man, his mother Virginian. He was born
at Savannah on the 2lst of January, 1918,
and educated at Charleston. South Carolina
where his. mother, left a widow with three
children, mad taken up her residence. The
circumstances of the family were exceed
| ingly narrow and the childhood of Fremont
was surrounded by privations and difficulties
| which with powerful nature like his, ma
turally tended to develop the heroic elements
of his character.
At Charleston Fremont enjoyed the in
structions of Dr. John Robertson, who, in
the preface to a translation of Zenophon's
Retreat of the Ten Thousand, which he
published in 1850, records with pride the
remarkable proficiency of his pupil. Jr 1928
he entered the junior class of Charleston
College. After leaving which he employed
himself for some time as teacher of mathe-
matics. In 1888 ne obtained that post on
board the sloop-of-war Natchez, which had
been sent to Charleston to put down the
nulfiers Ga purpose similar to II at eor which
he is now nominated for President,) and on
board of her he made cruise of two ears
and half. On his return he adopted the
profession of surveyor and railroad engi-
neer, and was employed in that capacity un-
der Captain Williams of the Typographical
Engineers in the survey of route from
Charleston to Cincinnati. When this survey
was suspended, he accompanie Captain
Williams in reconnaissance of the country
then occupied by the Cherokees, after which
he Joined NJ. Nicolet u distinguished French
savan in the employ of the United States,
in an exploring expedition over the North
Western praries. He was employed in
this survey, in which he acted as principal
ass .stant, during the years 1888 and 1889,
and while absent upon it was appointed
Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Tnpo-
graphical Engineers. While reducing the
materials of this survey, and preparing maps
and report. he resided for some time at
Washington, where he formed the acquaint-
anee of the family of Mr.. Benton, res ulting
in his marriage, in 1871, to one of Mr..
Benton's daughters.
Shortly after--in May, 1S42-he started
on the first of his three great exploring ex
petitions. This expedition, which occupied
ABOUT five months, resulted in the expora-
tion of the famous South Pass acruss the
Rocky Mountains, and in the ascent by
Fremont and four of his men of the Wind
River peak, the highest summit of the Rocky
Mountain chain. The report of this explora-
ton attracted great attention, both at hume
and abroad, as well for its unpretending
modesty as for the Importance Of the infor-
nation contained in it. This report was
scarcely published when its author started
on second expedition designed to connect
the discoveries of the first one with the
surveys to be made by Commodore Wilkes
of The Exploring Expedition on the Pacific
Coast, and thus to embrace a connected
survey of .he almost unknown regions on
both sides of the Rocky Mountains. The
party including ttirty- nine persons, started
from the village of Kansas on the 29th of
May, lS43, and were employed in the explor-
alton that frs: furnished any accurate in
formation as the Great Salt Lake, the great
interior basin of Utah, and the mountain
range ofthe Sierra Nevada, and first brought
to light, as it were, the REGION now consti-
tuting the Territory of Ui4h and the State
OF California.
Alter preparing the report OF this expedi-
tion in the Spring of 1915, Fremont, now
Captain, set out on third expedition de-
sgne1 to make more particular survey OF
the regions which he had previously visited.
1t was while engaged in this expedition, ,and |
before he had received any intimation of the |
that, after having himself been once ordered
of by the authorities, he was induced by |
the entreaties of the American settlers i'll
the valley. OF the Sacramento, whom the
Mexicans threatened 20 drive out of the
country, to put himself at their head. Thus
led, they defeated the MeXicans. Fremont
put himself into communication with the
naval commanders on the coast, and soon,
in conjunction with Commodore Stockton,
obtained complete possession of California,
of which, on the 24th o: August, he WAS
appointed by Stockton Military Commander.
The fighting, however, was not yet over
The Californians rose in !nsurrection; but
the arrival of Gen. Kearney with his dra-
goons from New-MeXico, enabled the Ameri-
cans, alter some hard-tought battles, to ma
ntain themselves in possession. Pending
these operations: commission arrived for
IRE + IN,
which neither he nor his friends had solicit
ed, but which lie gladly received as ratiti-
cation on the part OF the Government of
his Intervention, on his own responsibility,
in the affairs of California.
FROM the moment of Kearnev's arrival a
dispute had sprung up between him and
Commodore Stockton as to the chief COM
mand. Kearney sought to throw upon
Fremont the responsibility of deciding be
tween their respective claims. This he de-
cined, protesting his readiness, if they
would agree between themselves, to obey
either; but declaring his intention, till that
point was settled, to continue to obey the
commander under whom he had first placed
himself, and by whom the war had been
conducted. Kearney was greatly dissatis-
fled at this, but dissembled his resentment
till thev both reached Fort Leavenworth on
their return home, when he arrested FIRE.
mont for dsobedience of orders and brought
him to trial before a court.martial.
AS this Cour: held that Kearney was the
rightful commander, they found Fremont
guilty of the charges, and sentenced him to
be dismissed from the service. Mr.. Polk
then President, signed the sentence as be-
ing technically right. but at the same time
offered Fremont new commission of the
same grade as that of which he had been
deprived. This Fremont refused, and re-