The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-06-25

fremont, john CnarleS, INC "latn-
finder Of the Rocky Mountains man
who has opened to American the gates
of the Pacific empire, was born in South
Carolina, January, 1918. His father
was an emigraut gentleman from France,
and his mother lady of Virginia. He
received good education, though left an
orphan at four years Of age and when at
the age of seventeen he graduated at
Charleston College he still contributed
to the support of his mother, and her
children. From teaching mathematics
he turned his attention to civil engineer
ing, 10 which he made SO great proficiency
that he was recommended to the govern.
ment for employment in the Mississippi
survey. He was afterwards employed at
Washington in constructing maps of that
region. Having received the commission
Of lieutenant of engineers, he proposed
TO the Secretary of War to penetrate
the Rocky Mountains. His plan was
approved, and 10 1912, with bOnoful
of men. he reached and explored the
South Pass. lie not only fixed the To-
cality of that great pass through which
myriads now press their way to Califor-
MIA but be defined the astronomy, geog-
raphy, botany, geology. and metcorology
of the country, and described the route
since followed, aud the points from which
the flag Of the Union is now flying from
a chain of wilderness fortresses His
report was printed by the Senate, trans
lated into foreign languages, and Ere
mont was looked on as one of the bene-
factors of his country Impatient of
other and broader fields, he planted a
new expedition to the distant territory
of Oregon. lie approached the Rocky
Mountains by new line. scaled the sum
nit south of the South Pass, detected
to the Great Salt Lake, aud pushed his
examinations right aud left along his
entire course. lie connected his survey
with that of Wilkes Exploring Expedi-
ton, and his orders were fulfilled. But
he had opened ole route TO Columbia.
and he wished to fud another. There
was a vast region south Of this line in
vested with fabulous interest, to Which
he longed to apply the test of exact sci
ence. 1t was the beginning Of winter.
Without resources, adequate supplies,
and so much as guide, aud with only
twenty-five companions, be turned his
face and made toward the Rocky Noun
tans. Then began tho wonderful cxpc-
dition. filled with romance, daring, and
suffering, in which be was lost to the
world nine months ,traversing $500 miles
in sight of eternal SHOWS, in which he
revealed the grand features Of Alta
California, its great basin. tie Sierra
Nevada, the valleys of San Joaquin and
Sacramento, revealed the real Ell D1ra-
do. and established the geography of
the Western portion Of the continent
la August. 1914, be was again in Wash
ingtor, and his fame was sealed. lie
was planning third expedition while
writing the history OF the second, and
befote its publication in 1915, was again
on his way to the Pacific, collecting bs
mountain comra dcs to examine in detail
the Asiatic slope Of the continent, which
resulted in giving a new volume of sci
ence to the world and California to the
United States After the conquest OF
California, in which he bore part, hc
was made the victim Of a quarrel be
tween two American commanders. aud
strippefof bis commission by couytmar
tial The President reinstated him
but Fremont would not accept mercy
but demanded justice. His connection
with tho Government now ended. lie
was private citizen and poor man
lie was brought prisoner from Cali
fornia, where he had been explorer, con
qucror, pcacc-makcr, and governor ll'
determined to retrieve his honor on The
field where he had been robbed Of il
One line more would complete his sur
vey, the route for great road from th'
Mississippi to San Francisco. Again h
appeared in the far west, His ole
mountaineers Hockcd about him, anC
with thirty-ihree men aud one huu1rc'
and thirty,tbrco mules be started 70
the Pacific On the Sierra San Jual
all his mules and moro than one-tnirG y
his men persisted in a more than Russian
cold and Fremont arrived on foot a
Santa Fe stripped of all but life. Tn,
nen Of the wilderness knew Fremont
they ref,tea his expedition; be started
again pierced the country of tho iierc
and remorseless AFaches; met, awed o
defeated savage tribes and in a hundred
days from Santa Fe, stood on tho bank
of the Sacramento. The men of Call
fornia reversed the judgement of tn
court-marlial, and Fremont was mad
first Senator Of the Golden State.