Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-06-21
SKETCH OF THE LIFE
JOHN CHARLES FREMONT.
1Frnm the Now Ynrk Ernrin. pon.
+ THE LIFE


AMERICAN FLAG ON THE HIGHEST PEAK OF
TnE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
| The knowledge already acquired hy Fremont
OF our northwestern territories was sufficient to
reveal TO him the utter igno. ance upon the whole
subject which prevailed generally among his
coun'rymen. lie discovered that pretty much
all that was known about them was made up of
travellers tales over their camp6res about ia
bulous rivers and mountains and lakes, which
never had any existence except in the imagina-
iion OF thOes frontier rdconieurs and their own
creculous listeners. As late as 1916 one Of
the earlier editions Of a general map Of the
United States for the year in the Congression-
al liberty at Washington, regarded and quoted
as an authority on the Oregon question that
year, even by the President hiunslf with entire
confidence, represented the great Salt Lake as
discharging itself by three great rivers into the
Pacific ocean-from its southern extrmities in
to the Gulf Of California-from its western side
through the Sierra Nevada range into the bay
Of San Francisco, and from its western exirem-
ity into the embouchuIe Of the Columbia riv-
err In his various explorations Fremont had
already not only disabused his mind of many
such absurdlies as this, upon which public Gu
riosiy had been fed, but he also became strong
ly impressed both with feasibility and the nee.
essity Of an overland communication Of some
kind between the Atlantic and Pacific states
This became leading idea with him in his
subsequent explorations, 10 which we are about
10 direct our readers attention, and remained
at all times and in all situations one Of his IA
vorable dreams.
1t was in 1912 that his first extended plan Of
geographical survey was projected, compre-
hending in its design the whole of our western
territories lying between the Missouri and the
Pacific ocean. His first step was the explora-
tion Of the northwestern frontier Of the state of
Missouri, terminating easiwardly with the W ind
river peak Of the Rocky mountains, upon the
highest Of which, 200 feet above the ocean,
he succeeded in planting the American flag, and
to which he has given his name. Mr. Benton
informs ust that when Leuienan, Fremont ap-
piled for this employment, Col. Albert, the chief
of the Typographical corps, gave him an order
10 go TO the frontier beyond the Mississippi
THAT order" adds the historian, "did not come
up 10 his views. After receiving il he carried
'it back, and got it altered, and the Rocky
Mountains inserted as an object of his explo-
"raiion, and the South Pass in those Noun
''iains named as particular point TO be exam
lined, and its position fixed by him. 1t was
Through this Pass that the Oregon emigration
"crossed The mountains, and the exploration of
Lieutenant Fremont had tue double eiiec, of
liking an important point in the line Of the
''emigranrs travel, and giving them ehcour-
'agement from the apparent interest which The
government took in their enterprise. At the
'same time the government, that is, the execu-
''cutive administration. knew nothing about IL.
'The design was copceived by the young lieu
'tenant the order Of its execution was obtain
''ed, upon solicitation, from his immediate chief
f"-importing, OF course, 10 be done by his or
''der, bot an order which had its conception
elsewhere"
Mr. Fremont lef Washington, with his in
structions, on the 2d day Of May, lsi2; com
pleted his arrangements at ChoIeau's trading
house, few miles beyond the western bound
aTy Of the stale Of Missouri, and sci ooi upon
his expedition on the 10Th ofJune. We give
his own description of his party
81 had collected in the Deighborhood Of ST.
Louis twenty-one men, principally Creole and
Canadian royageurs, who had beome familiar
with prairie life 10 the service Of the fur con-
panies in the Indian country. Charles Preuss
a native of Germany, was my assistant in the
typographical part Of the survey. l., Maxwell
Of Kaskaska, had been engaged as hunter, and
Christopher Carson (Inore iamiliarly know, for
his exploits in The mountains, as Kit Carson)
was our guide. The persons engaged in St.
Loais we're:
"Clemen, Lambert, ]. b. L'Esperance, ]. B.
Lefevre, Benjamin Porira, Louis Gouin, J. b.
Dunes, Basil Lsjenness, Francois Tessier, Ben
jsmin Cadoite, Joseph Clement, Daniel ST.
monds, Leonar Benoit, Michel Morly, Baptiste
Bemier, Honore Avot, Francois Lalulippe,
Francois Badeau, Louis Menard, Joseph Ruelle,
Noise Chardonnais, Auguste Janisse, Raphael
Proue.
SIN addition TO these, Henry Brani, son Of
Col. j. b. Brant Of ST. Louis, young man Of
nineteen years Of age, and Randolph, a lively
boy Of twelve, son Of the Hon Thomas H. Ben
ton, accompanied me. for the development of
mind and body which such an expedition wo'd
give. We were all well armed and mounted,
with the exception Of eight men, who conduct
/ Gu % many culto, III Which WcIc pdChtu Out
stors, with the baggage and instruments, and
which were each drawn by Two mules. A few
loose horses, and four oxen, which had been
added to our stock Of provisions, completed the
train. We sci out on the morning Of the 10Th
which happened to be Friday--a circumstance
which our men did no, fail 10 remember and
recall during the hardships and vexations Of the
ensuing journey"
OF the hardships and achievements Of this
expedition, we do not propose 10 give detail
ed account. We shall content ourselves with
one or two extracts from his report, which has
all the interest Of romance, though not slate
ment is recorded in it which has ever been i'm
Peached. When the party arrived at Fort
Laramie, on the 18th of July, they found abad
stale Of feeling had grown up between the
Cheyehnes and Sioux Indians on the one hand, /,
and the whites on the other, 10 consequence of
an unfortunate engagement which had recently
/ .aou.saI L., ..tt.b ,ta lnd,ans k.a lnss -. -.