The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-04-19

| COL. FREMONT.
Fremont, John Charles, the "Patf finder
of the Rocky Mountains" man who has O.
pened to America the gates of her Pacific
empire, was born in South Carolina, Janua-
~, 1913. His father was an emigrant gen
tleman from France, and his mother a lady
OF Virginia. He received good education,
though left an orphan at four years of age
and when at the age Of seventeen he cradu-
ated at Charleston College, he still contrihu-
ted to the support o! lis mother and her
children. From teaching mathematics he
turned his attention to civil engineering, in
which he made so great proficiency that he
was recommended to the government for en-
ployment in the Mississippi survey. lie
was afterwards employed at Washington in
constructing maps of that region. Having
received the commission of a lieutenant of
engineers. he proposed to the Secretary of
War 10 penetrate the Rocky Mountains. His
plan was approved, and in lSi2.with hand
ful OF men, he reached and explored the
South Pass. lie not only fixed the locality
of that great pass through which mvriads now
press their way to California. but he defined
the astronomy. geography, botany, geology.
and meteoroloyy of the country, and de-
srrihed the route since followed. and the
points from whi,i, The ia. of he Union is
now flying from chain of wilderness fort
re>scs Hts report was printed ty the Sen
ate, translated into IN languages, and
Fremont was looked on AS one of the bene-
factors Of his country. Impatient OF other
a nd ~ ,}nr f..1,f y, H.. L
ton to the distant territory OF Oregon. lie
approached the Rocky Mountains Nv new
line, scaled the summit south of the South
Pass, DETECTED to the Great Salt Lake. and
pushed his examinations right and left alon.
his entire course. lie connected his survey
with THAI OF Wilkes Expiorin. Expedition.
ana his orders were fulfilled But he had O.
pencI one route to Columbia, and he wished
to find another. There was a vast rerion
south OF tins line invested with fabulous
interest, to which he longrl to apply the ties,
OF exact science. 1t was ;hc brs,nnin. Of
winter. Without resources. adequate sup
pics. and SO much a. a guide. AID with ONLY
twenty -nve cSmPanicns. he turned his face
and made toward the Rocky Mountains
Then began that wonderful expedition, filled
with romance, daring. and suffering, in which
he WAS lost to the wuri nine months. tray
erSing 5000 miles in sich, CT eternal SHOWS.
lr which he .'eveai'd the Grand features OF
Alta California. lis great basin. tn" Ser.
Nc'a!a. tH1 valleys ot San Inaui.ia and 81
rrAincnto, revealed the real H Dorado. ana
established tue geography OF the Western.
portion OF the coi.tincnt In ADJUST. 1874.
ne was again in Washington. and his tame
was seized. II" was planning a third exy,c-
ditIon white wrI;in- thc history ui the SEE
ond. and before lis rubliration in lsi5 was
again on hts way to the P.cIr, collecting
his mountain comrades to examine in detail
the A>latIc slope OF the continent, which re-
suited IN giving new volume of science to
the world. and California TO the United
States. After the conquest OF California. in
which he bore part, he wa. made the We
tim OF aQuar!el between two American com
mandcr>. and stripped OF his commission hv
cOnrt-martial. The President .rin>tated HIM.
but Fremont would rot accep, mercy. but
demanded n>ticr. His connection with the
government! now cu'!cl He was private
citizen and poor man. He had been tro'r
u IIl>''utt from I ttliDTn!1, where he h4l
been explorer, conIncror. reacemaker. aud
governor. He Determined to retrieve his
honor on the field where he had been robbed
OF IT. One more line would complete his
survey. the route for great road from the.
Mississippi TO san Franc! SEQ. Again he ap-
rearcd III the TAR west. His old mountain
GERS locked a1ou, him. and with thirtv-,hree
men and on. hundred AMI tIiirtv-,hrcc mule,
he started to- the Pacific. On the Sierra
san Juan al. ili> mules and more than one
third OF his men persisted IN a more than
Russian colo: and Fremont arrived on foo,
at Santa Fc, stripped OF all but life The
men OF :hc wilderness knew Fremont: they
r,ilued his expedition hr started acain =
pierced the cOnntrv OF the fierce and re-.
morSeleSs Apachc>: met. awcl. or defeated
savage triAc>: and ia hundred Itv, from
Santa Fe, stood or the banks Of IT,, Sa ra-
men'o. The men Of California reverse, tl.
Judgment OF the court martial. and Fremont
was made first Senator O: the Golden State.