Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-25
FREMONT AND MISSOURI,


4 journal which now seems disposed to at
,ac, Gen. Fremont, in the interest OF his per-
sonal enemies, makes an elaborate misrepre-
sentation of the position in Missouri, in order
to iniure him in public estimation. One part
of the misrepresentation is as follows "When
he General Fremont) entered upon his du
ties in that state the rebels had been swept
out as chat before the wind" That seems a
good thing to say; an it has brave sound,
lint il is not true. There had not been any
regularly oiganized army of rebels in Missouri
until Mccullough and Pticc came in from the
southwest The first contest with their forces
was that in which Siegel behaved soadmirably,
and the next that in which Lyon was killed
The earlier fight at Bonneville, which drove
Claib Johnston from the stale, was between
the force under Lyon and ii lew irregular and
uporsanzpd squads of Missouri militia, who
afterwards dispersed.
The organized armies led into Missouri by
McCulloush Hardee, and Price, and relniorc'
ed by bands OF Missourians under various
leaders. have not been driven from the state
Gas chaff' before the wind Siegel was COM
nelled to retreat before them Lyon lost his
life in attempting to drive them out; they
have moved up from the southeast, until Lex
ington is in their hands and they threaten
Jefferson City The truth is we did not have
in Missouri force enough 10 maintain all that
was undertaken by the gallant Gen. Lyon
While he was taking possession of important
points in every part OF the state, regiments
from Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, and sever
al other rebel states, and from Missouri, were
collected in the northwestern part of Arkan-
sas carefully organized AMI drilled, and then
led to attempt the conquest of Missouri. They
entered the state successfully, before Fremont
went TO St. Louis and have remained there
since.
On assuming command of the department of
the vest Fremont had only small force at
his control. The volunteers that Lad served
under Lyon were three months men. Since
they were disbandet, he has been diligently at
work organizing force with which 10 meet
the invading armies of the rebels. Whether
he now has force sufficient for the occasion
is doubtful 1t is complained by his friends
that men have been withdrawn from his com
mand and sent to other localities, at one time
ten thousand, and at another five thousand
and also that he has lacked arms for the Mis-
souri, volunteers. What foundation there is
for such complaints will probably soon be made
apparent He is blamed Tor the disaster at
Lexington, and this will lead to full discus
sion OF the whole matter, and a iull statement
of the facts by which it will appear whether
the blame is just or unjust.
1t is not easy to believe that John c. Ere
mont deserves such blame, and we shall not
believe it until we see it warranted by facts.
He has no lack of activity bravery, or patriot
ism, and no habits or tendencies that could
under any circumstances involve him in such
neglect OF duty. lie began to devote him
self to this conflict with treason, while in
Europe, and he has abored indeiatigably ever
since Moreover, he is fully sustained by the
sympathy and confidence of loyal Missourians
who have so much at stake in the conflict
there. They generally take his side against
Frank p. Blair, Jr., whose strange course in
regard to Fremont seems to have alieDated
from him most of his old friends at st. Louis.
There is nothing to show That Fremont de-
serves any portion Of the blame which some
are inclined to bestow upon him, while the
probabilities are against it. But the whole
case will now be stated, and when we get it, it
will be ca Ter to have just opinion.