Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-04

Sir: The arms which Gen. Fremont bought
in Europe were 1000 rifles, 500 revovers, 8
riaed cannon, with shot and shell, and two
million percussion caps. The rifles were new,
and of the precise pattern OF the best standard
rifle in use in the French army, and were
made at Liege in Belgium. After Cen Ere
mOnt's return to the United States, the secre-
iary of war, Mr. Cameron, sent an order 10
Mr.. Adams and Mr., Dayton to purchase 2O,UO0
more rifles OF the same kind as those purchased
by Gen. Fremont Still later, Mr.. Schuyler,
sent to Europe us Il special agent to procure
arms. offered 10 buy rifles Of the same pattern
to the number OF 100000. And Il contract
was made by him for 10000 rifles absolutely,
and for 2S, 600 more if they could be furnished.
And the rifle is the same in every respect as
the 1000 purchased by Gen. Fremont gave
that Fremonts were made in Belgium, and
tie others in France.
The 500 revoyers purchased by General
Fremont were so highly approved that Mr.
Schuyler sought to buy 10000 more OF the
same kind.
The rihed cannon, eight in number, were
12pounders, and were made to order, and
there is no better ritied cannon OF Its size IN
the service.
These were all the arms purchased by Gen,
Fremont in Europe He desired to purchase
>
have been had at peace prices; and If he had
been furnished the means, the very arms
which Mr.. Schuyler is contracting Tor now, 10
be here al some future time, would have been
already in the hands OF our soldiers.
Gen Fremont paid for these new rifles SIG
each. He could have had $4,000 or 100, 900
at the same price and one lot OF 10000 French
rifles was offered at Sl3 80, which have since
been sold by other parties to the war depart
ment in Washington for ST.
Gen. Fremont thought at the very first that
while the country would pour forth Its soldiers
for the war; there would be an absolute i'm
possibility to arm them, and he sought TO send
10 the United States at once 100000 small
arms and 100 rIfled cannon, together with
sabers and cavalry equipments for 10000
men. But he was not allowed to do so, and
the result is that government is buying today
the very rifles he proposed to Buy, and at
higher prices, and is giving So and 81 1or
sabers " hich he could have had for S3, and Is
procuring neither the rifles nor sabers fast
enough. For this reason, in some parts OF the
country whole regiments OF cavalry and infan'
try await arms and equipments But this is
not the worst OF it. The Jew arms which Gen.
Fremont did buy, amounting only TO SoO,OOO
or 1000, though approved by the govern
ent,and male the samples for other purchases
which special agent is directed to MAKE, are
| pronounced utterly worthless and the lnpres
sion is sought to be created that he purchased
' and sent over all sorts of good for nothing
trash in which 4df dfPfRiadJ33sfi Ppf id3 in mface face
Of the fact that the administration expressed
great satisfaction with the lew purchases Gen
Fremont did make, and wrote TO Mr.. Adams
and MIR. Dayton that it was matter of regret
that they had not furnished him with funds to
ba urpp tl,a
government then authorized MIR. Adams and
MIR. Dayton themselves to procure, aud which
the government are buying now through the
agency OF MIR. Schuyler. Perhaps mistake
has been made by Mr.. Cameron aud Adj. Gen.
Thomas. Certainly the arms purchased in
Europe b. Gen. Fremont were to- few in
number to have excited so much remark.
They probably refer 10 European arms that
have been purchased in ST. Louis by Gen.
Fremont since he took command. Ii SO, they
should not fail to take into consideration, that
not having been allowed to purchase arms in
Europe to any extent, Gen. Fremont, on
his arrival here, was directed, in cou-
uecton with Major Hagner of the quarter
masters department, to procure arms in
New York lor the western department; that
by dint OF great labor they secured arms for
corps d'armee Of $4,000 men, and that these
arms, after Gen Fremont lett for ST. Louis,
were all sent to Washington, and that he new.
er received any portion Of them and that the
war department, on being demonstrated with
for this, sent to Gen. Fremont Il requisition on
the ST Louis arsenal Tor 5000 muskets, when
there was, TO their own knowledge, not one in
side of its walls; and that finally, Gen. L.
was obliged TO pick up such arms as he could
find, or go without. Ii he has been compelled
to purchase poor arms and pay large prices
for them, the fault is not with him, but with
those who should have furnished his depart.
ment with arms, aud not left TO him the
necessity of purchasing at all OF all the
men III the country, the last TO be blamed in
this matter of arms, is Gen. Fremont, who Mt
the very outset Of the war, cOmprehended the
great need OF our country in this re.
spect, and whose plan was to pur-
chase large quantities OF first class arms
aud equipments at peace prices in Europe, and
at the same time set every gunshop in the
north at work. Ii he had succeeded IN his en-
deavor the country would have had no occa.
sion to be buying all sorts of arms hawked
about by spectators, OF all sorts OF qualities
aud ut all sorts OF prices Nor would we be
seeing at this day regiments OF cavalry without
saddles or sabres, nor rifles coming so slowly
to soldiers ready 10 shoulder them. Least of
all, would the.e have been any opportunity ior
blaming Gen, Fremont tor his want OF dis.
erection, or good sense, Or honesty in the pur-
chase OF arms l am, sir, Sc,
ONE WHO KNOWS.
New York, Oct. 80, 1861.
The Champaign In nNEissaurI-Frem0nt's Body
Guard.
From the st. Louis Republican.
The daring exploit of Major Zagonyi with