Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-11-16
General Fremont,
WAsHINGToN, Oct. &c

WASHINGTON, Oct. &c
Since it cannot be concealed or denied
that Gen. Fremont's conduct in Miss Juri
has been the subject of Official inquiry, as
is now the occasion Of Executive vituper
alton and of popular solicitude, | have
made it my business to obtain, from vari-
Gus but reliable sources, information from
which the people, as urcrs, may safely
render verdict.
On coming, US have, to conclusion
uniavorabIe to Gen. Fremont, it is scarcely
needful to say that had in doing so, to
conquer my 'prejudices.' Ny relations
I to Gen. Fremont have been intimate and
pleasant. believed him eminenty up
right and patriotic. thought him well
fitted for the high command with which
he was invested; and he went forth with
my heartfelt aspirations that he would
render good service 70 our country and
win glory to himself.
Passing much that might be said, i'm.
pugning the sense and taste of Gen. Fre-
mont, and contining myself to accusations
undeniably true, submit to the readers
Of the Jo"rn@t some facts which will show
them how lamentably a favored general
disapponts the popular expectation
When Gen. Fremont reached St. Louis,
he took IS his headquarters a house for
which the Government is paying $4,000
year.
He surrounded himself with numerous
staff, none Of whom were residents Of Mis-.
souri,, organizing, simultaneously, a body
guard, consisting Of yearly three hundred
horscmcn, through which access to the
chief is rs difficult as the approach to a
monarch in the darkest ages Of despotism.
He has oppoiAted and commissioned,
without the shadow OF authority, more
than fifty officers, with tne rank ol colonel,
lieutenant colonel, major captain, &o.--
Col Andrews, the United States paymas-
ter, was required to pay these officers, and
upon his refusal to do so was threatened
with imprisonment. lie was also directed
to make ali Illegal transfer of Slv0,UOo.
The officers belonging to Gen Fremont
staff are interested III army contracts. -
Captain HaskiIl, an aid, is a partner of
Colonel Degraf in mule, hay and other
contracts.
Captain Turnly, United States com.
missary, was ordered to receive and pay
exhorbitant prices fer inferior mules, from
Capt Ilaskall, and upon protesting against
this wrong, was ordered away from the !
poss by Gen, Fremont
Captain +. NJ. Davis, Of Gen. i'remont's |
staff, received contract for blankets, |
which, on delivery, proved rOtton and
worthless, and though condemned, were
paid for and sent to the hospitals.
The muskcts purchased by Gen. Fse.
mont in France, are worthless.
After Gen, Meigs limited the prices TO be
paid for cats ct 3oc, corn 2Sc, hay at sl7,.
so contract was made with Raird & Pal
mer Palmer, Cook Il Co., OF California
Ii notoricty) at s4c for oats, soc. for corn,
and $40 for hay, amounting in the aggre.
gate to 500, 900.
General Fremont, on his arrival at st -
Louis, was met by the aid of Gen. lvca,
accompanied by Major Phelps, NJ. G. ask. |,
ing for reinforccments, which were not
sent.
The Indebtedness of the quartermastcr's
department, for Gen. Fremont's command
is over four million and a half.
The disastrous condition of things is at ,
tributable to the malign influences" OF ,
Californians with whom Gen. Fremont
became unfortunately connected in mining
operations, and who hurried from the Pa
;ifc on learning that he was intrusted with
a high military command. These i'll I
omened men, some or all of whom left a ;
dark record in California, seem to have
obtained either voluntary or constrained
control of the quartermaster and commits I
5ary departments of Gen. Fremont's mill I
tary districts. The result and consequent :
ces are fatal alike to the interests cf the .
country and the usefulness and reputation
of the commanding general. They im-
peach either his head or hi heart, and, so /
'ar as he is practically concerned, it is not C
material which; for whether wicked or r
weak General he is uattted for SO great =
/ trust.
Nor are these faults, grave as they are,
he only ones TO which he is obnoxious.- 7
The war is being prosecuted by the army il
lnder his comm and in way which recalls
and deepens the horrors of vandalism t
W ithout conqueriug traitors lie is convert
ng Union men into enemies. His line of >
march is marked and memorized by spoil
a,ions and ravages which disgrace an age t
Of civilization. We have letter dated
' Upton, No, October IL" from an in G
.elligent, observing, truthful friend, from .
which we take the folIowin extract.
g From Tiptor to Warsaw the march
vas one continuous devastation, without
he least reear5 10 nrlnciulns OF antecc-