The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-11-07


in a few hours everything was in complete
position for battle. About noon of the same
day an officer from Gen. Hunters Division
arrived, bringing the unconditional order
from Washington for Gen. Fremont to be
superseded by the FIRST mentioned COM
= mander. Gen. Fremont announced to the
army that he was about TO leave, and en-
treating that the same obedience and devo-
ton be shown to his successor that had
been shown to him. The camps, on it be-
ing communicated to them that their Gen.
; eral was about to depart, were at once in a
semi-mutineus condition., and only the
timely entreaties of Fremont prevented the
most fearful consequences and as il was,
several regiments threw down their arms
and refused to serve under any other COM
mander, and deputations of field and line
officers came to the Headquarters and pro-
tested in the most earnest manner against
the change of commands.
/ Particularly among the Germans was
this feeling noticeable, and nothing but the
earnest request of Gen. Fremont that no
| characterization should be shown, saved the
army from utter Decentralization, Had the
enemy made an attack at any time within IL
hours after the order of removal was re-
ceived, we should have been, without
doubt, utterly routed and driven from the
ground.
II was Gen. Fremont's determination to
leave for ST.. Louis at daylight of the next
morning, subsequently TO the reception of |
the order. As that document was preemp- !
tory and admitted of no delay, and General /
Hunter was not here. Gen. Fremont decd-
ed to turn the command over to Geo: Pope,
the ranking officer under Gen. Hunter
On the reception of this information, all the
commanders of divisions and brigades,
uuiter IN remonstrance sgainst General
Fremont's relinquishing the command, un-
I'll Gen Hunter, came Up.
The answer was returned that their re-
quest should be complied WITH aad that the
command would not be given up to one,
save the proper officer. In the afternoon or
the Sd, Gen. Hunter not having arriveT and
no intelligence received of him, another
request was made that the army should be
led to battle on the following morning, as
it was stated that the ensmy were in force
at the old battle ground, on Wilson's Greek.
After duly considering the request, Gen.
Fremont replied that he would accede to
their request, in case Gen. Hunter should
not be heard from, and at once sent to all |
the Commanders of the Divisions and Brig
AIDES for full and exact statement of the
number and condition of their forces, and
on the reception of that information, pro-
ceeded to perfect his plans Of battle. The
intelligence of this determination Of the {
Commandieg General was at once COM I
municated from camp 10 camp, and the 6
most intense enthusiasm prevailed. Every t
FIVE minutes during the succeeding two and i
a half hours, the widest cheering could be f
heard from some portion of the army, as
the information was conveyed from regi-
ment to regiment. A dozen bands at once {
proceeded to headquarters to rerenade the
General. Crowds of officers gathered in
front of his quarters and greeted him with 1
loud and prolonged cheers, and had the bat
tie transpired according to arrangements,
the battle would have been fought with =
determined valor, but the arrival of Gen.
Hunter about 10 o'clock P. NJ, made a COM
plete change in the arrangements, and the
battle has been delayed. .
Gen. Fremont and Hunter had an inter-
view of two hours, in which the former
revealed his entire plan of battle and turned
over to the latter all the official documents L
to the headquarters of this De- Il
The interview was entirely
,f6cial in its character, and at its close, the
Generals retired TO their respective quarters
or the night
Gen. Fremont and staff, with the except b
on of Coils. Lovejoy, Hudson and Schenck, S
eft for Upton at 8 o'clock A. NJ. to-day.
The camps were not generally made aware y
If the departure, as 1t was not deemed
prudent for the soldiers to receive the in &c
ormatiou, until the General should be some D.
distance on the way. The faces of all who o
we're found around the headquarters, at the l
line of departure, Wore an expression of D
adness, ard evinced that sore blow had 2
,een truck at the enthusiasm of the West G.
IN army.
Under the immediate presence of the enc a.
ny and the prospect of a battle in few II
lays, kept our camp in order and the army n
rom Generalization.
Whatever may have been the informa- n
ion which furnished ground for the removal ID
If our commanding General, il is certain p
hat the Administration err in taking him o.
Iway on the eve of great and decisive fC
1attIe with the rebels of the South West. b
The soldiers of this command had i'm 81
1licit faith in General Fremont and would P
nave followed him 10 victory over foe
.reble their number. At present they are e;
much dispirited, and though they would a
doubtless behave well and CALAMITY in ac- C
ion, their great enthusiasm in serving IN
Ter Fremont Is wholly lost. Many of the q
regiments were raised with the special view v
IF being placed In the com maud of the man ei
or whom such a feeling of admiration has
been raised throughout the West, and these
q particular feel bis loss.
Though Administration may justly -
have removed the Commander of the West
srn Department, it Certainly has been the
most unhappy and unfortunate circumstance 0
IF the war.
Gen Hunter win make bis Headquarters a,
It the Chambers House, on the pubic square Il
If The town, the same building occupied by 2,
be rebel commander, at the time the rebels
1eld Springfield. 4 portion of his staff is
lere with him, and the remainder will soon
lrrtve, or be appointed at once. What his
olans are is not known, but it is probable
le will carry out the designs of Gen. FIRE.
mont.
The latest intelligence from the enemy Z
vas by scout, who arrived this morning. ~
BE reports the Legislature under the con- a
rol of Gov. jackson, is in session at Cass- ri
1ille and that a portion of the army re-
Mains there as a guard. Wilson's Creek =
lattle ground is held by portion of the
.abai aruv Tho are euCayed in THRIVING