Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-10
Con. Fremont,s Proanants.

|
1he fact that Gen. Fremont is at. If not
west OF, Jefferson City, the capital of Mis-
sour, winch IL but 20 miles from Lexing-
ton, now the rebel focus in that S;ate--that
shc rebels mean to take Bonneville and JEFF
,erson clty, preparatory to an sttack.on 81.
iIouis,-that Ten. f., on the other hand, is
strongly suspected OF designs against Ilexine-
ton and its present possessors--all point to
az carry anu -erious collision. The cautious,
diplomatic; doubtless wise strategy of Me-
Iiehan aud Beaurcgard, IL not adapted to
the west, where those who 60 TO war are
strongly, SUSPECTED OF a disposition TO hurt
somebody, and To look for the enemy with a |
dcclued intent 10 pitch in. We strongly
nope NOT 10 near OF any night there for some
Gays YET; since the Union forces arc widely
scattered on almost every side of the rebels,
anu there |. imminent danger that the lat
ter may strike the first blow east or west in
overwhelming force. We have no faith in
tle strategy which would surround an army
oi fhty thousand with three or four indie
pendent corps. separated by two or three
days hiarcn, ana 50 habie to be attacked
and beaten N succession. Yet presuming
the rebol leaders to understand their business,
It Is hardly possible to avoid such attacks
before eiecting concentration while to
protect hiillSas on the west, 81. Joseph and
the line of the North Missouri Railroad on
the north, ami Bonneville and Jefferson City
| on the east, might seem to preclude the nc
cessary concentration at ALL We judge,
however. that the control of the Missouri
River and of the Railroad aforesaid are ad-
vantagcs to the Unlonists which cannot fail
to be improved.
Gen:: Fremont j., with regard to Military
operations OF magnitude, an untricd comman-
der. Hls fitness to lead thousands is now to
be established or disproved. Success is the
world test OF merit and, should he now be
beaten by the rebels. he will be judged a
prctendcr and chariatan. lie may have
less than half so many men a. he confronts
l-his may be the greenest recruits, while the
enemy are comparative veterans, flushed
with repeated trlumphs-he may be Grip
pied for want Of arms and munitions, while
the allies oiFl5yd before him may have sto-
len themselves rich in everything needed
no matter: he must triumph, or be whistled
down the wind as unequal to his position. -
Wepresume he comprehcpds this hard ne
cessity, and u prepared to wrestlo with For
tune ON such conditions as she sees fit to
prescribe. lie may be beaten--he may even
prove incompetent to lead an arniy-but We
sadly mistake the man If any bullets shall
touch his back unless IN the way Of exit from
his body.
Ills raw troops may be scattered by an
equal force, though we do not believe they
VIII. Should the rebels await his attack at
or near Lexington, they will OF course avail
themselves OF every natural advantage of
position, and VIII improve these by field
works. They have never yet fought equal
numbers on far ield, and We do not think
when Is "a m Usit t,,.a
And should he fail aud fall simply because
he Is compelled, like Lyon, to fight an over
whelnilng force. we are sure his countrymen
will not refuse him the tribute of manly
tear.
How many men lie will be able to muster
In front OF Lexington We do not know, but
believe the number cannot fall short Of fThir-
ty Thousand, and hope it may be swelled
to Forty Thousand. If he can but
have arms and munitions, we shall hope for
the best. We know, however, that he has
at no moment been able to arm or equip the
Volunteers pressing to his standard-that
/ he left at st. Louis. when he started up the
, river last Friday, whole regiments for which
!, he had no weapons, while regiment of
cavalry lately drew up before him with but
a single saddle and never belt or scabbard
/ and that held guns ordered by him, and
= deemed essential to his service. have LAIN fOr
49, -. a I,;u II, =, IL: -, II. -
"cehs anu sun he III this CITY SIMPLY DC
: cause some underllng OF the War Depart
J ment does not see fit to accept and forward
, them. Such facts NAV well justify the gra
! vest apprehensions. The Detroit Adverti
G ser states that the Ordnance Denartment al
5 Washington sold ten Thousand Enfield mus
kets Tor ritics) since Bull Run to private
r dealer, for $lO each, and that the Govern
t ment has since tried to buy them back fol
$40. Had but these arms been sent prompt
! ly to Fremont in tead of being so fooled
away, we believe affairs in Missouri would
) have worn far brighter aspect to-day, Tc
| buy serviceablc though not the very best arms
at exorbitant prices, may IN these times be
existing circumstances, is, in public ennc