Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-15
w. d. WALLACH.
A STARTLING EXPOSITION.

The Chicago Tribune, heretofore among the
steadfast and earnest friends Of Gen. Fremont,
devotes i've columns to an exposition of mill
tary affairs in Missouri, making disclosures far
more damaging to the "Path Finder than
anything diyulged through the agency Of Ad-
jutsnt Gen. Thsmas or the Congressional Com
mittee lately sitting at st. Louis. We make
the following extracts:
Early in the campaign, Mr. Boss, of our ed
ito5al corps, went to st. Louis, Ironton, Cape
Girardeau, Cairo and Padueah. He returned
with report of the goings-on that was doubt:
fnl and unsatisfactory. Later, and about the
time the army moved west, after the needless
sacrifice Of Mulligan and his command, Mr..
Medill went from st. Louis to Jefferson CITY,
and along the road to Sedalia and Georgetown.
Heleft home an ardent admirer Of Gen. FIRE.
mont, and disbeliever in the reports preju-
dicial to bis fitness for his place. His letters,
which excited no little conimotien among our
readers, testify the sincerity of his conversion
to the opposite opinion. When the congress
sionsl committee charged with the duty Of ex-
smlnlng into army and navy contracts went to
st. Louis. DR.. Ray went down to endesvor to
get at some Of the facts developed. His pri-
yate letters contained matters of such moment
and 30 prejudicial to the management of the
Department, that Mr.. Seripps, fearing that he
had been misled by interested parties, deemei
1t his duty to see himself what foundation there
was for the charges, and he went down. Thus
are to suffer by mistake in this grave matter,
have one after another been on the ground
personal observers of the state of the Depart
ment. All had been the fast friends of the
General; all had supported him for the Pres-
dency in 1856, all were in favor of his appoint
ment to the Army of the West; all are willing
to live and die bBthe doctrines of the procla-
nation that has gone 80 straight to the hearts
of the people.
Collectively at an earlier stage in the cam
Psign they had been complimented by the
General tor their earnest support of his policy,
and warmly thanked for their generous devo-
ton to him" The result is what would have
happened to any four earnest men who desire
quick termination of the war and an ac-
knowledged triumph Of the holy cause Pro-
found conviction Of the incompeteney of the
General, disgust with the character of the men
by whom he is surrounded and in whom he
puts bis trust, and an assurance not to be sha-
ken that unless the commander is removed
and the aftirs Of the Department are put into
new hands, Missouri, and finally Kentucky.
and Tennessee, are hopelessly lost
In relation TO the sacrifice Of Gen. Lyon, the
editor makes the following statements He
says:
man, who was with Gen. Lyon on Friday, be-
fore the fight tthe battle was on Saturday,
that, with high indignation, in presence Of
most Of the members Of his staff, he declared
his belief that there was q deliberate purpose
to cut him Of and destroy his force. We urge
no charge against Gen. Fremont that he had
such purpose; but there were those about
him and now controlling him, who are not ex-
empt from great suspicion Of this crime"
And Of the surrender of Col. Mulligan-
We add, on the authority of Hen. John A.
Gurley, member Of Congress from Cincinnati
at that time q member Of Gen. Fremont's staff
that messenger from Col Mulligan, with his
e.
two days among the thieves in Fremont's ante
room, unable to put down the court etiquette
there enforced by the sharp sabres of the body
guard, and at last by the aid of Lieut.. Gen.
Hall, got insonly to hear that the General
would see about it,"
Then follows more about the "ants-room
thieves" OF whom it is remarked
"To see the Commander Of the Department
save IN cases which make the exception to the
rule, has at any time in the last two months
been matter If greater difficulty than to get
an audience Of the Emperor of France the
head Of an empire, and an army of 4OO, 900
men. 1t was for the interests of Californians
and their eonfederates that this should be so,
because while all the others were excluded
they had free access by the back stairs
Among other specifications in regard to the
character OF these retainers it is charged that
=" one OF the Government Inspectors Of horses
at st. Louis, is graduate Of the Kentucky
mems OF this shocking expose. The editor says
In conclusion:
We are informed upon sufficient authority,
that when the Investigating Committee con-
cluded their 'labors at st. Louis, they sent a
dispatch TO Washington (by mail to Springfield,
80 that it might not be stopped,) telling the
President the condition of affairs in Missouri,
and urging upon him the instant removal of
Fremont, upon the ground that in his hands
the war could not be continued a year, for
reason Of want Of funds to supply the waste
and profigacy in his Department