Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-01
REPORT In GEN. FREMONT,S CASE.
The Adiutant Generals Observations IN
Misssurf.
W. D. wALLAOH.

When Secretary Cameron set out on his re-
cent journey to Missouri, Kentucky, and Indi-
ana, he requested Adjutant General Thomas to
accompany him for the double purpose of lend
ing his assistance In any investigation that 1t
might be found necessary to institute, and also
to take notes upon all points connected with the
object Of theVisit From the information thus
collected the Adjutant General, at the request
Of the Secretary, has prepared q report of con-
Siderable length, the important points Of which
We present below:
INTERCOURSE OF FREMONT WITH HIS OFFICERS
Gen. Curtis said of Gen. Fremont that he
found no difficulty in getting access to him, and
when be presented business connected with his
command IL was attended to. Gen. Fremont
however, never consulted him on military af-
fairs, nor informed him Of his plans. Gen
Curtis remarked that while he would 90 with
freedom to Gen. Scott and express his opinions
he would not dare to do so to Gen. Fremont
He deemed Gen. Fremont unequal to the COM
mand Of an army, and said that he was no more
bound by Law than by the winds. He consid.
cred him TO be unequal TO the command of tho
army in Missouri,
IRREGULARITIES IN THE PAYsAsrER's DEPART
NENr.
Col. Andrews, Chief Paymaster, called ON
me (says Gen. Thomas) and represented irreg-
ulsrities in the pay department, and desired
instructions from the secretary for his govern
nent, stating that he was required to make
payments and transfers Of money contrary to
law and regulations. Once objecting to what
he conceived an improper payment, he was
threatened with confinement by file Of sol
diers. He exhibited an order for the transfer
OF slOO,O to the quartermaster's department,
which was irregular
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS BY GEN. Fremont
Colonel Andrews exhibited an abstract of
payments by one paymaster, Maj. Feliser, to
~ persons appointed by Gen. Fremont, viz !:
Colonel, Majors, Q Captains, Is Ist Lieuten.
ants, III ID Lieutenants, Surgeon, Assistant
burgeons-total, AZ. Nineteen of these have
appointments as engineers, and are entitled to
cavalry pay. A second abstract of payments
was furnished, but not vouched for as reliable,
as the paymaster was sick. 1t is only given to
show the excesses of officers of rank appointed
to the Major Generals body-guard of only 300
men, the commander being a colonel, &c' The
whole number OF irregular appointments made
BY Gen Fremont was said by Col. Andrews to
be nearly zoo. Among the appointments was
one given to an individual on Gen. Fremont's
stan as Director OF Music, with the rank and
commission Of Captain of Engineers, This per.
son vas musician in the theater in st. Louis
IRREGULARITIES AT ST. LogIs.
MAJOR Allen, principal quartermaster, had
recently taken charge at st. Louis, but report
ed great irregularities in his department, and
requested special instructions. This he deemed
important, as orders were communicated by A
variety Of persons, in an irregular manner, all
requiring disbursements Of money. These or
ders were frequently given verbally. He was
sending, under Gen. Fremont's orders, large
amounts OF forage from ST. Louis to the army
at Upton, where corn was abundant and cheap
Ine distance was l6O miles. He stated the in
deotedness Of the quartermaster's 8 department,
At St. Louis, to be S4 ,5O6, ,309 70.
ARMY Contracts
1t Is the expressed belief of many intelliren
gentlemen In St Louis that Gen. Fremont has
around him, and in his staff, persons directly
and Immediately concerned in furnishing sup
PIes. BY direction Of Gen. Meigs, advertise
menS were published for proposals to furnish
grain and hay, and contracts were subse-
9uentiy made for specifcations-2S cents per
bushel for corn, 80 cents for oats and SIT 95
per ton for hay. In face of this, another party
IN So. Louis, Baird, or Baird Palmer, pal
mer being Of the old firm in California, Pal
mer, Cook Il Co., Gen. Fremont's agents in
that State,) were directed to send to Jefferson
City, where hay and corn abound, as fast rs
possible, LOG, 900 bushels Of oats with a CORES
Pondlng amount OF hay, at 80 cents per bushel
for the grain and Sl9 per ton for the hay.
Capt. Edward NJ. Davis, . member Of his
stan, received contract by the direct order
OF Gen. Fremont for blankets. They were ex-
amined by board Of army officers, consisting
OF Capt Hendershot, 4th artillery; Capt Har-
rs, commissary Of subsistence, and Capt. Turn
ley, assistant quartermaster. The blankets
were found 10 be made mostly of cotton, and
TO be rotten and worthless. NotWithstanding
this decision, they we're purchased and given
to the siek and wounded soldiers in the hos
pitfalls.
BxTRAVAGANCE.
Among the supplies sent by Gen. Fremont
TO the army now in the field may be snume-
rated 500 half barrels, to carry water, in q
country where water is abundant, and 500 tons
Of ice.
We examined the barracks in course of CON.
struction in st. Louis, near and around the
private house occupied by him as quarters-the
Brant House, which, by the by is rented for
5000 per annum. These barracks have brick
foundations and brick outer walls; vesther.
boarded, and are sufficient as quarters and sta
blss for ], 900 men.
A pontoon bridge has been erected across
the Ohio river by Gen. Fremont, at Paducah.
A ferry boat, in q region where such boats are
readily procured, would be just as efficient,
and much less expense.
100 The CAMP AT TIProN.
As soon ss / obtained a view Of the several
encampments at Upton, expressed the opin-
ion that the forces there assembled could not
be moved, as scarcely any means Of transpor-
tation were visible. / saw Gen. Hunter, Sec
Ond in command, and conversed freely with
him. He stated that there was great confusion,
and that Gen. Fremont was utterly incompe-
tent, that ms own division was greatly scat
N~@~~i - N-o Aol0c tnoA0 pE5ocut QeIccblVe In
many respects, that he himself required 100
wagons, bat that he was under orders to march
that day, and some Of his troops were already
drawn out on the road. His cavalry regim ent
(ElIis's} had horses and Indifferent arms, but
no equipments, The men had to carry their
cartridges in their vest pockets--conseou uently
on their 6rst days march from Jefferson city,
in heavy rain which fell, the cartridges were
destroyed.
rHE GUNS PURCHASED BY FREMONT.
Cen Hunter stated 10 me that he had lust
received written report from one of his colo
nels: informing him that but twenty out of q
hundred Of his guns would 20 of These were
the guns procured by General Fremont in Eu.
rope. will here state that Cen Sherman, at
Louisville, made TO me Q similar complaint of
the great infsriOrity of these European arms.
BE had given the men orders to file down the
nipples. In conversation with Col. Swords,
assistant quarternaster general at Louisville,
just from California, he stated that Mr.. Seloyer,
who was in Europe with Gen. Fremont, wrote
TO some friend In San Francisco that his share
$30, 900.