The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-22
PARTICULARS OF FREMoNTs REMOVAL.
HOW THE BEARER OF THE ORDER
REACHED FREMONT
IO w REC WE'D.
ce of the Cincinnati Enquirer.


Corresponds ce of the Cincinnati Enquirer
ST. LOUIS, Nov. IL, 1861.
10 my last letter Ipromised you the par.
ticulars of General Fremonts removal and
bis very singular conduct. The narration
which l send you is from the report of the
bearer of dispatches, Captain McKenny,
to General Curtiss. z. t5
On the 29th of October, General Uurtise
received from the President, per Mr.. Sweet,
a former law partner OF Mr.. Lincoln, an or
der from Lieutenant, General Winfield Scott
directed to Major General j. G. Fremont,
"to turn over the command of the Depart
ment of the West to Major General J. Hun
ter, and to report himself. by letter, immedi-
ately to head. quarters at Washington" "
Accompanying this order were instructions
from the Executive to General Curtiss, viz :
"If decided victory had been won, SUBJ
stantial battle and not mere skirmish GO
ing on, or if General Fremont was 10 The
immediate presence of the enemy, and about
to give battle, then these orders not to be
delivered" These orders mean, the one to
Fremont announcing his supersedure, and
another to General Hunter appointing him
to the command.
General Ourtiss detailed Captain j. @.
McKenny, Adjutant of the Second Iowa,
as the bearer of the dispatches. Captain
McKenny was dressed in Secesh uniform,
and carried the dispatches and general
pass from General Curtiss In the top of his
cap. With complete instructions as to his
mode of procedure, Capt. McKenny left St
Louis on the morning Of the 3lst, Thursday,
arriving at Rolla at elk o'clock in the even-
ing. He left Rola at IL P. M, and arriv-
ed at Springfield Saturday morning at day.
light, going through the lines with the
messenger of the Express Company. Capt
McKenny found every thing quiet, and no
"laying on arms" or apprehensions Of
fight. He discovered that no battle had
taken place or victory won, nor was any
battle going on. He then made dilligent
inquiry OF Federal soldier, who, taken
prisoner by Price, at Lexington, had been
released in exchange, and being the bearer
of a flag Of truce from Fremont to Price,
and had returned from his errand the esell-'
ing previous. The soldier replied: The
enemy are about forty miles from Spring.
field, below Cranes Creek toward Cassville.' ,
The Captain inquired "Do you think
Price intends to make fight?" Answer {:
"Think he will, but he is going to select his
own ground" The Captain then inquired
OF Colonel Richardson, in command of the
Missouri scouts, and q number of others, all
corroborating the statement of the soldier,
that the enemy were fully forty miles
away. Adjutant McKenny was fully
satisfied that General Fremont was "nOt
in the immediate presence of the enemy,
about to give battle" He then repaired
to Headquarters to deliver his orders. Ap.
preaching the sentinels, be was informed
that all messages &C., for the Major Gener-
al must be delivered through Colonel Ea.
ton, his Adjutant General ! Captain Me-
Kenny called on Colonel Eaton, who, after
a long delay, gave the Captain an audience.
Coiouel Eaton inquired :: " What is the ma
ture of the information you have for Gen
eral Fremont? ?" The Captain replied
My Information is tor General Fremont
alone" Colonel Eaton went in, and for
some time had conversation with General
Fremont, and upon returning demanded of
the Captain that the information should be
ir?parted to him, and received the reply:
al tell you, sir, distinctly, that my intor-
nation is for General Fremont alone."
Colonel Eaton returned to the General, and
after briet interview, the bearer of dis
patches was admitted. 1t was now about
ten clock in the morning The General
was standing near the ire place. apparent
iy agitated. After saluting the General,
the Captain said -" General Fremont, my
name is McKenny. have dispatches for
you" The General made no repy, but
seizipg the dispatches, hastily tore open the
envelope, and with increased agitation,
read the order, deep flush crimsoniug his
face, while bis entire frame trembled with
nervousness. After reading the order, the
General, with much violence, threw the
"seaI of his destiny" on the table, and with
sternness accosted the Captain :" Sir, bow
did you get admission into these lines p
Captain McKenDy-"I came through
with the express messenger" ID e." =
General Fremont" Did you have pass,
sir 2" "a. ., .is0. ..I..,. ia .sa.s II
Captain McKenDy-" None, cir, except
a general pass from Gen. Curtis !"
General Fremont (pacing the room)-
You can retire, sir, for the present."
Colonel Eaton was summoned to the Gen.
erals presence, and the bearer Of dispatches
retired. Fearing that General Fremont
would not announce his supersedure, the
Captain Immediately informed. Gen. Stur-
giss, Majer Thrall lSurgeon.) and others, of
General Fremont's removal, ard Gen. Hun.
ter's promotion to the command, adding
that be was the bearer of the dispatches.
Just as be had, concluded, Colonel Baton
emerged from the Generals room, and tax
ing the Captain aside, said, "On behalf Of