The weekly Butte record., 1861-10-12
The Blair and Fremont Difficulty

The arrest of Colonel Frank P. Blair Jr.
which mentioned in a previous letter, may
involve General Fremont in more serious diff
culties than at first imagined The Blair fam
ly Is powerful one to contend with, and who
ever has heretofore attempted to defeat any Of
their plans has come out second best But in
this instance, l opine, though on no personal
grounds, that Col. Blair will find Fremont a
match for him. The General might not prove
the upper dog in the fight were it not that he
is sustained by nearly all the people in the
Northwest. Even the ST Louis Democrat. a
paper started by Colonel Blairs money, and
carried on for long time by his brain and
patronage, has espoused the cause of Fremont,
and boldly rebukes Blair for his temerity in
meddlng with his superior officers affairs.
The difficulty between Col. Blair and Gen.
! Fremont has no connection with the proclama
| ton Of the latter. | think Col Blair is quite
as strong in his anti>savery opinions as Ere
mont, and regards the proclamation as the
best thing that could have been done in Miss
ouri, considering the ungodly and unprlncpled
wretches the Union troops have to deal with.
| Col. Blair further declares, by a card in the
morning papers, that his charges against the
commanding General are not on any personal
grounds. He says every favor he has asked
has been granted-for himself He then init
mates that he has more serious cause of COM
plant, which will be made known in due
| season. A personal friend of Col Blair tells
me the true cause of the difficulty is this: 'On
assuming the duties connected with the West,
ern Department, General Fremont was impor-
tuned and implored to send reinforcements to
Gen. Lyon, in the Southwest He promised
that il should be done, but neglected to do it.
Then, special messenger came from Lyon.
bearing the following dispatch to the Major
General : For Gods sake, send me reinforce
ments speedily, or | am lost Fremont pro-
missed the messenger that on the following day
5000 men should be sent to Lyon. He was
also further assured that this would be done,
by COL Woods, the private Secretary. The
messenger departed and reported to Gen. Lyon
the answer he had received from Fremont
Being thus assured, Lyon changed his plan of
evacuating Springfield and remained day af-
ter day, week after week, waiting for the rein
forcements, which did not come Not more
than three or four days from the departure of
the messenger to Lyon-an expedition of near
| ly 6,000 men, under Fremont, went down the
river to Cairo. These 5000 men were landed
and remained there doing nothing-just as the
rebels wished might be the case-until Lyon
had been sacrificed, and his gallant followers
obliged to retreat to Rolla.' This, says Col.
Blair is the gravest charge he has to make
against General Fremont. Upon him, Ere
mont rests the blood Of Lyon, for by either
his ignorance as to the enemys designs, or
wilful determination not to reinforce Lyon,
be suffered him to be slain and the Union
cause to suffer. Col. Blair also charges Ere
mont with entire inellicency, or want of eff
cheney where it is most needed. These are
grave charges, and | have doubts whether
they can be sustained. We shall know when
Blairs trial by Court Martial takes place
The Court Martial will necessarily be ordered
by the President, as Gen. Fremont is the per-
son preferring and prosecuting the charge
against Col. Blair. The President and Cabi-
net have had the matter under consideration
for several days. 1t is thought a Court Mar
tial will be called next week. Col Blair, in
the meantime, has the liberty of the city,
st. LOUIS Cor. Of Sac. Union, Sept 20.