Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-10-16
col. RLAIR's LnrrrR.

ST.. LOUIS, Sept /, 1S61.-Dea1.
Jatdge - wrote you quite fully about our
affairs here by Judge GAN bic, and am
more and moae convinced of the view
stated to you in that letter. Affairs are
becoming quite alarming in the Northern
part of the State, as well as III the South.
Men coming here 60 give Information are
not allowed to approach Fremont, and go
away in disgust
| have felt it my duty to tell him what
they say, ard he throws himself behind
the reports Of his officers, who are trying
to prevaricate and shield themselves from
the neglect of duty; and he Still clings to
them and refuses to see for himself | told
him he wold not c3capa responsibility ia
that way, and he woulti very soon fiad an
army OF rebels 10000 strong on his bands
in North Missouri, threatening St, Louis,
and occupying the forces he desired to use
against McCulloch and Pillow. He talks
OF The rigor he is going TO use, but | can
see nothing Of it, and | fear it will turn out
to be sosre rash and inconsiderate move,
adopted in haste to make head against a
formidable force, which could not have ac-
cumulated except through gross and mex
cusable negligence. Oh, for an hour Of
our dead Lyon. Many have been disposed
to blame Fremont for moi sending rein
foicements to Lyon, and thus aveFting the
calamity brought or ly his death, and the
abandonment Of Springfield by his COM
mand. 1t is certain that if he had sent
theregiments to Lyon that he took to Cal
70, when il was supposed that place was
threatened, Lyon would have driven Nc
Culloch from the State. / cannot sty
whether the attack was seriously contem-
PLATED. on Cairo at the time or not, but 1
am disposed to believe that tie movement
Of McCuh eh and Pillow were intended to
be simultaneous and co-operits; but Lyon
should have had some part Of the rein
forcements at aay rate and if he had re-
ceived two Regiments, lis victory would
have been complete. | undertake to SLY
that if Fremont acted on them as he docs
now I was away and cannot speak on
that head), lie could not have Informed
himself very accurately Of the necessities Of
his position. The event shows that no at
tack was made on Cairo, and it was proba-
bly, syeited by the achievements sent
If the same, or one-half Of the regiments
had been sent to Lyon, we should have
had equally satisfactory results.
The views have given of this matter
are fast becoming public opinion here, and
/ think the Government should know IT.
Probably Won have information which Wi
satisfy you that Fremont was not to llanie
If SO, tie public here should know it also
III order that the confidence Of the people
should not be withdrawn rom tile cclsA
handing General could not think when
first returned here. that any part Of the
blame could rest with him, but my obser-
yations since have shaken my Gath 10 the
very foundations.
There is one point ghieh ! dill not rsfsr
to in my letter, and whichi intended t.
remark Oh, and that is, the utter want Of
discipline ii the camps around ald about
st. Louis. 1t is a rehearsal Of the state Of
affairs in Washington before the fight al
Manassas. and viii, | am apprehensiye,
conduce to similar results. brought these
matters to Frclnont's attention, but he PIT
it aside by saying it would not dN to BE-
too exacting at once. Our enemies 1t the
door, and yeti early to impart discipline
to our troops, and keep them ont Of the
whisky shops! know that you and ]
are in some sort responsible for Ffemonss
appointment, and for his being placed in
command Of this department, and there
fore | feel another and an additional motive
to.speak out openly about these matters.
My decided opinion i that he should be