Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-09
Srlette0 Mlsttllanp.
From the New York Times, Administration.
The Western Department..

Ihe western department.
FreD'oHt-Ris achievements and His SAertcomiags-
By Whona he is Surrounded and By Whom He fsnot
Seen.
Correspondence of the n. Y. Tlmes
ST. Lours, Friday. September 20, 1851.
The New York and other papers throughout
the country appear to be very much eugrossed
with the case of Gen. Fremont, and the merits of
his late proclamation. Most of the journals that
/ have read assume that the proclamation Of
Gen. Fremont, rberating the slaves of traitors,
and the supposed personal difficulties between
the General and Col. T. P. Blair are the only
questions brought before the Government at
Washington. These assumptions are erroneous.
For the purpose of correcting this error, and
presenting the real causes of complaint, (as /
understand :hem,) ask place in your columns.
| will give brief history of events: Gen. FIRE.
mont assigned to the command of the De
partment of the West on the I'd of July. Gen.
Lyon was then in the Southwest and the Depart
ment at St. Louis virtually without head Gen.
Fremont did not reach St. Louis until the 25th
of July The Cabinet at Washington, (and
believe Gen. Fremont had been written to and
telegraphed that it all important that the
commander should at once enter upon his duties.
But the only information we could get was that
the General had gone to New York to await the
arrival of his wife from California, and could
learn nothing more until his arrival at the time
fault Of Gen. Fremont or of the Department at
Washington i know not, but this do know, that
by this delay great interests were neglected in
Missouri.
When General Fremont did arrive, dispatches
were said to be awaiting him from Gen. Lyon,
then at Spring6eld,) urging his need of men and
supplies.
On the 26th of July Major Farrar, aid to Gen.
Lyon, and Captain Cavender, called on General
IN tbo Of md
About the same time Major Phelps, the well
known member of Congress, came to st. Louis
as special messenger from General Lyon, to
explain to General Fremont the condition of the
Southwest, the great strength Of the enemy and
the want of reinforcements and supplies for Ly-
on's army.
About this time Pillow, at New Madrid and
Hardee, at Greenfield were threatening Birds
Point and Pilot Knob, and to those points the at
tention of the Commanding General was also
called by messengers from our camps. To meet
all these demands required troops than
Gen. Fremont had at his command, and it was a
matter of judgment how the troops he could con-
t-ol should be disposed Of
Prominent citizens of St. Louis known to be
high in the confidence Of the Government, some
of them personal and political friends of General
Fremont. called on him and urged the necessity
of sending troops to Lyon. They suggested to
him that the South west was the ratural route
for Governor jackson TO return to the State and
try to recover the Capital; that if the rebels
could depart, or force Lyon to retreat on st.
Louis, they could expect large reinforcements to
meet them on the Usage, and thus insure the re-
establishment Of the rebel government at Jefer-
son City; and that as by the South west was the
only really feasible route for rebel army to
reach the Capital, the movements Of Pillow and
Hardee were only feints intended to divert atten-
ton from the movements of McCulloch and
Price, where the blow was to be struck.
These arguments did not convince General
Fremont. and he decided to reinforce Birds
Point instead of General Lyon, and. with an en-
ergy that | could not disparage, called in troops
made his preparations, and in one week after his
arrival left with force of 5000 men for Cape
Girardeau and Birds Point, taking some heavy
artillery for their defense While due credit was
awarded to the General for his energy in getting
up the expedition, vet there were some criticism:
ventured among old-fashioned men at seeing the
General 90 down to the boat in an open barouchs
drawn by four horses, and to see him 60 aboard q
magnificent steamer, chartered for the exclusive
use of the General and suite. But then the Duke
of Marlborough fought well, if he extrsva
CANT.
After an absence of three DAYS the General re
turned TO the city TO meet more appeals in behal
of General Lyon, and to receive more certain in
telligenee of the great strength of the enemy il
the southwest Inc Generals answer 70 thes'
appeals was want of troops to send
lam told that il was suggested to the Genera
that Wyman's regiment and Stevenson's regi
ment, both stationed at Rolla, could be spares
and sent forward end that il any troops were re
quired to guard the stores at Rolla, Home Guard
at St Louis could be sent out to perform Eha
duty. -q. .tt
am also told that Colonel Wyman, who com
manded splendid Illinois regiment, wrote to III
General begging that he might be ordered for
ward. But no troops were sent, and Lyon AM
his Spartan band were left to their sad fate
Our only consolation is, that, at Wilson
Creek, they made record of glory that shal
never die
Intelligent officers engaged in the battle ex
press the opinion that two more regiments woul
have gained US splendid victory, and save
south western Missouri from the desolation whic
has followed. Many good and true men in Mis-
souri, With no unkind feeling to General Fremon
believe that the defeat Of Lyon was Fremont
fault =.
second cause of complaint has been found j
the selection of staff, composed, in great part,
Italians and Hungarans, some of whom can nc
speak our language, and who can have but a
imperfect knowledge Of the best mode Of wufar