Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-15

military officer without trial. 4
Before Adiutant- General Thomas report had |
reached the Army Of the Mississippi, reluta- |
tons were published which destroyed its credi-
bility; and while he was reporting to the Secre-
tary OF War that Gen Fremont should be dis |
placed because he had undertaken march which |
he could not accomplish Gen. Fremont with |
his whole army had made the march, bridged |
a deep ravine and overtaken portion of the
enemy, with the prospect offorcing them to give |
battle. Adjutant- General Thomas reported to /
the Secretary of War that Gen. Fremont's army /
was on the march insufficiently clothed and
equipped, without sufficient ammunition, sup |
plies or transportation. Proper energy on the |
part of these officers would have forwarded |
these supplies to the army while it was advan-
cling. Its safety was periled for want Of them. |
Instead of devoting their efforts to this with |
sleepless energy until the army fthe Mississippi
was relieved from danger of suffering and dis |
aster by adequate supplies, these representatives
Of the Government departed from Missouri,
willing that this great army should
be sacrificed in order to fulfil their predictions.
Then the Administration resolved to let Gen.
Fremont try his hand at a battle before displac-
ing him. This was a dilemma with two horns.
If he lost the battle, the responsibility would
have devolved on the Administration which
entrusted an army Of 10000 men to n General
whom it had declared incompetent. If he had
succeeded the Administration would have had
the credit of declaring incompetent the only
General who had won a victory. Finally it
would appear that nothing but peremptory
removal could prevent Gen. Fremont from
achieving victory which would have put the
Administration TO shame
The irregular expenditures which the Admin
istratiOn has made the ostensible cause for the
removal of Gen. Fremont even if the whole
amount were squandered, are utterly contempt
ible compared with what he has accomplished,
and what he would have accomplished if not
interfered with. The country would have cheer
fully given five times that amount for victory
over Prices whole army. What getting
at Washington, or what have we prospect Of
getting, for our immense expendituresf
The Government has made an error in regar-
ding the Western Army as one in which the
removal of an officer was a mere professional
matter into which the opinions of the army
were not to be taken into the account. The
greater part of that army volunteered for SER
vice under Fremont 1t is properly called Free
mont's army Whatever may be Fremont's
qualities as a General, his name had a prestige
which revived volunteering from great depress-
ion, and rapidly created great army. This
prestige has been of great service to the country,
and to deprive this army of it now is great
misfortune.
The spirit with which Gen. Fremont laid down
his command, and took leave of his soldiers,
showed so much dignity and patriotism, that it
will go far to impress the people with his great
ness and capacity, who had not before been con-
vinced of it.
The Pittsburg Gazette, says:
The official intelligence of the removal of Gen.
Fremont, which was published in our telegraph
ic columns yesterday morning, produced most
intense excitement in the city. Nothing which
has taken place during this unhappy contest has
so clashed with public sentiment, and it is very
damaging to the Administration in the presen
aspect of the case A greater blunder has no
been committed, than the whole transaction from
beginning to end.
The New York Post says:
The event which has been so long announced
is at length accomplished Fremont has beer
removed from his command. 1t has been de.
termined by the Government that it can no Ion.
| ger trust him. and his baton is transferred TO
other hands. At the very moment when he is
in the face of the enemy, whom he has driven
| from point to point until decisive battle or an
| ignomnious flight are the only alternatives, he
| is ordered to surrender his place. The fact
smites the community like the loss of battle
but it must be borne with firm mind.
The New York Commercial Advertiser says:
The retiring Generals farewell address does
him great credit. Some of his small friends an
| ticipated that he would manifest a different and
less commanding temper should the Comman-
der-in- Chief finally determine upon his remOv-
al. They did Gen. Fremont an injustice. His
| whole demeanor under the trying circumstance,
was, according to the telegraphic dispatch mos
proper and patriotic. Though he may hav
failed to make a good military commander, h
has shown the true greatness of man and
patriot, and shown himself entitled to the re
spect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
The Cincinnati Times, an American papel
says:
We have employed no extraordinary art +
conceal our opinions upon this war We believ
the war to be right; we advocate it as duty, no
as necessity; we religiously believe the grea
sJudge of the quick and the dead He at who's
call the "earth, self balanced on her centre hung
, endorses the march of every legion which W
. send to the field; but we do not believe there
a sentiment in the Providence of God which il
t dorses the infamy that has been attempte
t against John @. Fremont.
What has Fremont DONE that he should
n bounded in this manner? Is he dog, that
! should be barked at by the unwashed spanie
; that parade creation without even a certifica
of their legitimacy Is he-the hero Of III
mountain storm-the champion of a thOusan
triumphs over nature in her rudest forms-th
impersonation of splendid nobility that scorn
) TO ask ages of political leprosy for a title-th
realization of that genius which America, in he
I latest and most envied manifestations, is prou
r to call her own-to be cast aside and supplante
I by one whose insignifcance can only be aggrI
g fiated by his elevation to power, and who ca
q never be placed in the highest position withol
: becoming the especial object of metropolita
S contempt?
! The st, Louis Republican, Douglas pape
says:
n Say what you WILL the great crime of Il
. Pathfinder was in having encountered the no
tility of certain faction here in st. Louis, al
: all that has transpired subsequently has been
I making up case to prepare the public mir
: for FremOnts decapitation. Systematic, pers
o vering efforts have been made to break him dow
r, and destroy his reputation. Investigations ha
n been instituted for the purpose of giving an a
g Of fairness and candorto prosecution who
,f origin was malice and personal venom. II
: President has been deceived by statemen
: wholly er pdyte and one sided, biased by an III
e founded prejudice. Amidst all this dogged pu
l. suit Of the good name of Gen. Fremont Il
h latter has exhibited a wonderful degree of 70
bearance and steadfast faith in his ability,
y deds, to show the Administration and the wor
y how unjust have been the aspersions upon
' character asa military commander and as ma
,e He has not initiated other parties in sparii
; time from the performance of his duties in t
l. field to engage in species of individual warfa
,e resulting in no advantage except to the enem
l. But Gen, Fremont has been removed. Su
ie pose, when Gen. Fremont returns to st. Lou
D. or goes to Washington, as he doubtless will {
81 and he shall be able successfully to impeaeh t
D. hearsay statements of Gen. Thomas and
IN stamp upon his private and public accusers