The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08

PEELED to fall back. Hunters plan Of NOV
ing these troops was to strike the river at Q
point below Lexington in our control, to
cross it, and march up to the town. In
the interview with Gen. Fremont, the ques,
ton was asked whether any orders had been
given to reinforce Mulligan, and the reply
being in the negative, Gen. Hunter sug
gested orders to Sturgis; and, had the order
been given by telegraph, he would have
reached the river before Price had taken
possession OF the north bank, and could
have crossed. The order was not given un.
til three days after this interview. The
loss of time was fatal.
Mulligan was ordered from Jefferson City,
then garrisoned with 5000 troops, with
only one regiment, and with that to hold
Lexington until he could be relieved.
When Lexington fell, Price had under his
command 10000 men, and his force was re-
ceiyipg daily augmentations from the dis.
affected in the State. He was permitted
to gather much plumber, and to fall back
toward Arkansas unmolested, until was
at Upton, on the 18th of October, when
the accounts were that he was crossing the
Usage. Fremont's order to march was is-
sued to an army of nearly 10000, many of
the regiments badly equipped, with made
quate supplies of ammunition, clothing and
transportation. With what prospect, it
must be inquired, can General Fremont,
under such circumstances, expect to over
take a retreating army, some one hundred
miles ahead, with deep river between?
General. Hunter expressed to the Secre
tary of War his decided opinion that Gen.
Fremont was incompetent, and unfit for his
extensive and important command. This
opinion he gave reluctantly, for the reason
that be held the position of second in COM
mand.
The opinion entertained by gentlemen of
position and intelligence, who have ap
preached and observed him, is, that be is
more fond of the pomp than the stern
realities of war-that his mind is incapable
OF fixed attention or stiong concentration
that by his misnagement of his affairs since
his arrival in Missouri, the state has almost
been lost-and that if he is continued in
command the worst results may be antici
pated. This is the concurrent testimony
of large number of the most intelligent
men in Missouri.
Leaving Upton on the 18th we arrived
at st. Louis on the same day, and on the
18th the Secretary of War directed me to
issue the following instructions to General
Fremont:
ST. LOUIS, No., Oct. IA, 1861.
GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me
to communicate the following as his instruc-
tiOnS for your government:
In view of the heavy sums due, especially in
the Quartermaster's Department in this city,
amounting to some 81 $780, 900, it is important
that the money which may now be in the hands
of the disbursing officers, or be received by
them, be applied to the current expenses Of
your army in Missouri, and these debus to re-
main unpaid until they can be properly exam.
ined and sent to Washington for settlement !;
the disbursng officers of the army to disb0rse
the funds, and not transfer them to irresponsi-
BILE agents-in other words, those who did not
hold commissions from the President, and are
not under bonds. All contracts necessary to
be made to be made by the disbursing officers.
The senior Quartermaster here has been yer.
bally instructed by the Secretary as above.
1t is deemed unnecessary to erect field works
around this city, and you will direct their dis
continuance; also those, if any, in course of
construction at Jefferson City. In this connec-
ton, it is seen that number of commissions
have been given by you. No payments will be
made to such officers, except to those whose
appointments have been approved by the Pres
ident. This, of course, does not apply to Off
GERS with volunteer troops. Colonel Andrews
has been verbally SO instructed by the Secre.
tary also, not to make transfers Of funds, ex-
cept for the purpose of paying the troops.
The erection of barracks near your quarters
in this city to be at once discontinued.
The Secretary has been informed that the
troops of General Lanes command are com.
hitting depredati0ns on our friends in Western
Missouri. Your attention is directed to this,
in the expectation that you will apply the cor
receive.
Major Allen desires the services of Captain
hopes you may find it proper to accede thereto.
have the honor to be. very respectfully,
Your Obedient servant.
L. THOMAS, Adjutant General.
Major General J. c. Fremont. Commanding
Department of the West. Upton. Mo.
Instructions were previously given (Oc>
tober p to the Hon. james Craig to raise
regiment at st. Joseph, Missouri.
We left St. Louis October IA, and ar.
rived at Indianapolis in the evening. Re.
manned at Indianapolis October Is, and
converted freely with Governor Morton.
We found that the State of Indiana had
come nobly up to the work of suppressing
the rebellion. Fifty FIVE regiments, with
several batteries of artillery, had been
raised and equipped larger number Of
troops in proportion to population than any
other State has sent into the field. The
best spirit prevailed, and it was manifest
that additional troops could readily be
raised. The Governor had established an
arsenal, and furnished all the Indiana troops
with full supplies of ammunition, including
fixed ammunition for three batteries of ar.
tillery. This arsenal was visited and found
to be in full operation. 1t was under the
charge of competent pyrotechnist
Quite number of females were EMPLOYS
ed in making cartridges, and venture to
assert that the ammunition is equal to that
which is manufactured anywhere else. Gov.
ernor Morton stated that his funds for this
purpose were exhausted, but the Secretary
desired him to continue bis operations, and
informed that him the government would pay
for what had been furnished to the troops
in the field. 1t is suggested that an officer
of ordnance be sent to Indianapolis to
inspect the arsenal and ascertain the amount
- bo ,norufo ofuva of