New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-26
FREmoNT,s CAMPAIGN I'm MISSOURI


CAMPAIGN I'm MISSOURI.
Gen. Fremont's campaign ia Missouri having
been brought to close, the time seems prop
erly to have arrived for succinct narrative OF
its history; and such o narrative we accord
ibgly proceed to lay before our readers, so tar
as the facts can be ascertaned from neTs-
paper correspondence and from official docu'
ments already made public.
Gen. Fremont reached st. Louis and as
suned the command of his Department on the
9th of July. The little army which, up to
that time, had maintained the cause OF the
Union in Missouri, was almost entirely COM
posed of three months men. The time Of en-
l.t,nent was Just expiring, and by the middle OF
August that army, with the exception oil about
ak thousand men, was disbapded Cairo was
occupied by feeble force. The garrison OF
st. Louis consisted Of a few companies not
Sufficient to guard tho Arsenal. Northern
Missouri was infested by predatory rebel bands
LYON was at Springfield confronting force
greatly superior to his little army. A few
troops held Ironton, against which point Har-
dee was advancing, while Pillow with
powerful column, was operating upon
the west banks of the Mississippi, and had
already flanked our position at Birds Point
and Cairo. Under these circumstances Gen.
Fremont was compelled to raise, equip, officer
and discipline an army, for the protection OF Mis-
sour, and also for offensive operations in the Val
les of the Mississippi, to defend an extended line
at every point OF which the enemy were su'
perior to him--to fortiy important positions,
TO build feet of gunboats, to purchase horses,
mules, wagons, arms, and stores. In this
great work be could not expect assistance from
an organized staff. There was no Quarter
termaser's Department. no Commissary De-
par.ment, no Board of Ordnance, no shPyards,
TO founderies or manufactures of arms. The
Government wns 80 situated that it could rem
der him but little assistance. The defeat al
Manassas had made it necessary for the Gov
erDment to exert oil its power to recreate aud
strengthen The army of the Potomac. The
War Department became the competitor Of Ere
mont. 1t diverted 10 Washington tn
arms be had purchased in Europe. 1t monopol
lied the products of the public and private
armories of the North 10 meet the sudden and
unexpected emergency. 1t purchased all Tue
army cloth, all the wagons, all the camp
equpage which the industry OF the country
could create. Fremont found himself sup
planted in every market, and compelled to &C
cept arms and equipage which had been re-
jected OF Washington. The Governments did
not send 10 bin, as lie requested, staa officers
from the regular army, and Ia was obliged to
call into his staff foreign o1iccrs, or civilians.
Within few days after he arrived Of St.
Louis, and before order could DO introduced
into the chaos IN which be found aiisirs, the
enemy began offensive demonstrations. Price
and McCulloch advanced upon Springfield.
Fremont was unable 10 srnd sufficient re-
endorsements. He had only few regi
ments at hand. However, these were or.
gained with all pOsAibc haste, and an cxpe-
dition formed for the reinforcement Of Lyon.
Roa was the nearest point to which the rail-
way could carry the troops. From there to
Springfield the distance 10 one hundred and
twontJ miles over difficult country. There was
an entire deficiency Of transportation, and the
troops could he moved from Rolla 10 Spring.
field only by gathering the wagons aud teams
of the neighborDg farmers, q work of time.
w bile this expedition was 10 preparation, the
became alarmed for Cairo and
Birds Point, and an imperative order was
sent TO the General to re-cnforce those posi-
tions. The force designed for Springfield was
sent there. small body was however by
great exertiou collected at Rolla, but before
could be obtained, Lyon gavo
battle.
This act was performed by Gen. Lyon
upon bis own judgment, and with full knowl-
edge of all the circumstances. Events have
shown that he judged wisely. The day was
disastrous to the design of the enemy. The
flight of part Of Prices men, and the destruc-
tion of McCullOchs camp and train, made it
impossible for the Rebels to advance, and their
forces fell back along the whole line. Hardee
from bis advanced position at Green
vile, accusing himself to his friends by saying
that the loss Of McCullqcb's transportation COM
PEELED retreat; and the march of Pillow was
also arrested If Lyon had fallen back TO
Rolla, We do not doubt that 81. Louis would
have fallen, aud the Union cause have re-
seived blow more severe than Manassas.
The time occupied by Price and McCulloch
n repairing their losses, afforded Gen. FIRE.
mont an opportunity to organize his army and
his position. The succeeding weeks
rere devatnd Ly him and Lis asaislanta 10 nar.