The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-11-22
PARTICULARS OF FREMONT'S REMOVAL.
HOW THE BEARER OF THE ORDER
REACHED FREMONT.
II . w r r G h " E d.
ce of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Corresponds ce of the Cincinnati Enquirer
ST.. LOUIS, Nov. IL, 1861.
In my last letter Ipromised you the par
tcuIars of General Fremont's removal and
his very singular conduct. The narration
which | send you is from the report of the
bearer of dispatches, Captain McKenny.
to General Curtiss.
On the 10Th of October, General Curtse
received from the President, per Mr.. Sweet,
a former law partner of Mr.. Lincoln, an Or
der from Lieutenant General Winfield Scot.
directed to Major General j. G. Fremont,
"to turn over the command of the Depart
ment of the West to Major General j. Hun
ter, and to report himself: by letter, immedi-
ately to Lead quarters a. Washington" "
Accompanying this order were Instructions
from the Executive to General Curtiss, viz !:
'"If decided victory had been wOn, q sub
stantial battle and not d mere skirmiah 60
ing 90, or if General Fremont was iu ;he
immediate presence OF the enemy, and ebout
to give battle, then these orders not TO be
delivered" These orders mean, the one to
Fremont announcing his supersedure, and
another to General Hunter appointing him
to the command
General Curtis: detailed Captain j. G.
Mex emmy, Adjglant OF the Second Iowa,
as the bearer OF TIE dispatches. Captain
McKenny was dressed in a Secesh uniform,
and carried the dispatches and general
pass from General Curtiss in the top Of his
cop. With complete instructions as to his
mode of procedure, Capt. McKenny left Sc
Louis on the morning of the 3lst, Thursday,
arrivi NJ at Roa at six o'clock in the even~
ing. He left Rolla at ii 2. M. and arriv-
ed at Springfield Saturday morning at day.
light, going through the lines with the
messenger of the Express Company. Capt.
Nick emmy found every thing quiet, and no
''laying on arms" or apprehensions of a
fight He discovered that no battle had
taken place or victory won, nor was any
battle going on. He then made dilligent
inquiry OF a Federal soldier, who, taken
prisoner by Price, at Lexington, had beer
released in exchange, and being the bearer
of a flag of truce from Fremont to Price,
and had returned from bis GRAND the asen-
ing previous. The soldier replied: The
enemy are about forty miles from Spring.
field, below Crare's Greek toward Cassvile.'
The Captain inquired. "Do you think
Price intends to make tight?" Answer ::
"ThDk he will, but be is going to select his
own ground" The Captain then inquired
OF Colonel Richardson, in command of the
NJ MissOuri scouts, and number of o. hers, al
corrobOrating the statement Of the soldier,
that the enemy were fully forty miles
away. Adjutant McKeDny was fully
Il. 4
in the immediate presence of the enemy,
about to give battle" He then repaired
to Headquarters to deliver his orders. Ap.
,roachiDg the sentiDels, be was informed
that all messages &c, for the Majo Gener-
al must be delivered through Colonel Ea.
;on, his Adiutant General Captain Me-
Kenny called OF Colonel Eaton, who, after
long delay, gave the Cap ain an audience.
Co.outi Eaton Inquired " " hat is the na.
tIre Of the iniormatior you have for Gen
ecal Fremont p The Captain replied
- My in'ormatIcn is tor General Fremont
alone Colonel Eaton w,nt 10, and for
some time had Z conversation with General
Fremont, aud upon returning demanded OF
the CaptaD tAat the Information shCnid be
il. parted 20 him, and received the reply:
4" tell you, sir, distinctly, that my lnior-
natiOn is for y nerai Fremont alone
Coiouei Eaton returned t0 the General, and
after & briaI interview, The bearer Of die
patches was ADMITTED. II was now about
ten clock in the morning The Generai
was standlug near the Ire place apparent
= agltated. After saIuilug he General,
the Captain said !: " General Fremont, my
name il Mckeuny. have dispatches Tor
you" IRE General made no repy but
seizlpg the dispatches, hastily tore open the
envelope, and with increased agitation,
read .he order, a deep flush crimsonug his
face, while bis entre frame ,rembeA with
nervousness. After readirg the order the
General, with much violence, threw the
"seal of his destiny" on the table, and with
sternness accosted the Captain " Sir, how
did you ge, admission into these lines ?''
Captain McKenny-" came through
with the express messenger"
General Fremont" Did you have pass,
sir"
Captain McKenny-" None, cir, except
a general pass from Gen. Curtis"
General Fremont (pacing the room)-
{" You can retire, sir, for the present"
Colonel Eaton was summoned to the Gen
erals presence, and the bearer Of dispatches
retired. Fearing that General Fremont
would not announce his supersedure, the
Captain Immediately informed Gen. Stur-
gss, Major Thrall lSurgeon) and others, of
General Fremonts removal, und Gen. Hun
ter's promotion to the command, adding
that be was the bearer of the dispatches.
Just as be had concluded Colonel Eaton
emerged from the Generals room, and tax.
ing the Captain aside, said, "On behalf of
the Major General, you are requested not