The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-10
THE FREMONT IEABE0cll0.
COL. BLAIR'S CHARGES AND SPECIFICA-
TiONS AGAINST GENERAL FREMONT.

COLONEL BLAm's LITTER TO ADJuTANT GEKERAL
THOMAS
BasGApKR GENERAL THOMAS, Adjrtant General United
States Army, Washington City, d. c.
GESssAi--i herewith ,ncosc letter from Captain
McEocver, Assistant Adiant General, addressed TO mo
by she der OF Major General John G. Fremont, com
iIand ng tie Western Department, which is dated sep
You viii observe that the letter orders my release
fom arrest MS 1t alleges in conse ecc Of the request OF
my brother, the Postmaster General Blair. and accompa
order Tor release with some structures uon the
breach of military propretics OF which II states have
been guilty; and states moreover that the Improperly
consists N using my ''fanly position lay private let
trs with unsustaned acc stons, before the President
disturbing the Presidents confidence in the commanding
Gene al and seriously imparng the efficiency OF the de-
feel myself constrained to say that have not, in my
oInion been guilty Of any act OF mproprey but have
pert r,ned my simple duty 10 the government In the
to which the letter lcers- which was moreover doie at
the instance Of the President himself and that am
wiling, under any circumstances 70 shield myself from
respons billy by the influence favor Of any individual
could not without utter disregard fpr my character as
officer and nteman permit the statement that had
made tanned accusations against the commanding
Of this department 10 pass without notice, and
therefore, soon as he charges can be made In form
shall transmit them ~ you, through the proper channel
t. be laid before tie pr'sden and II he shall consider
eypeiient to order martial, shall be prepared 10
sustain the accusations have made against the com.
mandiog General Of this department.
In the M an tine, as Bnd myself and my actions as
sailed in the public press Of this city which, under tho
military surveillance which exists IN this department,
cold hardly have allowed except by the Of
tho commaidi Genera ard rs my arrest and release,
without any charge preferred against me, has given tse
t. utatons upon my character officer dcmsnd
a urt Of inquiry TO alod me nm opportunity OF clear
iug myself i,om all stain in a mittcr which consider
vital TO the honor OF solder, and IN which believe
that have acted FIR the good oil the service alone. Re
spectfully, your obcdicnt servant
FRANK +. BLAIR JR.,
Colonel First regiment Missouri Light Artillery.
Upon this letter being made known to General FIRE.
mont the following order issued for the Colonels
Arrest
srEcIAL oRDER--No. 26s.
HEAD luARTERs WESTERN DEPARTMENT, I
Sr. LOUIS No., Sept 20, 1861.
Colonel F. P. Bair Jr., First Missouri Light Artillery
lay Jefferson Barracks and report himself in
Lieutenant Colonel s. Burbank Ihteenth infantry, com
mandiDg.
Ills limits will be those of the post Of Jefferson Bar
racks.
BY order Of Major General FREMONT
CnAuScEy McREEyEa, Assistant Adiutant General.
Immediately upon his rearrest Colonel Blair prepared
the following charges and specifications against General
Fremont and forwarded the same to Washington =
COLONEL BLAIR's CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL FIRE.
MONT.
Charges preferred by Frank +. Blair Jr Colonel d the
First regiment Of Missouri Volunteers, against Major
neral John G. Fremont Of the army q the United
sat.s, commanding in the Department Of the West
CHARGE 1-Negect of duty and unoicer like conduct.
SprtG atm )ln failing and neglect ting from the Sd
day Of July 1851 to repair 70 the city OF ST. Louis in the
State Of Missouri, the headquarters o the Western De-
partment and there enter upon TIE duties beongn TO
him the military chief Of said department 10 the
serious injury Of the public service thrn and the loyal
people tnercOf.
Sj1,Eeatun (2)--In failing and neglecting to inform
himself Of the wants and necessities Of the said Western
Department from the B.. day Of Jay, 1861, the 26th
day Of july 1861 10 the great detrnent Of the public
service and the injury OF tn. said depaY unent.
ecfeaiiom (3)-In failing and gectiug aiSo pro-
per measures 10 reinforce and Bgadier General
Nathaniel Lyon commanding part Of the army uf tho
United States. at Springfield, in The State Of Missouri
from the Sd day Of July 1851 to the 10Th day Of August
1861 the said post Of Springfield being Al the while in
immediate nril from the cncRy, whereby the OF
the uniteo.ates, al : near said Springfield. many
OF them sacrifice and the residue compelled to abandon
said post to the serious deriment th government OF
the United States, and the State OF Missouri and Tho peo
pie thereof.
ccGcaiion DIN failing and negectng u take pro-
per measures TO reinforce or succor MAJOR Dccken,
commanding part Of the army Of the United states at
Lexington the State Of Missouri from the 10Th day OF
August 1861 to the 1st day Of Septcmber 1861 the said
post at Lexington, being all the while IN imminent peril
from tho enemy whereby said post left the power
of an overwhelming foe and assacd by said foe and
preserved from destruction only by tho heroic vaor OF
the officers and OF tho post after they had been
grossly abandoned by the said Major General John G.
Fremont
Specification (5In failing and negectng to take pro-
per measures 10 reinforce and succor Colonel James A.
Mulgan commanding post of the army Of the United
States at Lexington in Lafayette county 10 tho state OF
Missouri from the 10th day Of September 1851 70 the
goth day OF September, 186ihe sail post at Lexington
being ali tho time in imminent peril from the enemy
whereby the suffered 70 assault the said post
and conquer and take the same 10 the great disgrace Of
the national arms and the detriment OF the service
Spec;fecfion i6)--In slnefing one Martin Green and
other guerrilla ehief Of the enemy to recruit army
Northeastern Missouri Of from 900 ~ 900 men, and to
overrun and ravage Northeastern Missouri from the
day August 1851 TO about the 10Th day Of September
1861 without taking proper measures to suppress the
bands said Martin Green and other grerras whereby
amount OF the property of the loyal inhabitants OF
said section of the state OF Missouri was wasted AMI do
stroycd: many OF said inhabitants were driven out Of
sad Northeastern Missouri by the enemy, and many
were compelled by the enemy to take oath Of al ao.