Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-10-11
Col. Bioir's Letter,
St. Louis, Sept. l, IS

about our affairs here by Judge Gamble.
and | am more and more convinced ct the
view / stated to you IN that letter. Al
airs are becoming quite alarming in the
northern part ot..tbe State as wei .tas il the
South. Men coming here to give inform
alton are not allowed 20 approach Fremont
aud go away in disgust.
| have felt it my duty to tell him what
they say, and lie throws himself besimd
the reports OF his officers who are trying
to preyarcate and shield themselves trcm
neglect Of duty; and he still ciings to
them and refuses to see fer himself. |
told lnm he would not escape Responsible
ty in that way. uud he would soon fud an
army of rebels 10000 stroug Gil biz hands
in North Missouri, threatening st. Louis
aad occupying the forces he desred to Use
against McCuIIoch anu Pillow He talks
o. the rigor be is going to use, but l can
see none Of it, and fear it will turn out
to be some rash and inconsiderate move,
adopted in haste to MAKE head against a
toi nida BILE force which could not have ac-
cumulated except through gross and mex
cusablc negligence. Oh, for an hour o.
our dead Lyon. Many have been dispos-
ed to blame Fremont for not sending rein
forcements to Lyon, and thus ayerting the
calamity brought on BY bis death, and the
abandonment Of Springfield by his con-
mand. 1t is certaia that it lie had sent
| the regiments to Lyon that he took to CAT
no, when it was supposed Cairo was threat
ened. Lyon would have driven McCuIl oh
from the State | cannot say whether the
attack was seriously contemplated on Cal
re at that time or not, bat am disposed
to believe that the movements Of McCul-
| och aud Pillow were intended to be stimuli
taneous and cooperate but Lyon should
! have had some part OF the rein.0rcements
at any rate, and if be had received two
regiments, his victory would have been
complete | undert&k to say. thar if
Fremont acted on them as he does now,
| was away and cannot speak on that
head } he could not have informed himscls
very accurately of tie necessities Of his
position. The event shows that no at
tack was made on Cairo, and it was prob
ably averted by the reinforcements sent
If the same, or one-kalf of the regiments,
| had been sent to Lyon, We should have had
equally satisfactory rcsults.
| The views | have given Of this matter
are last becoming public opinion here. and
think the Government should know it
Probably you have information flat will
safi-fy you that Fremont was not to blame
Il so, the people here should know 1t also.
in order th II thy c,1il.lae OF the
people should not he withheld from the
commanding General could not think.
when first returned here, that any part OF
the blame could rest with him, but niy eb-
scrvations since have shaken my faith to
tie worry foundation.
There is one point which | did not refer
to in my letter, and which / intended to
remark or. and thai Is, the utter want OF
discipline in the camps around and abour
It. Louis 1t is a rehea: sal of the state
O. affgirs il Wash'n yton before the fight
at Manassas, and will, | am apprehensive
conduce to similar results. brought
these matters to Fremont attention, but
he pat it aside by saying it would rot do
TO be too exacting at once Our enemies
discipline to our troops. aud keep them
ut OF the whisky shops | know that
you and are In some SORT responsible for
Fremont 5 anpoirtment. aud for his being
placed in command Of tins Department,
and therefore feel another aud an addi
tional motive to speak out openly about
:! csc matters.
Il I.,i -, 4 II I
relieved o bis command and q man Of
ability Put in his place The sooner it is
done the better | have given YOU my
opinion and the or uads tur It, If the
Gaycrlimeut knows more of his plans than
know you sat.fed with them,
then YOU can burn this paper and say thar
| am an alarlnjst-ynu know however tia
| am not. No man has been more hopefu Vi
# confdant than have been up to with
IN lew days past. | felt satisfied
on my return here that affairs were criti-
Cal, but that the success aud elati, of the !
enemy could be turned to good account if |
the proper steps wee promptly TAKEN
Trey have not been taken. and either the |
government has failed t. support Fremont
90 otlDuitt AVE bGtii- u tt as tailGG 10 /
appropriate tie means at his disposal, Al |
Iairs are worse than they were two weeks /
ago and getting worse every dav. Seces-
sion increasine-Uuion men driven on
and the Gen, fear. inca pahle OF compre-
bending his position. HIS recent procla-
nation is the best thing of the kind that
has been issued, but should have been is
sued when he first came, when he had the
means to enforce it. and the enemy no pow
er to retalIate. Now tney a.e substan-
tally enforcing against US the substance of
the proclamation outside Of st. louis and
our garrison. and bis proclamation, fear,
an lnp0tent attempt at retaliation
| want you to Law these things to your
heart, and get ready TO apply the remedy
before it is too late.
| will write you again very soon.
hope | may have better news to give YOU.
shall be but too happy if anything occurs
to restore my confidence in Fremont.
am well-better than | have been for
,ight months Yours. af'v.
ISigaedl FRANK P BLAIR.
Great Indignation is felt that Washing
on correspondents should Larp On FRI
nort's yes,evsl