Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-11-08
THE CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL
FREMONT.

"" give summary OF THESE charges. We
are in doubt whether they will turn out most
to the advantage or the disadvantage Of the
General II there is an officer in the Gov
erment, in like circumstances, against whom
such charges cannot be manufactured with
somblance Of cause, we shall be glad of it.
Our guess is that there will be something 10
be said ON the other side, as to everything
touching the integrity Of Fremont lie may
have been deceived by those in whom he CON
fded be may be the victim Of persons and
circumstances beyond his control but we do
not believe he has Intentionally abused the
confidence reposed in him. The opinion Of
his subordinate officers, as to his competency
asa commander, strikes us as being rather
amusing. Perhaps he will prefer to be tried
10y his peers.
THE REPORT or GEN. THOMAS ON
FREMONT.
Allusion has been made 10 a report bv Adj
Jutant General Thomas, who accompanied Sec
rotary Cameron 90 ST. Louis on the manage
ment OF the military department Of the West
by Gen Fremont The important points Of
the document, which is a very lengthy one.
GEN. FREMoNT Win ms oFFtcERs.
Con. Curtis said of Gen. Fremont that he
found no difficulty ia getting access to him.
and when he presented business connected
with bis command it was attended to. Gen.
Fremont never consulted him on Military az
fairs, nor informed him Of his plans. Gen
Curtis remarked that while he would 60 with
freedom % Gen. Scott and express his opn-
IONS, be would not dare TO do so TO Gen. Ere.
mont. lie deemed Gen Fremont unequal TO
the command Of an army, and said he was no
more bound by law than by the winds He
considered h,m 20 be unequal TO the command
of the army 100 Missouri
lS rHE rAYMAsrEE's DEPARTMENT.
Col. Andrews, Chief Paymaster called on
ma says Gen Thomas and represented rrep-
uiauues in the pay department, and desired
instructions from the Secretary for his gov
eminent. stating that he was required to make
payments and transfers of money contrary TO
law and regulations. Oace Directing TO what
be conceived IA improper payment, he was
threatened with confinement by a file Of sol
d,ers. lie exhibited an order for the trans
fer Of 100000 to the Quartermaster's de-
partment. which was irregular
AprotNrMENr oF OFFICERS BY FREMONT.
Col Andrews exhibited an abstract Of paw
ments by one paymaster, Major Felizer, to ~
persons appointed by Cen Fremont, viz;
colonel majors, 9 captains, 5 first lieutcn-
ants, surgeon, 3 assistant surgeons-total
~ Nineteen otthese have appointments as
engineers aud are entitled To cavalry pay. A
second abstract Of payments was furnished.
hut not vouched for as reliable. as the pay-
master was sick. It is only given TO show
the excess Of officers Of rank appointed to the
Major Generals body guard Of only 800 men.
the commander being a colonel, &c The
whole lumber Of irregular appointments made
by Gen Fremont was said by Col Andrews
20 be nearly 200. Among the appointments
was one given to an individual on Gen FIRE.
mont's staff as director Of music. with the
rank and commission Of captain OF engineers
Tins person was musician in a theatre in 81.
Louis
IRREGULARITIES Al ST. LOUIS.
Major Allen. principal quartermaster, had
recently taken charge at ST, Louis, but repor-
ted great irregularities in this department,
and requested special instructions. This he
deemed Important. orders were communi-
Gated boy variety of persons, in an irregular
manner Oh requiring disbursements OF money
These orders were frequently given verbally.
II was sending. under Gen. Fremonts or
ders. large amounts Of forage from St. Louis
60 lhe army at Upton, where corn was abund- I
ant nd cheap The distance was 90 miles
II stated the Indebtedness Of the quartermas-
ter's department at St. Louis to be 81 500 |
30937
AMY CONTRACTS.
IL is the expressed belief of many intelli .
gent gentlemen in ST Louis that General
Fremont has around him, and in his staff
persons directly and Immediately concerned .
in furnishing supplies. BY directions of
General Meigs advertisements were publish
ed for proposal to furnish grain aud hay. aud
contracts were subsequently made for specific
sums-2s cents per bushe for corn, 80 cents
for oats, and Sl775 per ton for hay In the
face of this, another party in st, Louis.
Baird. or Baird 81 Palmer, Palmer being OF
the old firm In California, Palmer, Cook 4
Co., Gen. Fremonts agents in that State,
were directed to send TO Jefferson City, where
hay and corn abound, as fast AS possible
100 900 bushels Of oats. with a correspond
ing amount of hay, at SO cents per bushe
for the grain and $40 per ton for hay.
Capt. Edward NJ Davis. member of his
staff, received contract by direct order Of
Gen. Fremont for blankets They were ex-
amined by a board of army officers, consisting
OF Capt. Hendershott's 4th artillery: Capt
Harris, commssary Of subsistence, and Capt.
TURNKEY, assistant quartermaster, The blank
cts we're found to be made mostly Of cotton,
and to be rotten and worthless. Notwitl-
standing this decision, they were purchased
aud given to the sick and wounded soldiers
in the hospital.
EXTRAYAGANcE.
Among the supplies sent by Gen. Ere
mont to the army now in the field may he
enumerated five hundred halfbarrels. to carry
water. in country where water is abundant,
and five hundred tons Of ice.
We examined the barracks in course of con-
struction in ST. Louis, near and around
the priv te house occupied by him as quar-
ters-the Brant House-which, by-the-by, is
rented for $4,000 per annum. These barracks
have brick foundations and brick outer walls.
weather boarded and are sufficient quarters
and stables for 1000 men.
A poutoon bridge has been erected across
the Ohio river by Gen. Fremont, at Paducah.
A ferry boat, in region where such boats
are readily procured. would be just as eff
cient and much less expensive.