The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-17
-. That Can't. Willard Of the steam

IL. That Capt. Willard of the steam
boat sunshine, was sent by Col. Multi
gan from Lexington, OH or about the
10th of September, with dispatches to
Col. Davis commanding at Jefferson
City, and when at Glasgow was fred
upon by the armed enemies, and com
PEELED to land and transport the forces
of the enemy from the north to the
south side of the Missouri that Will
lard obtaining the dispatches from Mul
ligan to Davis, made his escape and
came without delay to St. Louis, and
repairing to headquarters, addressed a
note to Fremont reciting the above
facts, and stating that he had the dis
patches, but was refused hearing,
Fremont informing him that if he was
an officer of the army he could take
the train the next day for the city OF
Jefferson, with the dispatches to Col.
Davis, and if not an officer of the army
he could leave the dispatches there, and
call and see him (Fremont) OH the next
day; that by the refusal to see Captain
Willard, and receive the information
which he was prepared to give, the
public service was deeply injured that
the succor demanded in the dispatches
sent by Col. Mulligan, to Col. Davis
was not sent, that Col. Mulligan with
all his force at Lexington, in the State
of Missouri, were captured by the ene-
mics of the United States Government.
The second charge against Fremont
is Disobedience to ORDERS" Under
this head are three specifications =
1. That when ordered by the Secre-
tary of War, on boat the Sd day of
July, to proceed to St. Louis, he did
not comply, but in disregard thereof,
went to New York, and remained there
until about the SD of July.
2. That he issued the following pro-
clamation, and here follows the famous
proclamation which the President or
dered him to modify, but which it is
alleged
"The said Major General J. G. Ere
mont has ever since failed, neglected
and refused to do, in disobedience of
said order and in contempt of the au-
thority of the President of the United
States"
8. That after order of the President
had been promulgated, Fremont caused
to be printed and circulated, large
number of his proclamations, contrary
to the order and in contempt of the au-
thority of the President.
The third charge is Conduct un-
becoming an officer and a gentleman"
under which are four specifications.
1. In declaring to Oliver III. Filley
that he had suspended Edward Fl.
Castle, when in fact he had not.
2. In letting Leonidas Haskell con-
tract for purchasing 5000 mules, and
appointing him staff officer, to the
common scandal and serious detriment
of the service"
8. In encouraging officers and pri-
Yates in the army under his command
to write letters to newspapers in praise
of himself and in denunciation of all
who differ from him.
4. In not prohibiting officers and pri-
Yates of his command from meeting in
their camps, and passing resolutions
adulatory to himself and publishing
them contrary to army regulation 21O,
The fourth charge is "Gross extrav-
agance, waste mismanagement and
misapplication of the public money"
The specification is:
1. He has surrounded himself with
former dependents and hangers on from
California; has bestowed upon them
large contracts and jobs for supplies
for the army and for making fortified
tions and for other expensive and I'M
necessary works, without advertise
ment, bidding or competition, whereby
the Government Of the United States
has been despoiled, the soldiers delayed
in receiving their pay, and his own at
tention and time absorbed, so as to pre-
vent him from attending the great work
to which he was appraised by the Gov
eminent of the United States.
The fifth charge is "Despotic and
Tyrannical Conduct"
1. In this, that he issued an illegal
order on the day of September,
1861, forbidding officers of the army
from corresponding with officials of the
State and other governments, to the
end that his errors might not be ex-
posed, and his conduct controlled by
his superiors, whereby the Government
of the United States and the people
have sustained great detriment.
2. In this, that he ordered a public
journal in the city of st. Louis, State
of Missouri, called and known as the
Evening Neaos, to be suppressed, and
and its editor and proprietor to be ar
rested and imprisoned for a fair and
Just criticism upon his conduct, al
though he well knew that said news
paper had always given fair and 10y.
al support to the Government of the
United States, and its only crime was
in making public his errors of judg-
nent and incompetency to Command in
his Department.
have the honor to lay before the
President of the United States the
above charges and specifications
against Major John G. Ere
mont. commanding the Department of