The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-30
THURLOW WEED ON GEN. FREMONT.
Editorial Correspondence Of the Albany Evening Journa

found on board the prize.
THURLOw WEED ON GEN. FREMONT.
Editorial Correspondence OF the Albany Evening Journa
WASHINGTON, Oct 26, 1861.
Since II cannot be concealed denied that General
Fremonts conduct in Missouri has been the subject Of
Official inquiry, and Is the occasion Of executive vitu
peration and Of popular solcitude have made my bu
siness TO Obtain from various but reliable sources
formation from which the people, rs jurors, safely
render verdict.
On coming Is I have to conclusion unfavorable to
General fremont, IT Is scarcely neediut to say that had
In doing So TO "conquer" many prejudices." My re!a
tions with General Fremont have been intimate and
pleasant believed him eminentiy upright and patriotic
I thought him well fitted for the high command with
which he was invested aud he went forth with my heart
felt aspirations that he would render good service
country ana Win glory to himself
Passing much that might be said, immgning the
and taste q Genera Fremn ut, and combining myself to
cusations undeuabiy true submit to the readers of the
Journal some facts which viii show thom how lamenta
bly, favored General disapponts the popular expecta
Wons-
When Gen. Fremont reached St. Louis no took as his
headquarters house for which the government paying
He surrounded himself with numerous staff none Of
whom were residents of Missouri; organizing, snua-
neousiy body guard consisting of nearly three hundred
horsencn through which access TO the chief Is difficult
cs the approach TO monarch IN the darkest ages OF dos
potism.
dow Of authority more than fifty officers with tho rank
Of colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, &c. Col
Andrews the United States Paynaster, required
pay these officers and upon his refusal to do so
threatened with imprisonment. He also directed to
make an Illegal transfer Of 500 900.
The officers belonging to Gen. Fremonts staff into
rested In army contracts. Capt. Haskal, aid, is
partner Of Col Degraf in mule hay and other
Captain Turnly United States Commssary,
derod receive and pay exorbitant prices inferior
mules from Captain Haska and upon protesting against
this wrong ordered away from the post by General
Captain e NJ Davis, OF General Fremont's staff, ro-
ceiyed contract for blankets which, delivery, proved
rotten and worthless and though condemned, paid
Tor and sent to tho hospitals.
The muskcts purchased by General Fremont in France
After General Megs limited the price paid for
oats at &c., corn at 2sc and hay At ST. So contract
California notoriety) 33c for OATS 3oc for corn and
$l9 for hay, amounting IN the aggregate TO $1,000
General Fremont en- his arrival at st. Louis, met
by the AID OF General Lyon, accompanied by Major
Phelps, M c. asking for reinorcements, which not
The indebtedness Of the Quartermasters Department
half
1he disastrous condition OF things ia attributable 10
Fremont became unfortunately connected in mining ope
,rations and who hurried from the Pacific on learn.
ing that he intrusted with high military command
These III omcned men, some or all Of whom left dark
record In Ca fornia seem to have obtained either voun
tary constrained control Of the Quartermaster and
sCommssary Departments Of General Frcmonts military
district The results and consequences fatal alike
the interests Of the country and the usefulness and repu
tation Of the commanding general They impeacn either
his head or his heart and far az he is practically
weak general, he is untitled for great trust.
Nor these faulte, grave they are, the only
70 which he Is obnoxious The war being prosecuted
by the army under his command in way which recalls
and deepens the horrors Of vandalism without conquer
ing traitors, he converting Union men into enemies
lions and ravags which disgrace an age Of civilization
We have letter dated "Tipton Mo-, October H. from
an Intelligent obscrvant truthful friend from which
take the following extract
"From Upton to Warsaw the march was one contnu-
devastation without the least regard for principles
or antecedents One Union man. who had kept 1--WE
from joining the secession forces had his place literally
.sEuted the Of Asboths and Segels divisions killing
and stealing eight horses The cavalry gaoped over
prairies lassong mules and shooting oxen. sheep and
hogs then chucked them into their already overloaded
wagons. There Is scarcely eathered bped loft within
i've miles on either side Of their march, not whole
looking glass unraed bureau blanket that has
not been seized. For all this there Is excuse the
army having an abundance OF provisions and stores.
"The army has now reached Warsaw and can advance
further never was intended to advance further
Price and his army are to-day than seventy miles
ahead Of ours Fremont does not expect and did
expect 10 overtake him.
"Let the least disaster happen in front and not
aman will ever return to tell the story-for shall
have left behind maddened, beggared famishing,
Srenzied population In which the who Union
ten days ago, are to-day our mos. bitter enemies
Such license adds horrors to the legitimate and
v0idable evils OF war. An army that leaves such re.
membranes along It's line of march will be forever
execratea.
it's sad to record these things Of youthful general
from whose career the country looked for herom tenn.
pcred with humanity. But high hopes Were &c
General Fremont, cannot afford when-wbether from
fault mstortune-so much depends the wisdom and
integrity Of generals, to be deceived by the force
evidence which be resisted constrained to adj
nit that he has sgnally failed discharge with usef
the country credit to himself the duties
station
would gladly turn from this painful theme wore II
permitted, TO more cheerful one Isn't oppressed
by fresh calamity The battle Of Balls Bluff ike that
at Bull rnn, defeat and biundcr The defeat
where two thousand troops with ai the conditions and
surroundings against them, engaged four thousand,
unavoidable OF the biunGer will mol speak, because
do not yet know who respons hle it, To those who
were In the battle whether they survive sleep their
last sleep" nothing but honor and gratitude il due.
/ was with the President last evening when the brother,
and nephew Of the late Genera. Baker, who were with
person and crimsoncd consecraed By his blood
Though the blood partially ciaces the order enough is
legibe vadcae his memory. IL is sufficient to say
that the orders were clear and explicit, and that they
gaianuy generously and literally obeyed. General
Baker with inadequate II transor alton went to
the Of six hundred Spartaps who engaged
with enemy four thousand strong
From New orleans and Sata Rosa we have intelligence
cheering character The beaggart Rollins, whose
only exploit in burning defenceess Greytown pub.
ished lying despatch His pretended victory over our
blockadng squadron poor. cheap fasehood. So,
in regard the attack upon Colonel Wilson'S Zouaves
near Fort ickens This pretended victory was posi-
tive defeat
or the naval expedition am not 1T liberty TO speak.
We have an immense, reasonably well equipped, and
highly disciplined army stretching along the line Of the
Potomac river. 1t cannot remain long inactive Let
nope that future successes may retrieve past disasters
THE SEVENTY-NINTH UTGHLANDERS
TO THE EDTrOR OF TIE HERALD.