The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08
FREMoNT's CASE.
OMcial Report Of Adjutant
General Thomas.
The Charges Against General Fremont.

The Charges Against General Fremont.
CONDITION OF THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
The following official report of Adjutant
General Thomas, prepared at the request of
Secretary Cameron, sets forth the charges
against General Fremont in full:
HARRISBURG, Pa, Oct. 10, 1861.
General when did myself the honor
to ask you to accompany me on my western
tour, it was with view of availing myself
of your experience as Adjutant General of
the army. Finding that the result of my
investigation might las l at first appre-
hended) have an important effect, not only
upon the army of the West, but upon the
interests of the whole country, requested
you to take full notes upon all points con.
nected with the object of my visit. AS you
inform me that you have carefully complied
with my wish, now respectfully request
you to submit your report as early as prac.
ticable, in order that the President may be
correctly advised as to the administration
| of affairs connected with the army of the
West.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
| SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
Brigadier General L.Thomas, Adjutant General
| U. S. Army.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 81, 1861.
SIR: l have the honor to submit the re-
port requested in your letter of the 10Th
instant
We arrived at ST. Louis, as you are
aware, at 21a A. NJ, October IL. After
breakfast rode to Benton Barracks, above
the city. On the street leading to the camp
passed small field work in course of con-
struction. Found the camp OF great extent,
with extensive quarters, constructed of
rough boards. Much has been said of the
large sums expended in their erection; but
some one mentioned that Gen. Mckinstry,
principal Quartermaster, who made the dis
bursements, gave the cost at $4,000. If
| so, it was judcious. The total cost should
| be ascertained. General Curtis was in com.
mand. Force present, l40 officers, 1888
men, principally detachments, except the
First Iowa Cavalry-34 officers, 9O4 men
having horses, but without equipments.
General Curtis said of General Fremont
that be found no difficulty in getting access
to him, and when he presented business con-.
| nected with his command it was attended
to. General Fremont, however, never con.
suited him on military affairs, nor informed
him of his plans. General Curtis remarked
that while he would 60 with freedom to
General Scott and express his opinions, he
would not dare to do so to General Free
mont. He deemed General Fremont une,
quail to the command of an army, and said
that he was no more bound by law than by
the Winds He considered him to be une.
quail to the command of the army in Mis-.
souri,.
After dinner, rode to the arsenal, below
the city Captain Calender in charge.
Garrison, for its protection, under Major
Granger, Third Cavalry. But very few
arms on hand; number of heavy guns de-
signed for gunboats or mortar boats. The
Captain is engaged in making ammunition.
he said he had heard that some person had
a contract for making cartridges for these
guns; that if so, he knew nothing of it, and
that it was entirely irregular, he being the
proper officer to attend to such work. This,
10 my opinion, requires investigation. He
expected soon to receive funds, and desired
them for current purposes; was fearful, how
ever, that they might be diverted to other
payments.
Visited a large hospital not far distant
from the arsenal in charge of Assistant
Surgeon Bailey, United States army. 1t
was filed with patients, mostly doing well.
Hospital in fine order, and q credit to the
service. The doctor had an efficient corps
of assistants from the volunteer service, and
in addition plumber of Sisters of Charity
! as nurses. God bless these pure and disin..
| terested women
Colonel Andrews, Chief Paymaster, called
on me and represented irregularities in the
Pay Department, and desired instructions
from the Secretary for his government, sta.
ting that he was required to make pay
ments and transfers of money contrary to
law and regulations. Once, Directing to
what he conceived an improper payment, he
was threatened with confinement by file
of soldiers. He exhibited an order for the
transfer of 100000 to the Quartermaster's
Department, which was irregular. Exhib~
tied abstract of payments by one paymast.
er major Flzer) to forty.two persons ap>
pointed by General Fremont, viz: one
colonel, three majors, nine captains, fifteen
first lieutenants, eleven second lieutenants,
one surgeon, three assistant surgeons; total,
forty two. Nineteen of these have appoint
ments as engineers, and are entitled to cav
airy pay. (See exhibit annexed, No. l.
A second abstract of payments was fur.
nlshed. but not vouched for as reliable, as
the paymaster was sick. 1t is only given
to show the excess of officers of rank ap.
pointed to the major generals body guard
Of only three hundred men, the commander
being colonel, &c. (See exhibit No. 2.)
The whole rumber of irregular appoint
ments made by General Fremont was said
by Colonel Andrews to be nearly two hum
dred. The following is q copy of one of
these appointments
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT..
ST. LOUIS, August %, 1851.
Sir: You are hereby appointed Captain of
Cavalry, to be employed in the Land Trans.
portation Department, and will report for duty
at these headquarters.