The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-18

5000 mules, to be purchased by the said
Leonidas Haskell, who was a contractor of
the Government, appointing him, the said
Leonidas Haskell, to place on the staff of
him, the said Major General John y. Free
mont, to the common scandal and serious
detriment of the service. oif i-
Specification (3)-In countenancinp
and encouraging officers and privates OF the
army under his command to write letters to
public newspapers, in praise of himself and
in denunciation of all who differ from him.
Specification (4)-In suffering and coun.
tenancing, and not prohibiting, officers and
privates Of the army under bis command
from holding meetings in their camps, and
passing resolutions adulatory of himself, and
publishing the said resolutions, contrary to
army regulations 2l0, and ID contempt and
disregard thereof.
CHARGE 4-Gross extravaganza, waste,
mismanagement and misapplication OF the
public moneys.
Specification DIN this, that he has
surrounded himself with men of disreputa.
BILE character, his former dependents and
hangers. on from the State of California,
with whom he was connected in business,
and with whose character and reputation
for fraudulent dealings he was well acquain
ted, and has bestowed upon them large con-
tracts and jobs for supplies for the army
and for making notifications, and for other
expensive and unnecessary works, without
advertisement, bidding or competition,
whereby the Government of the United
States has been despoiled, the soldiers de.
layed in receiving their pay, and bis own
attention and time absorbed, so as to pres
vent him from attending to the great work
to which be was apprised by tue Govern
ment of the United States.
CHARGE 5.-Despotic and Tyrannical
Conduct.
Specification DIN this, that ne issued
an illegal order on the - day of Septem.
Der, 1861, forbiddipg the officers of the ar
my from corresponding with the officials of
the State and other governments, to the
end that bis errors might not be exposed,
and his conduct controlled by bis superiors,
whereby the Government of the United
States and the people have sustained great
detriment.
Specification (2)-In this, that he order
ed public Journal in the city of st. Louis,
State of Missouri, called and known as the
"Evening Nea0s," to be suppressed, and its
editor and proprietor to be arrested and i'm
prisoned for fair and just criticism upon his
conduct, although he we'll knew that said
newspaper had always given fair and loyal
support to the Government of the United
States, and its only crime was in making
public his errors of judgment and incompe
tency to command in this department.
have the honor to lay before the Pres
ident of the United States the above char
ges and specifications against Major Gen
eral John G. Fremont, commanding the
Department of the West, which are respect
fully submitted for the Presidents consider.
alton.
Respectfully,
[Signed] FRANKP. BLAIR, Jr.,
Colonel First Regiment Missouri Light
Artillery.
Accompanying the above charges was
the following letter from Col. f. P. Blair,
jr., to Brigadier General L Thomas
By1gadier General l.. Thomas, Adjutant Gener-
al of the United States Army, Washington,
ID. c.;
GENERAL: 1 have the honor to transmit
to you, through the proper channel, certain
charges and specifications duplicating the
official conduct of Major General John g..
Fremont, of the United States Army, CON-
manding the Western Department, and
beg that ycu will, without unnecessary delay,
lay them before the President of the Unit.
ed States for his consideration.
Respectfully,
[Signedl FRANK P. BLAIR, Jr.
Col. First Regiment Mo. Light Artillery.
St. Louis, Sept 26, 1861.