Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-10
The Blair and Fremont Difficulty.

The arrest of Colonel Frank =. Blair Jr ,
which mentioned in a previous letter, may
involve General Fremont in more serious dill
cultes than at first imagined. The Blair
,amily is a powerful one to contend with.
and whoever has heretofore attempted to
defeat any of their plans has come out second
best. But in this instance, | opine, though
on no personal grounds, that Colonel Blair
will find Fremont a match for him The
General might not prove the upper dog in
the fight We're it not that he is sustained by
nearly all the people in the Northwest. Even
the St. Louis Democrat, paper started by
Colonel Blair's money, aud carried on for a
long time 10y his brain and patronage, has
cspoused the cause Of Fremont, ana boldly
rebukes Blair for his tctneri;y in mcllHug
with his superior officers affairs,
The difficulty between Col Blair and G en-.
Fremont has no connection with the procia-
nation Of the latter. ! think Colonel Blair
is qnie as strong in his anti-slayery opinions
as Fremont, and regards the proclamation as
the best thing that could have been done in
Missouri, considering the ungod'y and un
principled vretches the Union troops have
to deal with Colonel Blair further declares.
10y card in the morning papers, that his
charges against the commanding General are
not oh personal grounds lie says every ia
vor he has asked has been granted for him
self lie then intimates that he his a more
serious cause OF complaint which will be
made known in due season. A personal
friend Of Colouel Blair tells me the true
cause of the difficulty is this: On assuming
the duties connected with the Weston De
partment, General Fremont was importuued
and implored to send relnforcemeuts to Gen.
| so, ia tl,o -. H., ,r,n,;sal tba+
it should he done, but neglected to do it,
Then, Il special messenger came from Lyon,
bearing the following dispatch to the Major
Geueral "For Gods sake send me reinforce
ments speedily, or am lost" Fremont prom
ised the messenger that on the following day
5000 men should be sent to Lyon. lie was
also further assured that this would be done,
by Colonel Woods, the Private Secretary -
The messenger departed and reported to Gen,
Lyon the ans Ner he had received from Ere
MOTT. Being thus assured. Lyon changed
his plan of evacuatng Springfield aud re-
mained day after day, week after week. wait
ing the reiutorcemeLts, which did not come
Not more than three or four days from the
departure of the messenger to Lyon-nn eX-
pedltiOn of nearly 5000 men, under Fremont,
went down the river to Cairo. These GOnO
men were landed and remained there doing
nothing-just as the rebels wished might be
the case-until Lyon had been sacrificed and
his gallant followers obliged TO retrest to
Rolla. This, says Col. Blair, is the gravest
charge he has TO make against General Free
mont Upon him CEREMONY rests the blood
of Lyon, for 10y either his ignorauceas to the
enemy's designs or through wiliful deter
minaton not to reinforce Lyon, he suffered
him to be slain and the Union cause to suffer
Col Blair also charges Gen. Fremont with
entire inei,iciency, or a want of efficiency
where it Is most needed These are grave
charges, and have some doubts whether
they can be sustained. We shah know when
BInirs trial 10y Court Martial takes place
'rhe Count Martial will necessarily be order
ed hy the President as Gen. Fremont is the
person preferrng and prosecuting the charge
against Col Blair The President and Cab
met have had the matter under consideration
for several days. Iti4 thought Court Mar
tial will be called next week: Col. Blair in
the meantime has the liberty Of the CITY,
| S. LOltis cor Union, Sent 20.