Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-13


After Gen. Meigs limited the price to be paid
for oats at 30c, corn at 2oc and hay at xl7 so, a
contract was made with Baird & Palmer Pal
mer, Cook Co, of California notoriety,) at 80
cents for oats, 30 cents for corn and Sl9 for fay
amounting in the aggregate to 500 600.
Gen. Fremont, on his arrival at St. Louis, was
met by the aid of Gen. Lyon. accompanied by
Mai. Phelps, member OF Congress, asking for
reinforcements, which were not sent.
The Indebtedness of the Quartermaster's De
partment for Gen. Freniont's command is over
four millions and half. a
The disastrous condition Of things is attribu-
table to the "malign influences" of Californians,
with whom Gen Fremont became unfortunately
connected i'm mining operations, and who hurried
from the Pacific on learning that he was intrust
ed with a high military command. These i'll
omened men, some or all OF whom left a dark
record in California, seem to have obtained q
voluntary or constrained control of the Quarter
master and Commissary Departments of Gen.
Fremont's military district. The results and
consequences are fatal alike to the interests of
the country and the usefulness and reputation OF
the commanding General. They impeach either
his head or his heart, and so far as he is practic
ally concerned, il is not material which, for
whether wicked or a weak General he is unified
for so great trust. s.. ~
Now. are-these faults, grave as they are the
only ones to which he is ol,noxiousl The war is
being prosecuted by the army under his command
in way which recalls and deepens the horrors
of vandalism. Without conquering traitors he
is converting Union men into enemies. His line
of march is marked and memorized by spolia-
tons and ravages which disgrace an age of civil
ization. We have letter d,ted "Tipton, Mo-,
October H. from an intelligent. observant,
truthful friend, from which we take the follow
ing extract:
s'From Upton to Warsaw the march was one
continuous devastation, without the least regard
for principles or antecedents- One Union man,
who had kept FIVE sons from joining the secession
forces, had his place literally gutted, the of
Asboth's and Sigel's divisions killing on his farm
alone, forty sheep, three COWS, two steers, and
stealing eight horses The cavalry galloped over
praires lassoing mules and shooting oxen, sheep
and hogs, then rhucked them into their already
overloaded wagons There is scarcely feather
Ell biped left within FIVE miles either side of
Their march; not whole looking glass or an un-
rfied bureau or blanket that has not been seized.
For all this there is no excuse the army having
| an abundance of provisions and stores.
"The army has now reached Warsaw and can
advance no further. and never was intended to
advance further Price and his army are to day
more than seventy miles ahead ofours. Frem mt
does not expect, and never did expect to overtake
/ him.
- Let the ledSt ulSaSter napptu 10 US III lrOht,
and not man Will ever return to tell the story
for we shall have left behind as maddened. beg
CARED, furnishing. frenzied population, in which
those who were Union men ten days ago, are to-
| day our most bitter enemies"
| Such license adds horrors to the legitimate and
Unavoidable evils of Al army that leaves
such remmembrantes along its line of march will
be forever execratel. n
| 1t is sad to record these things of youthful
General. from whose career the country looked
for heroism tempered with humanity. But high
as our hopes were of General Fremont, we can
not afford, when-whether from fault or misfor-
tune-so much depends on the wisdom and in
tegrity of Generals to be deceived. l am, by the
force of evidence which cannot be resisted, con
strained to admit that he has signally failed to
discharge, with usefulness to the country, or cred
it to himself, the duties of his station.