Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-06


Pope did not move for lack Of transportation
and stores. But Sigel, with characteristic en-
ergy, collected all the oxen he could find, and
followed by Asboth, without any food, except
fresh beef set out for Warsaw The General
with small column ofpicked troops, consisting
Of the Body Guard, Benton Cadets, and bat,
TALON Of Sharp-shooteTs, accompanied Asboth.
Had the army been able to move from Upton
four days earlier, Price would have been over
taken North of the Usage. He was eleven days
in crossing the river at Papinsville, and did not
complete the passage until the 18th, the day
Fremont left Upton. A march Of sixty-three
miles was made in three days, and on Wednes-
day, Oct IL, Gen. Fremont entered Warsaw,
which had been occupied by Sigel the evening
before.
The Usage presented formidable obstacle
The river is eight hundred feet wide, with a
rapid current and bold banks. There is diff :
cult ford, and never practicable for ything but
horsemen, and the ferry was crazy aatboat,
drawn across by hand, with stout cable to the
top Of each bank up which it was almost inn
possible for the best mule team to drag loaded
wagon. In the night the river rose, and two of
the Fremont Hussars were drowned in crossing
the ford. A bridge was needed. There was
neither saw mill nor lumber, nor tools, but a
forest stood ON the banks Of the stream. Under
the energetic direction Of Capt. Pixie, and ami
mated by the enthusiasm Of their General, the
troops laid aside their arms, cut down the forest,
fashioned the trees with their axes, and in FIVE
days a substantial bridge was built, sixteen feet
wide and ten feet above the water, over which
the whole army, with its trains, might pass in
twenty-four hours. ~ -.... r...-...
Impatient of the delay, the General crossed
the river before the completion of the bridge,
and still preceded by the indefatigable Sigel,
pushed forward toward Springfield. Near Quin-
cy, Lane and Sturgis came up, having made a
march of $50 miles in ten days, and at Bolivar
Wyman reported his command from Rolla, by
way of Linn Creek having defeated the enemy
in a series Of engagements. The triumph of the
Body Guard at Springfield inspired the troops
and accelerated their march. Sigel occupied
Springfield Sunday morning, Oct 26, and in the
afternoon Gen. Fremont entered the town, hav-
ing brought his little body of cavalry and IN
fantry thirty miles that day. At this time Ere.
mont had al Springfield Sigel's division, anc
the troops which accompanied headquarters
altogether about six thousand men, Asboth
was two days march in the rear; Pope, near
Quincy, sixty miles distant; McKinstry, on the
Pomme de Tene, seventy miles behind, and
Hunter-nO one knew where that officer was,
having failed to report himself for several days
Price and McCulloch, with about 10000 men and
"a pieces Of artillery, wereat Neosho. Hearing
how small the Union force at Springfield was,
they advanced to cut it of. This fact is now
denied but it rests Upon the united testimony
of scouts deserters, and the country people who
fed at the approach of the Rebels, and these
reports are sustained by the probabilities of the
case. Prices men were enlisted for six months
they had had severe campaign and were
destitute of clothing and poorly fed. The long
retreat from Lexington had discouraged them,
and many were deserting, being unwilling to be
driven away from their homes into Arkansas or
f1Awa LI.1 L.. -. r ! u /. L a
most OF his followers would have abandoned
him, He had no resource but to fight, and Nc
Culloch was urging him TO attack Fremont. 1t
IS not strange, therefore, that he snapped at the
bait which fremont adroitly presented to him.
1t is admitted on all sides that he advanced to
Cassville, movement which can be explained
only by supposing that he intended to give bat
tie. Whether as is asserted, he came ip as far
as Wilson's Creek we leave for further informa-
ton to decide The confusion which exists up
on the subject of Prices advance, may be ex-
planned by the circumstance, that as soon as he
heard that the Union Te-enforcements had arri-
we'd, he fell back, and therefore when Hunter re-
connoitered to the South of Springfield he did
not tind the enemy. ''
On Tuesday, Oct. %, Asboth brought his di-
vision into Springfield. On Thursday, McKh !
stry arrived, having marched 20 miles in three
days, and on Saturday and Sunday Popes di-
Nlslon came IN On saturday the order SUPER
ceeding the General was placed in his hands,
and the command was Immediately transferred
to Gen. Hunter, but, that officer not coming up
at the earnest request of the army, and owing to
the threatening attitude of the foe Gen. FIRE.
montre-assumed the command and decided To
advance against the enemy on Monday, Nov. a.
On Sunday evening the division and brigade
commanders received their orders The army
was to advance in the following order: Sigel on
fl,a rsrrl,f Aal,r IL. La W.
had the finest division in the army in the CEN
tire, while Pope was to form the reserve. Gen
Fremont intended to accompany McKinstry.-
This arrangement did not include Hunter that
officer not having been heard from The at
tacking column consisted of 81, 900 men with 20
pieces of artillery. The rebel force numbered
$4,000 men, with "a guns. 1t would have made
little difference which course Price and Nc
Culloch might have taken. If they had re-
treated, vigorous pursuit, such as Fremont
with his large cavalry and artillery force could
have made, would have compelled the rebels TO
abandon their train and dsorganize their army
If they had given battle, the Union arms would
without doubt have achieved the first consider
able victory Of the war. Price disposed of, the
road lay open to the capital of Arkansas. The
fine weather which had previously favored him
has continued, and by the last of this week
Fremont might have completely turned the en-.
=
phis, and our troops upon the river might bC
pressing after the retreating columns of Pillow
Hardee and Thompson .'i- Haai
The bold enterprise of Fremont in CARRYING
his right wing into the southwestern part o.
Missouri and approaching Memphis from The
west now appears to have been not only prac.
tcable, but easy of accomplishment. The ar
my has made a retreat to st. Louis quite as diff
hcult as such an advance would have been A
retreat which we must regard as a severe blow
to our cause. A third Of Missouri is abandoned
to the enemy. A beautiful and fertile region il
given up to the inroads of a merciless horde
The hatred which vindictive civil war has en-.
gendered, will expand itself upon those pleasant
homes, and the loyal people who came forth
with banners 70 greet the approach of our troops
confdept that no defeat could turn back that
proud and powerful army, are now flying panic
stricken after our retreating soldiers T6ernor-
titieation which fills the ranks of our soldiers
in being compelled to turn their faces away
from the foe is felt throughout the country, and
the distress which atiiic,s our brethren in Wss-
tern Missouri, falls heavily upon the natfo, 3
heart e1ra-rIra e.if.bstiih TX. rr,9'
Hnlh 4s--s,+s----------sA $780, a (
THE NEUTRkLITEo or HoLGAEb. - Notices
have been issued 10 the Dutch West India