Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-11-13

miles distant, to review Ueu- ihcNiois'ei
division, about 5000 strong THIS BODY OF
troops is said to be the best equipped aud the
best supplied of the whole army. They GER
tainly are, as far as means o. transportation
are concerned
At Upton, beside Gen Fremont and staff.
his body guard, &c l found part OF Gen.
Hunters First Division and Gen Asboth
Fourth DiAision.
The force designed to act against Price con-
sists of Eve divisions. as follows:
First Division Hunters ct Upton 3 9.IoG
Second ;, Pope's at Georgetown 9.220
Fourth ;, Sigers at Sedala 1851
Fifth :, Asboth's at Upton 6.4ol
Sixth ;. McKinistry's at Syracuse 5.3lo
Total 50 7S9
As soon l obtained view of the several en-
campments at Upton, Iexpressed the opinion
that the forces there assembled could not be
moved. as scarcely any means of traDsporta
ton were visible | saw Gen. Hunter. second
in command and conversed freely with him.
He stated that there was great confusion, and
that Gen. Fremont was utterly incompetent !;
that hi. own division was greatly scattered,
and the force there present defective in many
respects that he himself required 100 wagons,
but that he was under orders to march that
day. ard some of his troops were already
drawn out on the road. His cavalry regiment
Elis's) had horses and Indifferent arms but
no equipments, The men had to carry their
cartridges in their vest pockets-consequen
Oh their FIST days march from Jefferson City,
in a heavy rain, the cartridges were destroyed.
The march to Upton (35 miles) was made on
q mud road, heavy aud niry with rains, aud
parallel with the railroad, and but a short
distance from it. The troops were directed
BY Gen Fremont to march withour provis-
ions or knapsacks and without transportation.
4 violent rain-storm came up, and the troops
were exposed to it all night; were without
food twenty. hours; ard when food was re-
ceived, tie beef as found to be spoiled
General Hunter stated to me that he bad
jus received report from Que his Colonels
inflrming him that but twenty out of hun
dred of his guns would 60 off. These were
the guns procured by Fremont in Europe. l
will here state that General Sherman. at
Louisville made to me simiia, complaint of
the great inferiority fthese European arms
He had given the men orders to file down
the nipples. La conversation with Col. Swords
Assistant Quartermastet General at Louisville
lust from California, he'stated that Mr.. Selo-
.
wrote to some friend 10 San Francisco that
his share of the profits of the purchase of these
arms was $50, 900.
When Gen. Hunter received, at Jefferson
CITY, orders to msrch to Upton. he was dir
ected to take Al wagons with him when be
had only 40 mules, which fact had been duly
reported at headquarters. At this time, Col.
Stevesou, of the Seventh Missouri Regiment
~
taken from him, leaving him. when under
marching orders with only one Regiment at
Jefferson City fit to take the field.
Gen. Hunter also showed me orders for
marchius 10 D0rocks Ferry, dated at Upton
October 10, which be did not receive until
the 18th. exhibit No. 10) He also show
ed me bis reply. proving that it was imposs-
ible for him to comply with the order tc
march Exhibit No. ID This order was
changed to one requiring him tc make a
single days march. Exhibit No. 12)
When Fen Pope received his order tc
march at Georgetown. twenty-five miles dis
tant he wrote letter back to Gen. Hunter
which read. It set forth the utter imposs.
ibility of his moving for the want of transpor-
tatian and supplies and asked whether Gen
Fremont conld of meant what he had written.
All of the foregoing facts go to show the
want of military foresight on the part OF Gen.
Fremont in directing the necessary means for
putting into. and maintaining in, the field
the forces under his command.
Gen Hunter stated that although the sec
ond in command, he never was consultad by
Gen Fremont, and never knew ANYTHING OF
his intentions. Such parellel will venture
70 assert, cannot be found in the annals of
Of military warfare. have also oeen inform-
ed that there is uot Missouriau on his staff
not a man acquainted personally with the
topography and physical characteristics of the
country or its people
The failure of Gen. Fremont to reinforce
Gen Lyon demands notice. Gen Fremont
srrived at st Louis on the Goth of July cal
led from New York by t.legraphic dispatch
stating that Gen LYON was threatened with
destruction by 80 600 rebels At this time
Gen. Pope had nine regiments in North Mis-
souri,. where the rebels had no embodied force
The Confederate forces in the State were those
under Price and Mccullough. near Spring
field Southwest Missouri. ani those under
Pillow, jeff Thompson, and Hardee. in South
east Missouri. Two regiments held Rolla.
near the terminus OF the Southwestern branch
OF the Pacific Railroad. while Jefferson CITY.
bonneville. Lexington am Kansas City had
each garrisnc of 300 or 100 men behind
iEtrenchm nts Cairo AMI BirI's Points. were
forti6ed. and defended by heavy artillery.
CPilot Knob and Cape Girar,l"ar were fori,.
fed after Gen. Frenout's arrrval.) All these
places conld be reinforced BY railroad aud