The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-16
Gen. Frenonts Prospects In the W est.

The following editorial, which We copy
from the New York Tribune, our readers will
find worthy OF Il perusal:
The facts that Gen. Fremont is at II not
west Oh, Jefferson City, the capital OF Mis-
souri,, winch Is bat l20 miles FROM Lexington,
now the rebel locus in that State-that the
rebels mean to take Boouevllle and Jefferson
tIJy, preparatory TO an attack ON St. Louis
that Gen r. on the other hand, is strongly
suspected OF designs against Lexington AND
us present posSesSors-2ll point to an early and
seriors collision. The cautious, diplomatic
doubtless wise strategy OF NicClellaD and Beau
regard Is not adapted TO the West, where
those " 10 60 10 war are strongly suspected of
a disposition 10 hurt somebody, and 10 look for
the enemy with decided intent to pitch
in. We strongly hope not 10 hear of any
hight there for some days yet, since the
Union forces are widely scattered on almost
every side OF the rebels, and there Is imUi-
nent danger that the latter may strike The
first blow East or West in Overwhelming
force. We have no faith in the strategy which
would surround an army OF fifty thousand
with three OK four independent corps, sepa.
rated by two or three days march. and SO
liable to be attacked and beaten in succession.
Yet, presuming the rebel leaders 10 under
stand their business, it is hardly posi- BILE to
avoid such attacks before effec ting a concep-
tration; while 10 protect Kansas on the west.
ST. Joseph and the line of the North Missouri
Railroad on the north, and Bonneville and
Jefferson City on the east, m j ght seem to pre-
ciude the necessary concentration at all. We
judge, however, that the control Of the Mis-
souri, river and the railroad aforesaid ara ad-
vantdges to the Cnj0nists which cannot fail
TO be Improved.
Gen. Fremont is, with regard to military
operations OF magAitude, an untried com
Eldnder. His fitness to lead thousands is now
to be established or disproved. Success is
the worlds test of merit: and sbou,d he
now be beaten by the rebels, he will be Judged
a pretender and 4 charlatan He may have
less than half SO many men rs he confronts-
his may be the greenest recruits, while the
enemy are com ls.ratiyc veterans, flushed with
repeated triumphs-he may be- crippled for
want OF arms and munitions, while the allies
OF Floyd before him may have stolen them
selves rich IN everything needed-no matter:
he must triumph, Or be whistied down the
wind as unequal to his posi- ton We pre-
sumo he com mprehends this hard necessity and
is prepared TO Wrestle with Fortune on such
conditions as she sees III 10 prescribe. He NAV
be beaten-he may even prove incompetent TO
lead an army-but We sadly uistske the man
If any bullets shall touch his back unless In
the way OF exit from his body.
His raw troops may be scattered hy an
equal force, though we do not believe they
WILL Should The rebels await his attack at
or near Lexington. they will of course avail
themselves OF every natural advantage OF
position, ana Will improve thPse by field
works. They have never yet fought equal
numbers on Il fair field, and we do not think
they ever viii when there is ANY alternative
And should he fail and fall, simply because
wheiminS force, we are sure his countrymen
viii not refuse him the tribute OF manly
tear
How many men lie will be able 70 muster in
'front.' OF Lexington, We 90 not know, but be-
sleEe the number cannot fall short OF thirty
Thousand, and hope it will be sUeiled to forty
thousand. II he can but have arms and mu.
ritions, We shall hope for the best. We know
however, that he has al no moment been able
to arm or equip the volunteers pressing~to his
etandard-that he left, at St. Louis, when bs
started up the river last Friday, whole rsgi-
ments FOR which he had no eapons, while
regiment of cavalry lately drew ND before
him with but a single saddle, and never "A belt
or goa bbard-3nd that field guns ordered bY
him, and deemed essent tial TO his service, ha We
lain for weeks, and still lie in this city, sim
ply because some upderling OF the War depart
ment does not see lit 10 accept and forward
them.
Such facts may we'll justify the Sravest ap-
prehersions. The i1ef,oa ajprs.se, states that
the Ordnance department, at Wasbugton
sold 10000 Enfield muskefs (or rifles since
Bull Run, to q private dealer for Bio each
and that the Government has since tried 10
buy them back for so. Had but these arms
been sent promptly 10 Fremont. instead Of
beng so fooled away, We believe affairs in
Missouri would have worn Il far brighter as
pect to- day. To buy seryiceabir, though not
the very best, arms at eSorbitant pri ces. may
III these times be an un welcome necessity; to
sell TIT III, under existing circumstances, is, in
public functicnary, a biunder, il no worse.
However, we shall probably soon hear that
Missouri is won or lost. We believe the rebels
have now collected in and around Lexington
the strongest army that they will be abie
this year TO concentrate Ia Missouri, and that
the defeat OF this will drive them from the
State. correspondent Of Tss Times, who
witnessed, (under guard} the conclusion of the
siege OF Col. Mullisan's position, expressly
says:
"All the big guns OF the Confederate tes were
there. l saw, among others, Generals Slack,
Price. Parsons, Rains, Hardee, Gov. Jackson,
Gems. Harris. (hiartin1 Green, Me6ohin, Cap
tain Emmet Mcdonald, Coils. Turner, Payne,
and Clay and SO ON, ad iafaita1."
This leaves only Ben McCuIloch's Arkansas
rufiians to be accounted for, and they can
hardly exceed ten thousand. The capture Of
Mulligan's force has doubtless given prestige
TO the rebels, and thus brought some thou
sands To their standard, while 1t has supplied
them with some valuable, and more indif
ferent arms. Lexington II the heart Of the
densest slave region Of Missouri, Nourishinx
and fertile district, which affords ample food
and forage. It Is the very best point In the
State for tbcus Of armed, defiant ysbellion.
And yst We hope and trust,