The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-11-06
The Fremont Cmsc.

ADMINISTRATION, Of Major General Fremont
has submitted a report to Secretary
Cameron detailing long list of ugly
financial irregularities, and military errors
which in his estimation, totally units Fro.
mont for the position lie ncw occup,es TIE
report contains no charges, and is littls else
than compilation Of Acts We give an
abstract Of most Of tho rcport-thc entire
document being too long for our columns
| Gen. Curtis in command at st. Louis,
r.ports that Fremont never consulted with
him or informed him Of his plans.
| Col. Andrews chief paymaster, reported
irregularities in the pay department, stat.
ing he was required to make payments and
transfers of money contrary to the army
regulations, and once objecthg he was
threatened with confinement by Ale Of
soldiers. He exhibited one irregular order
for the transfer of 800, 900 to the Quarter.
masters Department. The irregular ap-
pointmcnts made by Fremont were over
two hundred. -..... ... .
| Major Alien, principal Quartcrm.stcr at
st. Louis, reported irregularities. lie was
sending by orders Of Fremont, forage from
st. Louis to Upton, (wl.erc forage was
abundanD distance of 100 miles. The
Indebtedness of the Quartcrmaster's De-
partment at St. Louis was already stated to
DO $4,5o6, 3os,7a. &C.,. ~... .a1..@ "a
| Some Of Fremont's staff officers were
business partners of army contractors
Gen. Mcigs advertised for proposals and
contracted for certain amour, OF forage
oats 80 cents and hay SIT o5-in the face
of which St. Louis firm, Zone member of
which was one Of Fremont's agents in Cal.
'fornia) were directed by Fremont to send
to Jefferson City, where hay and corn were
abundant, 100000 bushels of oats at 80
cents, and corresponding amount Of hay
at $1,000 per ton.
The barracks in construction around the
private house at St. Louis used by Fremont
for headquarters which by the way rent
for $4,000, are more expensive than tempo
| ra-y quarters need be.
Contracts are given to individuals with
out resort to bids as required by law and
army regulations. # .... .
| Gen. Hunter, second in command, stated
everything was in confusion, and Fremont
| was utterly incompetent.
But twenty out Of each h :nlred of the
guns purchased by Fremont in Europe,
could be fired. Mr. Selovcr who was in
Europe with Fremont wrote to partner
that his share Of the profits in the purchase
Of these arms was $4,000.
Gen. Hunter also states that although the
second in command, he never was consulted
! by Fremont, and knew nothing Of his in
tentions
Fremont had troops to reinforce Lyon,
but refused to send them saying Lyon is
as strong as any officer in this line" These
troops consisted besides those in st. Louis,
Of nine regiments under Pope in North
Missouri, where there was no organized
rebel force, two regiments at Rolla, and
strong garrlsens at Jefferson City, Boon.
vile, Lexington, and Kansas City.
After the battle of Wilson's Creek, four
regiments were drawn from Pope and sent
to Rolla. They accomplished nothing -.
They should have been ordered to advance
and cover the retreat of Lyon. An advance
of three regiments would have enabled the
command of Lyon to retrace their steps
and beat the forces Of Price and McCul.
| loch
Gen. Hunter went to St. Louis. by or
ders from Washington as an adviser for
Fremont. The latter submitted to him
plans for rc-taking Springfield, setting out
with the statement that this place was a
strong stratcgical point. Why did he not
see this before W .en Lyon was besieged
Hunter in answer to the paper replied,
''why march on Springfield Shere there is
no enemy 4? Let me take troops and 60 to
Lexington, where Price is marching" In.
stead Of accediny to this natural request
Hunter was sent off to Rolla without in
structions. Price moved OH Lexington and
took it. a..ess
Now for the facts to show that this cat.
astrophe could have been prevented, and
Prices army destroyed before or after that
disastrous affair. Before Price got to Lex
| ington the forces to resist him were the fol-
towing: At Jefferson City, $500; at
Rolla, 1000; along the Hannibal and St.
Joseph Railroad, about 5000; on the W ST.
crn line Of Missouri, under Lane, down
near Fort Scott, $3.50; Mulligan's force at
Lexington, 2,70O; a large force in Illinois,
along the Mississippi river and on the Iowa
line; outside Of St. Louis ere some II, 900;
in St. Louis itself, l8.OOO--say, however,
that there were only, 10000 there. Hun
tcr's plan up to Sunday, Sept. %, was to
concentrate from st. Louis, J, f rson City,
and Rolla, and from the Hannibal and St.
Joseph Railroad, 10000 men, and relieve
| Mulligan-. He said that, If Price was SOL
dier, Lexington was already fallen but,
with energy, Price could be captured, with
all his baggage and plumber. The otjec-
ton to this that may be urged that there
was no transportation-is an idle one. The
| railroad and the river were at command,
| aud the march from Scdala was only As
miles long. : The force could; Gen. Hunter
supposed, be thrown into Lexington by
Thursday, and, as it appears, before it was
taken. -.< 1865" 8. =. -
| In an interview with Fremont, Hunter