M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-10-10

attack was made on caro-, and II was
probably avertcd by the reinforce.
ments sent. If the same or one halt
of the regiments had been sent 10 Ly-
on, we should have had equally salts.
factory results.
The views have given Of this
matter are facts becoming public
opinion here, and think the Govern
ment should know it. Probably you
have information which will satisfy
you that Fremont was to blame. If
so, the public here should know it
also, in order that the confidence Of
the people should not be Withheld
from the Commanding General. ]
could not think, when | first returned
here, that any part Of the blame
coald rest with him, but my ohserva-
tions since have shaken my faith to
the very foundation.
There is one point which did not
refer to in my letter, and which ! in
tended to remark on, and that is the
utter want of discipline in the camps
round and about st. Louis. 1t is the
Irehersal OF the state Of affairs in
Washington before the fight at Man.
asses, and will, am apprehensive,
conduce to similar results. l brought
these matters to Fremont's attention,
but he put it aside by sayingit would
not do 20 be too exacting at once
Our enemies at the door, and yet too
early to impart discipline to our
troops and keep. them out.of the whis.
Ky shopsl!! | know that you and !
are both in some sort responsible for
Fremoht's appointment, and for his
being placed in command Of this De.
partment, and. therefore feel another
and additional motive to speak out
openly about these matters. My de.
cided opinion is, that he should be re-
lieved Of his command, and man OF
ability put in his place. The sooner
1t is done the better.
have given you my opinion and
tho ground for it. II the Govern
ment knows more Of bis plans than i
know-if you are satisfied with them
then you can burn this paper and
say that l am an alarmist; you know
however, that | am not. No man has
been more hopeful and confident than
| have been up to within a few days
past. l felt satified on my return that
affairs were critical, but that the sue.
cess and elation of the enemy could
be turned to good account, if the
proper steps were promptly taken
7Hty haze not been taken, and eth
er the Government has failed to sup
port Fremont as he should have been,
or he has failed to apply the means al
his disposal. Affairs are worse than
they were two weeks ago, and are
getting worse every day. Secession
increasing, Union men driven out,
and the General, | fear, incapable OF
comprehending his position. His re-
cent proclamation is the best thing oi
the kind that has been issued, but
should have been issued when he first
came, when he had the power to en-.
force, and the enemy no power to re-
talate. Now they are substantially
enforcing against us the substance o.
his proclamation outside Of St. Louis
and our garrisous. lwant you to lay
these things to your heart, and gel
ready to apply the remedy before it is
too late.
| will write you again very Scon.--
| hope may have better news to
give you. shall be but too happy j
anything comes to restore my conf
dence in Fremont. am well--bet
ter than | have been for eight months
Yours, affectionately,
[Signed] FRANK P. BLAIR.
4 Model Fast Day Prayer.
The Chicago Post furnishes the fol
lowing formula Of prayer for the ma
tOnal fast day. 1t has the excellence
Of being to the point:
We pray the to incline the hearts
= ! Of all quartermasters and government
! contractors to the ways Of righteous
J ness and honesty. Open their eyes t.
their transgressions and convince them
that they are great rascals. Show
unto them the way Of truth, and Sc
before their eyes the light Of the re
: vised statutes, especially that section
which relates to the crime of larceny
Convict them of their iniquities, an,
if possible sentence them to the pen
itentiary.
As to the generals in command o
our troops, we pray thee to convinc'
, them that good Judge Of OtarG anc
Bourbon isn't always the best quail
fed to plan or execute a campaign
, Give them more knowledge and les
: conceit. Teach them that the para
l bic Of the sower was not promulgated
with reference to military operations
I and that whose scattereth his soldier
: abroad, all over the State of Missour
: and elsewhere, shall find that his Ia
bors will not yield very abundantly il
lfba ho,,,aek AoJ 6,oli,, o,.ox, a. "a,