The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-11-21
From Missouri.


r. NJ. THAYER, EDrToR
Q. h. DkEW- EDITOR
From Missouri.
We have been permitted TO copy the
following portion Of a private letter from an
officer IN one of our Indiana regiments to
q lady in this city. It will readily be seen
that, in bis judgment General Fremont
was very properly removed
SPRINGFIELD, No., Nov. 9Th 1861.
Ny DEAR:
| wrote you note yesterday, informing
you that we have just arrived safely here
in pursuit Of the enemy, but found that we
were pursuing a shadow-that no enemy
was within sixty miles of as in any num-
Der to resist the march of even one division
of our army. Yet, Gen. Fremont supposed
the enemy within ten miles of Springfield,
and advancing upon him with 10000 men.
Relying upon the reports of scouts who
encountered a foraging party of the enemy,
without sending forward a regiment, a
brigade, or, if necessary, a division 10 drive
in their advance and see whether the enemy
were really on Wilson's Greek in any con-
siderable force, he sends out his mounted
conriers and starts l 800 men on the run to
Springfield IA journey Of from forty to one
hundred miles, urging them to come TO his
aid with all possible haste, against tine enemy
who were threatening an attack. Tents,
wagons ratiOns, knapsacks, blankets &c.,
were, in many regiments, left behind, and
day and night marches were made, in some
cases without food-alI that we might get
here in time for the great battle SO immi-
nent. When we arrived, it was almost
ludicrous to learn that the enemy had
vanished, and We're far away on the Ar
kansas border. .s ~.
Fremont went so far in bis dslusiou that
for two days hnd nights the wagons all
stood loaded, the horses hsrnessed, cavalry
saddled and bridled, ratiops all cooked
troops sleeping on their arms ia the open
field, divisions under marching orders, and
the whole plan of n great battle laid out
and arranged to take place at the old battle
ground on Wilson's Creek.
AS we came burrying into Springfield,
met one OF Fremonts stat, who told me
that if Fremont had not been removed,
the battle would certainly have come off
the next morning. 1t is said Fremont left
Springfield with the impression resting up
on his mind, that the enemy was upon rs
and battle almost inevitable. In fact, be
remarked to Col. Yeatch, as we drew ap on
the side of the road With present arms to
honor his passage that he was all ready to
attack the enemy when he was recalled
When the facts are known, it reflects very
little to the credit of Fremont's general
ship, to rush $4,000 men into one town.
without provisions for the purpose of fght-
i.g the empty forests and open prairies.--
The army officers are very unsparing in
their criticisms on Fremont. One of the
Generals Of Divisions remarked Yesterday,
that be had been ia the army almost all his
life, but he had never seen such grand
farce in all his military experience
But the hard marching and cold nights
without blankets or tents, and stnpendous
laundering about the enemyiin our face, was
not so very bad after all, as it Is good drill
ing to make hardy soldiers, # Il don't kiLI
them. The worst feature of this wild
4 goose campaign, is the little foresight and
preparation taken 10 arranging, for sup
plies, and here we are at least one hun
bred miles from the Railroad, and, most of
the regiments on half rations Il is a
shame 70 our commanding officers to say,
!tVsIg-ssele regiments have for ten days been
Tations are so far retnted o.. tour. and the
the grams of coffee that are dealt oIIU fsPqnt
soldiers. We're it not for the fores gi.t of
our own regimental officers, we would now
De on short rati0Rs No man WAS more
preposSesed 10 favor of Gen. Fremont than
was, and was more anxious to have him
retained, out since have seen with nv own
eyes the actual workings of this campaign,
must unwillinglv acknowledge that mis-
military movements are a complete failure
as far as bis late campaign is concerned,
and all that will save US from starvation, is
speedy return to the railroad 1t is
useless to remain here, as we can't get
tight out of Price, and all that can be done
IS to leave Jim Lane in this part Of the
State in sufficient force to keep him at BAY
BY the way, called at Lanes camp this
morning, and found our friends, Geo. Veale
a Captain of a very fine company, and John
Johnson as his ID Lieutenant. Capt Veale
looked very military, and John seems to be
in his element Gen. Lane told me that
when be wanted any daring deed done, he
mad no better officer and man to call on
than Lieut. Johnson and his Delaware cav
airy. | was introduced to General Lane at
his own marquee, and was received very
kindly. He said he took very large
amount Of stock in BOOSTER friends. I found
him very sociable and affable gentleman,
putting the stranger perfectly at ease in
moment. Neither his manner or appear
ance indicate anything of the rowdy, reck-
less character attributed to him by his enc
mics.
<1iteA tanning SUMO tAuI0 eNSut ZIG merits
of the war, aud how to meet and fight the
Missouri Secessionists, he took me out to
show me one of the curiosities-as be called
it-of the institution so much more Sal
cred than the government. He showed me
woman who came into camp the night be-
fore, and told me 10 lock at her-fiir skin.
auburn, straight hair, hardly any but Saxon
hneaments of countenauce, intelligent and
bright-'that woman" said he, sis a slave,
and there" pointing to sable Ethiopian
sitting on the ground, sis her husband, |
The only difference is, one is sohite. the
other buck"
Abuse Jun Lane as he may be, he ia the |