St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-07-17
en-. Fremont's Retirement
from Command.
Gen.

A Washington correspondent Of the
New York Times gives the following good
reasons for Gen. Fremont's action in ask
ing to be relieved from duty under Gen.
Pope:
F,rst-Gencral Fremont is 4 Major
General of the regular army, While in COM
mand Of the Western Department., Brig.
Gen. Pope served under him in command
Of a Brigade. The latter's course, in de-
laying to bring rapidly forward his troops,
annoyed Gen Fremont, and interfered
with the carrying out Of certain plans,
thereby subjecting General Pope to tho
displeasure of his superior.
Without conccalment, Gen. Pope mann
itested his dislike of Fremont, his disap-
proval Of his progressive views, and his
policy generally, and when it was announ-
ced that Gen. Hunter was to succeed him,
he, in the presence of several officers. clap
ped his hands, and indicated his gratifca-
ton at the fact.
Secondy-General Fremont has had
but about nine thousand effective men,
He was sent to the Mountain Department
at time when but little was doing there
Very shortly after he assumed command.
matters grew thicker, and work became
warmer. General Banks was compelled
to retreat, and General Fremont was Or
dered to pursue Jackson. That he did it,
and how he did it, are matters Of record.
The failure on the part Of General Shields
to burn. the bridges across which Jackson,
in his retreat, was to pass, saved the lucky
rebek and defeated Fremont's further VIC
tory. With Jackson's reinforced army
threatening him, with his supplies far in
his rear, with General Shields force Or
dered to Richmond by the President, with
Banks and Sigel where they could, by no
possibility, aid him, and with his own lit
tie army in need Of rest, he retrcated.-
The President telegraphed him to pursue
Jackson no further, but to make stand
at Harrisonburs (Which was on no line of
defense), and hold it. Gen. Fremont, in
the meantime, seeing the absurdity of
three small commands like his own and
those Of Banks and Si;cl standing sepa-
rate. coincided with the views of Banks
and Sigel and fell back to Mount Jackson,
where a junction was efected-a move
ment which was previously suggested by
HIM to the President.
AS senior officer by military law, Gen.
Fremont was then in command Of the en-.
tire corps: but Mr.. Stanton tclegraphed
him expressly that with the other COM
mands he was to have nothing to do. Gen
Sigel insisted upon considering himself
under Fremont, and Gen. Banks told his
officers, in council assembled, that in case
of a battle, they were to consider them
selves as responsible to the senior Major
General.
Gen Fremont telegraphcd to the Pres
idcnt that his ren needed rest that the
Surgeon General Of his command had re-
ported officially that his men must have
better diet; that he had taken fair posi-
tion that his men were doing we'll, and
that by the erd of ten days he would have
gathered in from all quarters his GONZALES
cents, aud that the number of effective men
would be 3O,000-well supplied with ar
tillery and ready tor any work.
Upon this came the order placing Gen.
Popc-a Junior officer, pro-slavery man,
u rebuked subordinate-over him, over
Major General Banks and over Major zen.
SiEel.
Gen. Fremont could with no self respect
remain at his post. Had he done so, what
warrant had he for supposing that to be
his last official degradation? With the
unanimous concurrence of his officers, of
General Banks and Sigel, he asked to be-
relieved. and asked in such terms that the
President saw fit to grantit.
The President has within few days
expressed himself most strongly and warm
ly in Gen. Fremont's praise, While on the
other hand, it is stated that he has as
warmly condemned him. With the lat
ter report / have nothing to do because
l know nothing of it--of the former / am
we'll assured.
Over Maj. Gen. Fremont is placed q
former subordinate, an inferior in rank, an
unconcealed enemy, proslavery man.
and that, too, as an Administrative recog-
ni'ion of the service done in the Valley.
Of course Fremont simply requested that
he might be sent to another field Of action
in other words, he asked to be relieved
and reported tor further orders. His
friends should be satisfied witI'-yes, proud
Of his last tampaign-and as one of them
/ put on record the fact that when he left
his command he notified the President
that they needed ten days rest, and then
they would be ready for service, good and
active .'. ! -" ..'7' :" N'