The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-03-18

in case of defeat. As military position its
occupation hal TO value for him. On the
contrary, had possessed the means of trans
portation to move forward my troops rapidly
| should have beon well content TO give up
Lexington for the certainty of being able to
compel Price to give me battle on the north
side of the Osage--as he could not cross the
Missouri without exposing himself to certain
defeat, no other course would have remained
open 10 him. In fact, when | did 60 forward
the appearance Of my advance at Sedalia was
the signal for his preciptate retreat.
ask tho attention Of tho Committee to
the unreasonableness of expecting General
to be always successful. Admitting even that
tho Western Department had been thorough.
Iy well supplied with men and arms, it could
hardly have been expected that no single cas-.
ua.ty could have been met with in the course
Of the campaign. And it would seem moro
reasonable to Judge of the capacity of the
commando. by the general results OF his op
eratious.
From this statement and the accompanying
papers the Committee will form some idea OF
the condition Of the Department when | as
sumed command the end OF July.
At the end Of October, when had succeed
in organizing and cqnipping an army, and
was beginning TO handle il in tho field we
: were everywhere successful against the enc
my. At Springti d, one Of the most aImi-
rably conducted battles of the war had been
fought. Isolated rai.raods had been connect
ed at ST. Louis, and were in full and continu-
Gus operation over their whole extent. Ad-
ditional cars had been provided, and at TWEEN
tyfour hours' notice 10000 mon could be
moved upon them from any one point to the
opposite side Of the State. AL our posts. SO
far at the railroad went, had bean fortified
and conncce ell 10y telcgaphs, which were evc-
rywhore in fall operation, aud tho daily mails
were running to Springfield, from which
place an officer, alone and in uniform, could
ride though with safety to 81. Louis. Qlet
and comparatively peace had been restored to
the State, and the enemy was in full retreat
before us, to its Southern boundry. a COM
pact had been entered into with him, under
which tho authority Of the State and Federal
Courts was Acknowledged; liberty of opinion
and security Of person wero guaranteed to
both sides; all gurrila pa-ti1s suppressed, and
tho strictly confined to responsible officers
and the armies in the field.
The State was, in reality, reclaimed, and in
condition to ,ave the the army free for the
especial object of descending the Mississippi
/ The Rebels already acknowledged the inu.
tility Of resistance to the Federal authority !;
the Goubtful came to the side of power, and
the loyal, who had BONE the brunt of war
when to stand by the Union involved Danger
AMI lo,ses--were everywhere encouraged TO
new efforts, and rewarded for their past aid.
The fall rains were over, the fine weather Of
the Indian SuGmer had come, the hay was
gather d and corn hardening, and We were
about TO cary out the great objec. Of our
campaign under the most favorable auspices
with fewer hardships from exposure and impc-
dimcnts from transportation than at any other
season. The spirit Of the army was high
1t WAS IN iuiy composed Of Western men,
whose interest as well as whose patriotism was
involved in tho opouing Of the Mississippi
River, for the preparations to which they had
contributed every possible effort. and we had
every reason 20 believe that tho campaign
would open with signal victory in the defeat
or dispors on of tho rebel army with move
on Memphis a. the immediate result.
These were the circumstances under which,
without reason assigned, | was relieved Of my
command.
1t is not grateful to mo to haue been my.
self compelled to set out tho merits of my
administration; but it was necessary in order
% call attention TO points which otherwise
might not have been presented, and which
ar necessary to II clear understanding Of the
subject, inquired into Manv a Is which have
been censurel were, think for the public
good | know they were with the intention.
| do not feel that IN any case oyelsteppel
the authority intended to be confined to me.
Myself, and the officers and men acting
with me-, were actuated sole by a desire to
serve the country, and fell assured that this
is realized by the people of the West among
whom We were acting. Respectfully,
J. G. FREMONT
Major General T. S. A.