Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-03-14
General Fremont,. Defense.

rIeinOnt W tuc CONGRESSIONAL Oom"isseN
on the conduct of the war, he gives de-
I tailed history of his western campaign
from it's commencement to the day when
he was so abruptly removed from his COM
mand. 1t appears that when he went
west, in the latter part of July, no plan
of the weastern campaign had beed di-
gested at Washington, and everything
was left to the discretion of Gen. Fremont.
He found the troops in his division most
ly without arms, and everything in hope
less disorder, while the enemy were raw
aging Missouri and threatening to advance
upon st. Louis. Gen. Frcmont's attempts
to procure arms from headquarters were
several times thwarted by the diversion of
the arms promised him to the army of the
Potomac. His three months troops were
also refusing to re-enlist because they had
not been paid. In this emergency he
sent to New York to purchase such arms
as could be had, to be forwarded by ex-
press, and he compelled the sub-treasures
at st. Louis to pay over to him 100000
for the payment of his troops. Both acts
he defends by the necessities of his posi-
ton, and states that he communicated his
action to the President, who expressed no
disapprobation. In regard to the disaster
at Springfield, in which Gen. Lyon lost
his life Gen. Fremont brings evidence to
show that it was not at that time in his
power to reinforce Gen. Lyon. He also
defends the erection of Notifications
around St. Louis. as essential to its defense
by small force while he should conduct
the campaign southwark. and the works,
he says, were thoroughly built at cost
of less than 100000. Some other less
important charges against his manage.
ment are noticed by Gen. Fremont, and
he closes with the following statement of
the condition and prospects of his depart
mcnt at the time of his removal:
cat the end of October, when | had
succeeded in organizing and equipping an
army, and was beginning to handle it in
the field, we were everywhere and uni
formly along the whole extent of our lines
successful against the enemy. At Spring
field one of the most brilliant actions, and
at Frederlcktown, one of the most admir-
ably conducted battles of the war had
been fought. Isolated railroads had been
connected at st. Louis, and were in full
and continuous operation over their whole
extent. Additional cars had been provid-
ed, and at twenty-four hours notice TO-
900 men could be moved upon them from
any one point to the opposite side of the
state All our posts, so far as the rail-
road went, had been fortified and connect
ed by telegrapbs which were everywhere
in full operation. and the daily mails
were running to Springfield, from which
place an officer, alone and in uniform,
could ride through with safety to St. Louis.
Quiet and comparative peace had been re-
stored to the state, and the enemy were in
full retreat before us to its southern boun-
dairy A compact had been entered into
with him, under which the authority of
the State and Federal courts was acknowl-
edged liberty of opinion and security
Of person were guaranteed to both sides
all guerilla parties Suppressed, and the
war strictly conf to responsible officers
and the armies IN the field. .....
1.-The State was, in reality, reclaimed,
and in condition to leave the army free
for the especial object Of defending the
} Mississippi. The rebels already acknowl-
edged the inutility of resistance to the
Federal authority; the doubtful came to
} the side of power, and the loyal, who had
borne the brunt of war-when to stand
by the Union involved danger and losses
were everywhere encouraged to new eff.
forts and rewarded for their past aid
The fall rains were over, and the fine wea.
ther of the Indian summer had come, the
hay was gathered and the corn hardening
and we we're about to carry out the great
object of our campaign under the most ia.
vorable auspices, with fewer hardshipt
; from exposure and impediments from