The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-28
Obj Clinton T. gournal.
General Fromont's Defence.

n;,t.e ON the conduct Of the war in defence
Of his course while administering the military
affairs Of the Western Department. It, with
documents, occupies Eve closely printed pages
of that journal, and Of course we can only
make q brief synopsis Of so voluminous
document. We will endeavor. however, to |
give correct idea Of its tenor
seen. Fremont was assigned TO the COM
mand in July last. The Department then
comprised, with Illinois, all the States and
territories west Of the Mississippi river to the
Rocky Mountains, including New Mexico
He was furnished with no plan OF campaign.
Full discretionary powers were gwen him
.Of the Illinois contingent OF troops, seven
thousand were unarmed. Their cavalry was
without horses or sabres. their artillery COM
panies had hardly any guns, were wholly
without equipments lie procured on order
for seven thousand stand OF arms. The order
was countermanded on his arrival ut New
York. On his representation Major llagner
was sent TO New York TO aid him in procur-
ing what he deemed necessary. With this
aid Gen. Fremont arranged for arms and
equipments TO DO sent TO ST. Louis sufficient
for the complete equipment OF an army corps
Of twenty.three thousand men.
He received permission irom General Scott
to take the field Immediately, and reached
his command at St. Louis on the 10Th OF
July. Missouri throughout was then a re-
bellious State. OF the Federal troops lew
were then in the field. the term OF the three
months men was expiring, and the rebels
had fifty thousand men on the southern
frontier OF the State. Gen. Pope was IN
northern Missouri, with nearly all the dis
posable Federal troops. Gen. Lyon was at
Springfield with seven thousand eight hum
dred Gen. Prentiss ut Cairo with seven
regiments. Lyons and Prentss' men were
nearly all three months men, whose term OF
enlistment was about expiring. Arms and
money were wanted. but men offered in
abundance. The three months men had not
been paid. The Home Guards were willing
10 remain in the service, but their families
wer, destitute. General Fremont wrote to
the President stating his difficulties, and in
forming him that he should peremptorily or
der the United States Treasurer there to pay
over to his paymaster General the money in
his possession, sending force at the same
to take the money. lie received no reply,
and assumed that his purpose was approved.
Five days after he arrived at ST. Louis, he
went to Carlo, taking three thousand eight
hundred men for its reinforcement. lie says
that Springfield was n weeks march, and
before no could have reached il, Cairo would
have been taken by the rebels and perhaps
St. Louis. lie returned to ST. Louis on the
4th OF August, having in the meantime
ordered two regiments to the reliet OF Gen.
LYON, and set himself to work at st. Louis,
10 provide further achievements for him
but he claims that Lyons defeat cannot be
charged to his administration, and quotes
from letter from General Lyon, dated on
the 9th OF August, expressing the belief that
he would be compelled to retire. Also, from
a letter written by Lyons Adjutant-Seneral,
in which he says, General Fremont was not
inattentiye to the situation OF General Lyon
column
He shows that the purchase Of the Austrian
guns was a necessity. Amer the Battle Of
Wilson's Creek. expecting the enemy would
Immediately advance, be fortified. Girardcau,
Ironton, Rolla and jefferson City, making
~. Louis his base, and leaving the army free
for operations in the field, and claims that
the necessity of thee Notifications had been
conquered in by officers OF unimpeachable
LOYALTY aud capacity. With respect to the
alienation that the work on the Qualifications
of 81. Louis was done under his own special
direction, and the payments made on his
personal order, he quotes from letter ct we
believe subsequent date, (Sept. - from MIR.
Blair, telling him that Gen. Meigs wished
him 10 contract for certain guns personally, |
II lat ia. Ina N a
would pay for them, US showing that his
power to act was recognized.
The Gust Of the works was about SJOO,OOO,
and considering the time and manner IN
which they were built, General Fremont
thinks the money was well applied. lie ex-
plains his purchase OF arms that had been
sold by the government, and which was one
the principal charges against him, we think
satisfactorily.
The turbulent condition Of theState atthe
end of Augu I, induced him TO proclaim mar
tial law. Up to the 10th Of September he
felt no alarm about the safety OF jefferson |
City or St. Louis. General Price was still
upon the Upper Usage. and General Fremont
was organizing force to march against nun
10 force him TO retreat OF to cut on hls COM
munications with Arkansas. Want OF trans
portation, arms and money delayed the move |
mens. Paducah, Fort Holt, and Western
Kentucky, where Judgments had been effected
and Northern Missouri, taxed his resources
10 the utmost. On the llth OF September
he heard that Price had arrived at Clinton.
On the 10Th that Colonel Mulligan had
reached Lexington. and that Price was near
Warrensburg, with force OF from i've
thousand men. On the 18th two regiments
were ordered to the relief Of Lexington.
On the 18th General Sturgis was ordered
to move with all speed upon Lexington and
ON the same day, in the midst OF all this de-
mand for troops, he O was ordered by the
Secretary Of War and General Scott to send
Eve thousand well-armed infantry to Wash
ington without moments delay lie sent
them. He had at that time total force OF
nearly sixty thousand men. Here follows a
remonstance against expecting any general
to b. always successful, and an ayerment that
general and graf success had resulted from
6is administration. and that he was on the
eve of vet greater things when he was relieved
of his command.
The documents that accompany General
Fremont's defence are very numerous. They
throw considerable light upon the internal
workings Of the administration OF the depart
ment. On the 18th Of June Gen. Mcclellan
telegraphed Gen. Lyon rs follows: III you
sish more troops from Illinois. inform me ut
Cincinnati. Don't telegraph direct to any
ofmy subordinates unless danger is imminent.
Then follow number Of dispatches between
....,.,,. ofrcer- dataiiin, ,ho!. x..... ,,,ovo |