Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-03-14

~tSs 49, '.. S'Nc~ ~N-"-eNs N''fs'''2 y '''"tt
subjoinsd !; lat q our total force, with il
distribution: teeti3
St Louis, tincladiug Homo Guard y. ). $500
Under Brig. Gen. Pope lineludIne =. 0.l kde2
| Lexington Including Home Guard 49, g. 400
Jefferson City, Cohe.fonrth Home 0nardl 9,e51
holla .---.--.--.. - -..--.---...s-.--.4Ivg
1rohton -S,y2l
cape 0lrarueu. -..--..--.- 01V
Birds Point and Norfolk :. = $50
| Cairo lincluding McClemard's brieade1 .1n76 D
Fort Holt, opposite Cairo, Kentucky shore 1895 >
Under Gen. Lane Observation-Disclosures. 100
Mound City near Cairo :. ...... eco
aEis s-----lt
Total, present and on detached duty. 5000
J. @. FREMONT, Maj-Gsns oomnahd'g.
To these difficulties began now to Be sd
ded the loss Of consideration and credit
which the apparent withdraal Of tho con
hdeuce Of the Government caused Tho
visit Of high officers charged with inquiTing
into the affairs Of my Department, and The
simultaneous and sustained attacks Of lead
ing journals, accumulated obstructions 70
my movements until was openly removed
from the command Of tho Department..
Except the victory littlo advantage re-
suited to Price from the capture Of Lexing-
ton, exposed and resting upon broad river
which there was no chance for q large
army 10 cross in case Of defeat. As mil
itary position its occupation had no value
for him. On the contrary, had possessed
tho means of transportation to move for
ward my troops rapidly / should have been
well content to give up Lexington for tho
certainty Of being able TO compel Price TO
give me battle on the north side Of tho
Osage-as he could not cross the Missouri
without exposing himself TO certain defeat,
no other course would have remained open
to him. In fact, when did go forward
I the appearance of my advance at Sedalia
was the signal for his preciptate retrest.
l ask the attention Of the Committee 10
the unreasopableness ofexpectinga a General
TO be always successful. Admitting even
that the Western Department had been
thoroughly we'll supplied with men and
arms, it could hardly have been expected
that no single casualty could have been mot
with in the course of the campaign. And
il would seem more reasonable 10 judge OF
the capacity Of the commander BY the gem
eral results Of bis operations.
From this statement and the accompany
ing papers The Committee will form some
idea Of the condition Of tho Department
when assumed command, at the end Of
July.
At the end Of October, when had sue
ceeded in organizing and equipping an
army, and was beginning to handle it In
the field, We were everywhere and uniform
" along tho whole extent Of our lines sue
cessful against the enemy. At Spring
. field, one Of the most brilliant actions, and
Z at Fredericktown one Of the most admira-
bly, conducted battles Of the war had been
; fought. Isolated railroads had been con-
neeted at St. Louis, and were in full and
f' continuous operation over their whole ex-
? tent. Additional cars had been provided,
e and at tweDty-four hours notice 10000
: men could be moved upon them from one
point to the opposite side Of the State. All
our posts, so far as the railroad went, had
; been fortified and connected by telegraphs,
: which were everywhere in full operation,
: and the daily mails were running to Spring
field, from which place an officer, alone
: and in uniform, could ride through with
: safety TO st. Louis. Quiet aud eOmpars.
. tive peace had been restored 70 the State,
and the enemy was in full retreat before
n
bad been entered into with him, under
which the authority of the State and Fed
eral Courts was acknowledged; liberty Of
opinion and security Of person were guar
reed TO both sides; all guerrilla parties sup
pressed, aud the war strictly coD6ded 70
: responsible officers and the armies in tho
field. ns b
The State was in reality, reclaimed, and
. in condition 10 leave the army foree for the
especial object of descending the Missis-
4 sippi. The rebels already acknowledged
5, the inutility of resistance 10 the Federal
u authority; the doubtful came 70 the side Of
. the power, and the loyal, who had borne
the brunt Of waF-when 10 stand BY the
$ Union involved danger and lossss--were
Everywhere encouraged TO new efforts, and
!, rewarded for their past aid.
The fall rains we're over, tho fine weather
: of the Indian Summer had come, hay was
- gathered aud corn hardening, and We were
nj about to carry out tho great object Of cur
a campaign under the most favorable Auspi-
! ces, with fewcr bardships from exposure and
impcdiments from transportation than as
any other season. The spirit Of the army
: was high. Il was mainly composed Of
= Western men, whose interest IS wen a.
y whose patriotism was involved in the open
3 ing Of the Mississippi River, for the pFspaF-
y atiops to which they had contributed every
!, possible effort, and we had every reason 70
y believe that the campaign would open with
: signal victory in the defeat o. dispersion of
= the rebel army, With move on Memphis
! as the immediate result. ss n