New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-04
Total Of pre.en, and abse., detached duty 1883

Under Gcn. Lone.
Total Of pre.eu, and absent detached duty 1898
}. FREMONT, Maj Gen. Conimandins.
To these difficulties began now 10 be added the
Ioss of consideration and credit which the apparent
Withdrawal of the confidence Of the Government
caused The visit of high officers charged wiki liz
quriug iuto the affairs Of my Department, and The
Simultaneous and sustained attacks of leading jour-
nails, accumulated distractions to my movements I'M
Ill / wac openly removed from the command Of the
Department.
Except the victory little advantage resulted 10
Price from the capture Of Lexington, exposed and
resting upon broad river which there wac ochance
for a large army 10 cross in case Of defeat. As q
military position its occupation had value for him.
On the contrary, had possessed the means OF trans
portation to move forward my troops rapidly shouid
have been well content to give up Lexington for the
certainty Of being able to compel Price TO give me
battle on the north eide of the 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 20 forward the
appearance of my advance p, SedaIia was tue signal
for his Irecipitate retreat.
| ask the attention Of the Committee TO the un.
reasonabeDess OF expecting General TO be always
successful. Admitting even that the Western De-
par ment had been thoroughly well supplied with
men aud arms, il could hardly have been expected
that 10 single casualty could have been met with in
the course of the campaign. And 1t would seem
more reasonable TO Judge OF the capacity OF the COM
mander by the general results of hs operations
From this statement and the accompanying papers
the Committee will form some idea Of the condition
of the Department when assumed command, at the
end of July.
! At the end of October, when / had succeeded in
organizing and equipplng an army, aud was begin
ming 10 handle il in the field, we were everywhere
aud uniformly along the whole extent OF our lnei
successful against the enemy. Al Springfield, on'
Of the mort brilliant actions, and at Frederlchto~i
one Of the most admirably conducted battles OF ta'
wsr had been fought. Isoated railroads had beer
connected at ST. Louis and Were in fall and coniinn
GU. operation over liz whole extent. Additional can
had been provided and at tweny-iour hours notice
/ 10 900 men could be moved upon them from any one
point to the opposite side Of the State. All ourpoSs,
10 iar IA the railroad went, had been fortified and
connected by telegrnphs, which were everywhere III
full operation and the daily mails were running to
Springfield from which place IN officer, alone and IL
uniform could ride through with safety 10 81. Louis.
Quiet and comparative peace had been restored to
the State, and the enemy was In full retreat before
us, to it, Southern boundary compact had been
entered into with him, under which the authority OF
tie State and Federal Courts was acknowledged
liberty Of opinion and security of person were
guaranteed to both sides; oil guerrilla parties sup
4 - al 70 Ia
officers and the armies in the field.
The State WAS, in reality, reclaimed, and in con-
ition to leave the army free for the especial object
Of descending the Mississippi. The Rebels al
ready ACKNOWLEDGED the inulity Of resistance TO the
Federal authority; the doubtful came TO the side oil
power, aud the loyal, who had borne tue brunt OF
war-when to stand by the Union involved dan
ger and losscs-were everywhere encouraged 10 new
Efforts and rewarded for their past aid.
The Fall rains were over, the fine weather OF the
Indian Summer had come, she hay was gathered and
corn hardening and we were about to carry out the
great object of our campaign under the most favora'
bic auspices, with fewer hardshps from exposure
and mpedments from transportation than at sny
other season. The spirit Of the army was high. Ii
was mainly composed of Western men, whose inter-
tSl ~ wen Us WHost WHO 'i WIZ
opening Of the Mississippi River, for the prepare
tons to which they had contributed every possible
effort, and we had every reason to believe that the
campaign would open with signal victory in the de.
feat or desperation Of the Rebel army, with move
on Memphis us the immediate result.
These were the circumstances under which, with
ont reason assigned, l was relieved OF my COM
mand.
II il not grateful to ME to have been myself COM
PEELED to ret ont the merits Of my administrations but
was necessary in order to call attention to points
which otherwise might not have been presented, and
which arc necessary to clear understanding OF the
subjects inquired into. Many acts which have been
censured were, think, for the public good. know
they were with that intention. do not feel that in
any oversteppcd the authority intended 10 be
confdcd to me.
Myself, and the officers and men acting with me-
were actuated soely by desire to serve the country
and feel assured that this IL realized by the people
Of she West, among whom we were acting.
Respectfully, J. G. FREMONT
Major General " g. l.
Documentary Evldeuce.