The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-02-04

away how, two months ago, all these
things stirred the public mind and heart,
and FremonL's name was on all lips, on
many with pride and affection, on some,
at least with doubt and blame and how
now all memory of incidents that then so
stirred the popular mind is put away,
superseded by the newer event, displaced
by the (resher interest.
Nevertheless, there are many things
in that hundred days Of the Fremont
campaign that, like all true things, will
shine with new luster as time sheds light
upon them, and which will come to be
read Of, by and by, as the heroic days Of
the war-the wal that has had SO few
heroic days, that can point in nine
months only to Winthrop at Bethel, to
Baker and Putnam at Balls Bluff, and
for all the rest must so TO Lyon, to Sigel,
to Zagonyi, to the Fremont Guards, and
the Fremont army Of the brief campaign
in Missouri. 1t is 10 one point of inter-
est in that campaign that we wish now
10 recall attention, because j. is one that
should be made clear while it is easy to
verify the facts, and while it is still re-
membered how strong an influence they
exercised in the formation OF the judg-
ment of many people in regard TO the
competency and conduct of Gen. Ere
mont.
Ii cannot yet be forgotten that as the
official days of Gen Fremont drew near
er 10 close, he drew nearer TO the
enemy. Day by day the assertion came,
and day by day was con;radicted, that
he was to be removed but every day
the progress of the soldier was watched
with no annoying and contradictory
rumors, for ii was clear, if anything
could be believed, that he was gaining
daily upon the rebel army. and no man
doubted that once overtakeu "the Lord
would deliver them into his hands"
At length came the two facts together
Fremont and Price stood face TO face, and
on the morrow would try the issue Of
battle and on that very eve the Gov
ernment messenger entered the Generals
tent and presented him the order TO give
way to another The defeat Of Price
Npuli nave bCCu an CHu VI hDtSccoIO IOil 'tl
Missouri never did men more long to
meet an enemy than the army of Fre-
mont hungered and thirsted TO be led
by their beloved Chief to the ordeal OF
battle, to which the whole country,
friendly aud unfriendly, had urged him
10 appeal. But even at that moment,
moment 50 longed Tor and so watched
for, General, and army, and people--we
may remember with pride-bowed with
submission to the authority and the wis
dom of the rulers at the Capital. Fre
mont bade farewell to his fellow soldiers,
bidding them crown the labors they had
performed together by victory, next day,
under another Then he returned to St.
Louis, and Hunter succeeded him.
Hunter succeeded him but it was not
to 90 out with the next mornings sun
and cut Price, his rebel army, aud Sc
cession. to pieces, but. after a few days,
in obedience 10 peremptory orders from
Washington, TO lead the whole army
back to St. Louis. Why was this? Had
that forced march Of Fremont's been a
foolish waste of energy and means ? Had
he not overtaken the enemy? Was the
attempt to do so futile and absurd Was
il the disagreeable duty of the new Gen
eral 10 expose a most gigantic pretension
1t is on this point we wish 10 put the
facts on record.
Whether il was in obedience to an un-
reasonable popular clamor, or sugges-
tons from higher powers, that Fremont
started in pursuit of Price, after the fall
of Lexington. and was compelled there.
by to change his own well matured plans.
We need not stop now TO consider. as it
is not 20 our present purpose. Enough
that he started in hot pursuit., of the rebel
General, and race commenced between
the two armies, one burning to revenge
the less of an important city. and to Just
ily itself and its General against popular
aspersion, the other 10 reach a point
where it might have some hope either to
escape or succor. Price from Lexing-
ton made straight for the south. western
section Of the State, for his point was
FORSYTH, on the White River, in Taney
County. and his road direct one. Ere
mont aimed to intercept him anywhere
on the way, but a long and formidable
march must be made-We know how he
did IT, performing what lis detraciors
sneered nj beforehand as impossible. and
overcoming all obstacles--esen before he
could get upon the trail OF Price His
aim WAS TO overlake the rebel when he
could and where he could, but TO over
take him at any rate, before lie reached
Forsyth Al Warsaw Fremont turned
his face from the west souhward, and
fastened onward toward Springfield,
where Zagonyi had preceded him with
his body guard. the world will not speed
ily forget how. And here we beg the read
cr to turn 70 his map.
1.-The viii turn TO his map he will OBJ
serve that the towns Of Springfield. Green
County, Cassville. Barry County. and
Forsyth, Taney County. make triangle.
Of which the side from Springfield to
Forsyth where the road is straight and
good. is shorter than that from Cassvile
TO Forsyth. where for half the way there
is no road at all Forsyth. as we have
said before, was The aim Of Price. be
cause upon that town. situated on the
l. 4, & -. 4