Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-06-25
GENERAL FREMoNr,s OPERATIONS
From the PHILADELPHIA Press

GENERAL FREMONT's OPERATIONS
From the Philadelphia Press.
The annals OF the crisis through which we
are passing are the most varied, the most viviC
ever written by War. The world has no par
aIel to the extent and the degree of the
treachery disclosed by the last few months
but neither has 1T such sublime records OF in
corruptibIe manhood. If il has its Gosport
it has, too, its Monroe. 1t balances the base
surrender of Pensacola by the heroic retention
OF Sumter. 1t contrasts Lee with Lyon Bu-
chanan with Lincoln. 1t puts side by side
the raid of Ewel and the retreat of Banks ;
the retreat of Jackson and the advance oil
Fremont.
1t is to this latter operation that we wish to
call special attention. The retreat of General
Banks has been thoroughly discussed, and has
taken definite shape in the public mind as one
of the most mastery movements of the war
The ''iron man's'' name is already gloriously
chiselled in iron. But the advance of Gen
Fremont. having been through region less
known aud less near, has not received that
need of praise to which detailed examina.
ton Of the difficulties surmounted and the re-
suits achieved would entite it. The data,
though confused, are now sufficient for us TO
understand the movement they are scattered
over the letters of many correspondents. We
give this succinct abstract OF them.
At the time General Fremont received or
w
rescue Of Banks, or the chastisement of Jack
son, his army was at lin, in the centre of
Pendleton county, Virginia. The place is on
ly forty five miles south of the extreme west
ern boundary of Mary aud, but between it and
that State stretch innumerable spurs Of noun
tain ridges. Pendeton county is hemmed in
on the east by the Shenandoah mountains on
the west by the Allegheny while through it,
in every direction, run series of ridges, ,,appro-
prately described by the name of Fork Noun
tains, and others entitled, with sly sarcasm
Bull Pasture Mountains. Jackson was at this
time at Winchester, north east of Fremont.
FremOnts evident course was, therefore, to
move down in south easterly direction to
Iarrisonbnrg, make there junction with Nc
DOwell, and intercepting Jackson, compel him
10 fight his way through the united forces or
surrender But Mcdowell could not get any
respectable body there in time aud ii was
impossible for Fremont to move an inch fur
tier south. He was already seventy miles
from bis base OF suppies-separated from
thein 10y mOuntain roads OF such itnpassabiity
that his little ariny had been for week with
in two days OF starvation. II was exhausted
10y The forced marches recently made to res
cue Sthehek and Milroy il had no tfanspor-
tatiOn adequate for third of its force, and
between over work and undet-rations, was in
iiU state to move any " here, even under the
most favorable condition Of travel Besides
bJ iiiUvihg south. eastetly. the General w0uld
he separating himself still further from bis
supplies; the ebthtff being utterly exhausted. |
he would have 10 cross the Shenandoah at 4 |
very difitHt point. and risk pf0bluihatieal
Junction with Mcdowell The practical exi-
ethties ~ his Situation e6iibfl1ed tihi. there |
fore, 10 choose the tedious alternative Of on.
COMPRISING lhfee sides ~ sdtafe. Instead ~
making shortcut u The fourth Who can
lbliufH thati receiving hs orders late on |
saturday night, with bic army 80 W6fh, ahd |
tliH chances ~ e8s6Befati0h 90 uncertain, Free |
tDhfs plans were determined and digesied |
Win such fatid precision, bis Infinite faeleai |
arrangements made with such energetic do
sbateh, that his tfOeps were ~ iHil motion 6H |
Sunday morning, shaping their course due |
hefth i9i Petersburg, Amid constant rains,
WIN food anything but constant, over roads
eht aHd quilted Ny The army TRANSPORTATION Of
iadsd, hungry, siak, an nBfal-
leFing will, sh anhinehng purpose, big,
hTaEe heart, pushed these men on 30 Peters
burg, Into Tho town they traiud oB Monday
still wiling, but really Too weak, for an im.
mediate further advance, But they halted
only III Tuesday, beginning then their easier,
~ course, One mountain ridge after another
10 leit behind toll, privali0n, suffering, are
endured paiiently-ior Jackson aud the Shenr
andoah valley are beyond. knapsacks, tents,
hofes, ana ail unnecessary impedinenfa are
lell pehlnh' Ihe work Is earnest aud the
Nf''N'f'J poHh themselves w " WIN |
llght backs aud light hearts they resume the
march Friday sees them at Wardensyille
on Saturday they triumphantly stand on the
ridge that oyorlooks the valley SO longed for,
30 loled for and in the afternoon they camp,
Tor The first time in months, on plain.
But there is no rest for them. They are at
ah important junction Of roads one TO Win
chester leads northeast one TO Strasburg,
southeast They are in the midst OF the toe.
Again, the tireless daring of this man Hav-
ing accomplished, with exhausted forces, over
a hundred incredible miles in seven days, he
YET ventures to attack Jackson, and actually
defeats his rcar-guard But, meanwhile, the
onlk OF the rebel army passes down to Stras-
ourg In the cleverest nick Of time, Mcdowell
nanking IL on the east, Fremont on the west,
out ununted, unable to stay its course.
IL Is evident that no human efforts could
nave got mile more out OF Fremont's men
man that general actually obtained but 1t Is
equally clear that II the junction with Mellow
ei had been made a day earlier, Jackson's
whole force would have been captured or dis
persed. We may learn critical charity from
Ine thwarting, by circumstances, of such in
uOmitable genius, when we take down our
maps and rave, amid freside comfort, because
Jackson is not intercepted"
= AN, the brilliant marauder's plumes are
IA san pened His boasted Growing has sub
Iaed Ia into an impatient cackle A race for |
'"e uOwn the valley The ranjd raid n more I