Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-07
Correspondence New York Evening Post.
From Gen. FremOnt's FOrces-'Fhe March
over the Mountains
HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT.
Is TILE LIEI u 1, NJ. y

HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPA RTMENT
IN THE FIELD. CAMP TRACY.
len MILES FROM MERRYFIELD, Nav % 1862
After a march of twelve miles over Noun
tain roads, under the genial influences of a
pelting rain, we have camped here at present
whence diverge roads to Greenbrier, Win
chester and Strasburg, the road to the last
named place striking off south and from the
direct road TO Winchester; a road also leads
from Greenbrier to Winchester, not much
used, yet practicable for artillery. The val
ley OF the 'South Branch as it is called, is
the most beautiful | have ever seen here or
abroad The road from Petersburg leads from
the mountains out upon a high bluff, where
the entire valley lies outSpread before you.
For thirty miles north and south this branch
Of the Potomac may be traced winding
through meadows and plains, its banks lined
with trees. Here and there firmly built
houses crown the hill tops. The village of
Mooretield, by far the handsomest l have yet
seen in western Virginia, lies at the foot of
the long range OF mountains which to the east
forms the background of the picture. Moore
field Is secesh throughout, and while we were
there Its lazy inhabitants, loafing about the
streets, did not hesitate to show it in their
Sowing faces and uncivil answers
Much has been said of the growing senti-
have seen very little of it; while | find an al
most universal sympathy with the secession
lists. Nearly every family has its representa-
tives in the rebel army, and, when questioned
slowly, they confess their true feeling 1t is
astonishing to see how infatuated they are in
the belief that the north will be beaten in
the contest. Nothing but absolute defeat
will ever persuade them to the contrary.
We have had a most detestable evidence of
the curse OF slave law in our department in
the shameful action of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad company. Several negroes, ser
wants, free men born in the free states, who
had left their families and homes in the north
to serve our officers in the field, have been ar
rested on the line of that road. sent back to
New Creek and held in confinement until they
could prove they were freemen. Such was
the excuse given on inquiry. Three Of these
untortunateS were lucky enough to get back to
headquarters, and told this story. One had
paid his passage to Cumberland and was sent
back; he tried the other direction, and was
again arrested; in neither instance was his
passage money refunded, so the poor fellow
footed it seventy full miles to headquarters to
represent his case to the officer who had given
him a furlough to go home to a sick and dy-
ing wife. In many instances these men bore
passes from headquarters, but these railroad
officials paid no respect to the signature of
Gen. Fremont.
When the officer who is detailed to coun-
tersign passes stated these facts to Gen. Ere
mont that noble mans generous instincts did
not wait long to dictate the course to be prr-
sued. The following telegram was instantly
forwarded to New Greek, in which position
the matter rests up to the present time =
''MoUNTAIN DEPARTMENT.
Headquarters Army in the Field, May g.
To The Commanding Officer, Ne,U Creek:
1ou will release the negro servant of Lieutenant
IL. b Leary, who was arrested some days since and
all other negroes who have been molested for the
same reason. All passes issued from these head
quarters, to persons gong through the lines of this
department, must be respected.
By order of Maj. Gen. j. c. Fremont.
GEO. WARD NICHOLS, Captain and A. D. c.
There are great many men and women, of
dusky hue, that have lately Joined the army
in one capacity or another they perform all
duties faithfully and cheerfully, no one asks
from whence they come, and not man
amongst us is so cruel as to say, Go back to
your bondage and sorrow. God bless John
{. Fremont, say l.
From the New York Times
w ARDENsvILLE, Va, May 31.-This move
ment Cover the mountains) has been sudden
and most important, and serves to vindicate
Gen. Fremonts sagacity. Immediately after
the evacuation of Yorktown, he is known to
have said that if it had been designed by jeff.
Davis to leave Mcclellan before that place
with transports, and to make dash upon
Washington, Gas at this late day he seems
aiming at it was one of the greatest strate-
gic plans Of the war. Another part of his de-
sign indicated by Gen Fremont at the same
time, was sudden rush upon Gen. Milroy,
resulting in the battle at Mcdowell, so effec-
tually defeated by Gen. Fremont's prompt ac-
ton in sending Gen. Schenck to his relief. as
we have seen. When the history of tins war
shall have been all written, venture to pre-
dict, it will be seen that many of the most
valuable suggestions, predictions and plans
have emanated from Gen. Fremont