New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-04

We issue full extra sheet this morning 10
order 10 present uIbroken the DEFENSE OF
GEN. fremont against the charges aud impu-
tations of which he has been the target and
which he has hitherto received in perfect
silence. This defense was made 10 obedience
20 requisition of the Joint Committee of
the two Houses of Congress on the Conduct of
the War, and vas originally submitted to that
Committee. There Gen. Fremont rested
trusting that a sense Of justice would suggest
to the COMMITTEES or to Congress the propriety
Of ordering its publication. This hope has
thus far been disappointed and he remains to
this day, in the eyes of large proportion OF
the community, Major. General suddenly and
peremptorily stripped Of lis command, de-
prived Of all opportunity for service, and oiii-
cially accused Of the grayest errors and blum
ders yet who bes not word to say in
his own yindca.On. And, 80 long as
,he contest for National existence seemed
doubtful one, he felt it his duty to suffer In
silence enduring reproaches that be- knew to
be unjust, and loaded down with imputatiOn'
which mere exhibition Of public documents
would distipate But the recent glorious sue
cesses of the Union arms would seem 10 have
dispolled all necessity for further reserve, es-
pecally since his yindcGton is not based on
the impeachment Of any one else. He arraigns
no other commander; blames no One but is
content with showing that he did the best that
the means at bis command would allow, and
that the repuIse and death Of Gen. Lyon near
Springfield and the capture OF Mulligan at
Lexington occurred under circumstances that
placed their relief entirely beyond bis power
lie places the official documents so fully and
clearly before the reader that his sdyersaries,
II such there shall be after reading his state
ment, will find ia those documents all the data
required for q full emcdaton of the subject
Let us briefly illustrate:
The battle Of Bull Run was fought July DIST,
aud itsCesults were known to seven-eignths OF
, the Amer can People before the next sunset.
The Unionsts were profoundly disnlayed and
depressed; the Secessionists and their sympa.
thizers were extravaganty elated. The latter
instuctiyely rushed TO arms in every quarter,
confidently expecting to drive the Cnlonsts out
of the Slave States and Federal District forth
with. la Missouri, they numbered three.fourths
of tie men accustomed to the use Of arms,
with the Governor at their head, and the full
Military strength of Arkansas, under Ben.
McCulloch, mastering to their aid.
Gen. Fremont left New-York to take COM
mand of bis Department the day after Bull
Run. He reached st. Louis on the 25th. The
three-nonths' men who formed the bulk OF his
forces were just dispensing, their term OF en-
hstment having expired or being about to ex-
pire. Many if not most of them had
never seen the face of paymaster; few were
inclined to re1nlIst at that gloomy crisis.
Heavy Rebel forces were threatening Cairo,
Springfield, and other important points, with
the confident expectation CT soon capturing not
Only Jefferson City but st. Louis, which was
itself hotbed of barely repressed treason.
There were not at that moment half 30 many
troops at his command as there were Rebels
pressing upon him; while arms, munitions,
transportation, wers not to DO had ON any
terms. Thousands OF brave volunteers lay
tor weeks in camp idle and useless for want
Of arms aud equipments, while positions