The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-16
The Mountain Department.
CORRESPONDENCE of the New York Times


worse in the mountains, rendering army trave
exceedingl y difficult, not to say impossible.
Gen. Rosecrans has gone eastward Gen
Fremont has left the hotel, and has taken the
only unoccupied dwelling in town, known here
as the Stanton House. which is now his head
quarters, the owner and late upants having
gone South. Here with him reside Coils AL
bert, Zagonyi, Lieut.. Col. Savage, and Capts.
Howard and Raymond, performing their appro
pirate duties. Here also, in the large office,
during business hours, (from A. NJ. TO p.
III } may be found other members of his staff,
at their respective labor. Gen. Fremont is an
early riser and hard worker and his subordinates
naturally, not to say unavoidably, fall into his
habits Here, too, as See by a card in the
Wheeling Press, he will receive such officers as
desire to call upon him, " between . and 10
O'Clock each day, until further notice.
The Assistant Ad utant General, Col. Tracy
has his Office in the building formerly the head
quarters of the Department of Western Wig mia.
Here also are offices of the Provost Marshal,
Chief Commissary, Medical Director and tele-
graphic rooms, where the Department ma
chinery of officers and clerks work busily at
the details of current military business.
have just had an interview with Gov. Pierpoint
which proved exceedingly interesting. The Gov
ernor believes that the people of Western Vir-
gina are the most thoroughly loyal to be found
in any part Of tho United States. He seems
perfectly familiar with the country, and with the
people. He says that when Gen. Fremont fist
came here, some politicians ventured to express
their disapproval, owing perhaps, in part to the
personal popularity of Gen. Rosecrans. But
these are now reconclled and among the PEG.
pie the Governor daily meets with from all Wes-
tern Virginia, he assured me he is yet to find
the first man who does not express the most en-
tire confidence in Gen. Fremont. On the sub.
ject of slavery, the public mind here is changed,
and changing, and runs ahead of the politicians.
In the Convention of June IL. 1861, held in this
city for organizing new Government, those
members who favored CONSTITUTE ton admitting
slavery, and even those who shirke1 the CUES
ton, on their return home were held accounta
bic by their constituents, in tone that surprised
them; and whenever hereafter the question can
be fairly submitteu there viii! be found an over
whelming ma ority against the institution. This
applies, of course, to Western Virginia, and to
some counties, perhaps, of Northern and Eas-
tern Virginia. In respect to this new Govern
ment Of Virginia. a popular misrepresentation
exists. 1t is by many supposed it was organized
to inauguratc and establish d new and free State
to be called, perhaps, Kanawha. That was in
deed the IDEA of Mr.. John s. Carlisle, and his
party, but Gov Pierpont opposed it, and took
the ground that the whole State was virtually
without II goyernment-the old government,
with all its Offices, having been made void
and virtually abolished, by the incumbeuts
thereof having criminally united in a trea-
sonable rebellion against The Constitution and
the laws of this State, and Of the United States
This new Government is, therefore, the only one
that exists, or that can be recognized by the
people of this State, or of the United States, and
the Governor has already reorganized the Gov
eminent in Northampton, Accomac, Fairfax and
other eastern and northern counties, to the
number of torly-two, as fast as he could reach
them, and will continue to do so, by appointing
loyal Union men to fill the offices. The question
of organizing a new State out Of Western Vir-
ginia, is held in allegiance, and will come up at
"a more fitting lime hereafter.
On one point the Governor was particularly
emphatic-and the Government at Washineto ton
will do we'll to give heed to it-and that is with
reference to the manner of dealing with traitors
and treason. The National Government is doubt
less in earnest in putting down the rebellion, but
how is it dealing with the traitors and rebels
taken in arms against the Government? The
people demand, and must see more vigorous
policy pursued toward them, ard especially
against the leaders. Gov. Pierpont is In favor
OF extreme measures, and of enforcing the ex-
IRENE penalty of the law against treason. But
in this regard the National Court here is alto
gether behind the time, and any rebel arrested
tor reasonable acts feels himself perfectly safe if
he can be brought to trial in it. Gov Pierpoint
has appealed to Gen. Fremont for aid to remedy
the abuse, and their convictions of the necessity
of adopting sterner policy are Identical; but
Gen. Fremont is unable to take any action until
he receives Instructions from Washington.
AS showing the tone of feeling on this sub
ject, give an extract from letter written by
ii Kentucky soldier, now in Tennessee
He writes " w hat has been done with those
men who ran off from home, came here, and
have done all they could against US ? Nothing,
suppose They are allowed to 20 home with
perfect IMMUNITY and in complete safety What
encouragement does this afford rs Is it very
encoura ging for US to run ourselves almost to
death to catch these rebels. and undergo all the
prlvations incident to a soldiers life, to main
tain the Union and put down the rebe lion,
when they are allowed to go to our very homes
and preach treason with impunity? We have
heard OF several persons who have done all they
could against our canse, and now are sitting
down quietly at home A little hemp pulling
in that nelshborhood would he'll matters great
iy."