Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-29
MaJor General John c. Fremont.

arrived in Wheeling yesterday morning, to
take command of the "Mountain Depart
msnt.' which comprises Western Virginia,
Eastern Kentucky, and such part of Ten
nessce as lies east of line through Knox
vile 1t is said that his department is also
intended to Include all the country south
of the sections named, and which is in-
cIuded within the same parallels. This,
however, is u matter of dispute. We pro-
pose to give tor tue benefit of our Western
Virginia readers, who Will all feel more or
less interest in their military commandant,
a short sketch of the career of Gen. FREE
mont thus far. We find the material fur
uished ready to our hand in work called
The Officers of the Union Army"
lie was born at Savannah, Ga, 2lst jan
mHry, 1878. His father, who was a French
gentleman, dying the same year, the child
was carried by the mother TO Charleston,
;. C., where she settled. At the age of
fifteen years, the boy was entered in the
Junior class OF Charleston College, and
soon became conspicuous fer his great pro-
Ecicucy in mathematics. In 1888 he be-
gan has business life as a teacher of math-
euaIics Uu board the U. S. slOop of war
Satchez, which was about to sail from
Charleston 10 South America. On board
this vessel be held his position with honor
Tor over two years, and on his return re
ceiVed the degrees of Bachelor, and Master
vi Arts from his alma mater. Shortly aE-
forwards lie passed rigid examination at
baltimore for tue post OF Prof of Mathe-
matics in the Navy, and was appointed to
That position on board the frigate indie
pendence. Nevertheless, he soon resolved
10 quit the sea, and engaged in surveying
ana railroad engineering. He assisted in
surveying the railroad from Charleston to
Cincinnati, and explored the mountain
passes between South Carolina and Ten
nessee until 1887, when he helped to re.
GonnOitre the mountainous Cherokee coun.
Try in the midst of severe winter. In
1883 he weut on explorations of the
country between Missouri and the British
line, accompanying NJ. Nicollet, the
Frcnchman, n distinguished savaut These
explorations were made by the authority
OF lhe I. 5. Government, aud in 1888,
while N THAI employment, President Van
bnren appointed him Ith July, 2nd Lieut.,
IN the corps of Top. Engineers lie was
sent afterwards to examine the river Des
Molnes, which WAS soon executed, and
shortly after returning from this duty lie
married Miss Jessie. daughter OF Hon.
Thos. II. Benion, for thirty years Senator
from tue State of Missouri She is well
KNOWN 10 the country by the title OF "our
Jessie, and in "a remarkable degree re-
semh!es her great father
The following year he made ageOEraph-
zeal survey of the entire territory of the
United States from the Missouri river to
tue Pacific coast, being sent with few
men 10 discover the Southwest pass in the
Rocky Mountains. In lS4a he explored
the mountain region of Oregon and Cali
'ornlH aud the Sierra Nevada. His suffer.
sriugs and privatiOn in these expeditions
II fully recountea would Gll pOnderous
volumes. Success crowned his efforts,
and he achieved undying fame, adding
vast stores of knowledge to the acquire
ments OF science, as well as enhancing the
wealth strength aud glory of his country.
hi course his faithful assistants in these
enterprises have their share in all their
merits. hut we are not here permitted to
speak particularly of them, for want of
space. One of them, the renowned Kit
carson, Is loyal officer of our Union ar
my in New Mexico.
In lS46, 27th of May. Fremont was
made Colonel of II regiment of mounted
rhemrn. lie commanded a battalion of
California volunteers during the Mexican
war from July to November, 1876. Hav-
ing some misunderstanding with General
hearney, who commanded the department
OF California, he resigned and left the
army. In lS4S he set ont on "A fourth
journey of discovery to the Rocky Noun
taihs, NJ his own expense, and arrived at
Sacramento in ls49, where he resolved to
settle, having purchased the famous Mari
pora estate two years before. In March.
lS+9, he WGs appointed one of the United
States Commissioners to run the line be-
tween the United States and Mexico, which
post he relinquished GU being chosen U. s.
Senator from California, iu the conquest
OF which country he had taken an active
part. He has received several medals and
distinguished marks of honor from the
Scientific Societies Of Europe, one com
ing IN 1850 from the hand of Humboldt.
for proficiency In the Sciences, ~ by dit
rectlOn OF the King of Prussia. In 1858
he made his fit(h tour from the Mississippi
TO the Pacific Ocean. In 1856 he was
nominated by the Republican party for the
Presidency, and came near being elected
receiving one hundred and fourteen cleo.
IorRI votes. In the heated excitement
attending that political contest very little
could be aidUeed by his bittsrest Oppoz
uents to diminish the splendor of his fame,
Que Of his admirers sang thus his praise:
..When Fortune gave our Fremont mama
She touched hIl heart with RreedOmh dame:
And formed his gallant soul and hand
For lofty deeds and high command"
Gen. Fremont has travelled extensively
in Europe, and been a close observer Of
military, as wella political affairs every
where. He is q sincere patriot in this |
great emergency, On the 2eth Nay, while
he was in Europe, the American citizens of |
Paris favorable to the Unicn breaEfasted |
together in the Hotel du Louvre, number
ing one hundred and ifty, oae-thiru ladies.
Among the speeches made vas one by Gen.
F., in which he said he had been called
back to America, and would lose no time
10 responding. he twas ready to give
rived at BOstoa, Mass, 9th June, in the
steamer Europa, bringing with him q large
assortment OF valuable arms for the Gov