New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-02
FROM rHE ARMY OF VIRGINIA.
General Fremont's Departure.

Thursday evening came teegraphic news TO Gen.
Fremont that Maor.General John Pope was assigned
by the President 10 command the Army Of Virginia,
whereof the forces under Gen. Fremont were to
constitute the first corps That is to say, the ssnios
Msjor-Gen ofthe United States Army, was reduced
from the independent command Of a Department
to the command of an army corps, subordinate to .
general of inferior grade, who had been an insub.
ordinate commander under him IN Missouri, ana N
to-day bis bitter personal enemy. The order OF
President Lincoln was rudely transmitted by tsIe"
graph without word of preparation or explanation,
coming in duplicate from the Secretary OF war, ana
from Mai. Zen. Pope. 1t overtahes him moi a. the
penalty of nacton or disaster, but in the progress
of brilliant and successful campaign. II requires
him to resign at once his Department, the independ.
ent command of his army, his plan Of campaens
and all possibility of useful service to his country.
Astonished by the suddenness Of the demand, and
desiring time for reflection and consultation, Gen.
Fremont, without otter reply, asked for ten days
leave of absence. 1t was peremptorily refused
Determined if all else must be given up, to retam
al least bis honor and bis own respect, be them
sought to be relieved from his command, and shas
request was promptly granted. The interests Of
/ c.
permit him brief leave of absence, but were not
deemed to be compromised by his entire Withdrawal
from duty In accordance with the Presidents
directions, lie at once turned over the command to-
Brig. Gen. Schenck, next in rank under him. ard
this morning started for New.York.
It is not easy to realize change Of circumstances
so sudden, nor to consider them with patience
Nothing in the history of the Missouri campaign was
80 unjust 80 causelsss utterly inexcusabe 40 hie
last blow. II has been my fortune to know some
thing of the interior history Of this campaign snd
the relations between General Fremont and the mli-
tary authorities at Washington. This is no hour "a
publish that record or declare its character. -
enough TO say that the discouragement want OF cup
port, capricious interference and active hostility az
washington were greater hndrances to success than
the ingenuity and the despair of the enemy could
interpose. The energy and capacity which TIM
umphed over both are rewarded by disgrace. mo
public confidence, which pointed TO Fremont az tho
one General entitled by his rank, his Services snd
his skill to command the United forces in Northern
ami Eastern Virginia, was only evidence OF too
dangerous popularity, AID supplied the motive to at
tempt its destruction. The attempt was skillfuliy
made. II he retains LIS command under Pope, he
may be kept inactive, or hurried into disaster. IL
he resigns it is easy to say that his personal amb-
ton was superior to his patriotism. and the nation -
expected 10 forget that it hes been made impossible
for him TO serve bis country by remaining IN tho
field; that in such circumstances both patriotism sno
sef-respect compel him to retire.
Information Of the order was withheld until an
answer had been received to the request to be re-
lieyed 1t then became necessary to issue orders 70
various officers and the news became publicly known
at Headquarters on Friday afternoon. Needless to
say that among tie members of his staff the inius:ice
TO their loved and trusted General excited sorrow
and INDIGNATION Throughout the camp it was not
generally known till mex, morning. Desiring 20
avoid all demonstrations. the General arranged 10
leave al an early hour on Saturday. The stan WENT
down to his quarters at 7; the cavalry escort, under
Capt. Matbin, was drawn up IN front OF the nouse,
and after brief conversation with few cfhcers,
the General mounted and with staff and escort rode
across the fields away nom the camps to the road.
and Oh through the town. He halted for q few MIN
utes at Gen. Sgels headquarters, and again az Gen.
BanLs's. which are in the edge Of the woods some
distance beyond the village. Gen. Banks came cot
to meet him, and the two Generals stood b.tle
while talking together under the trees, meeting end
parting with evident cordially. Then Gen. Fremont
remouned rode back the road, and stopping again
as he entered it, dismissed and sad good bye those
of bis staff who were not to accompany him. Ono
after another lis officers rode up TO their General,
saluted received his kindly and cordial farewell and
turned sadly away With the General went Col
Albert. Chief OF Stai Lieut.Col Pilsen, Chef 81
Artillery; Licut.-Col Savage, Major Haskell and
Cant Ray,ncnd Aides-ie-C ann, Col, Zayonyi and
Capt Howard Are in Washington. The rest Of tia
staF remain temporarily for duty.
Headquarters have worn a gloomy loos snee
morning. A few officers are sTayey DISCUSSING Tho
events of the day or the history of the campaign.
Most OF them are quietly finishing what business
remains TO be done, and will leave tomorrow. The
active lie AMI friendly intercourse and cordial tprit
which yesterday made the camp so pleasant are op-
pressed by calamity which leaves one nm
affected. With the retirement Of the General tho
staff is scattered and the hopes and prospects Of Ito
summer are ended.
Since the General left have seen and talked with
many officers of his command Al dencnnce tho
injustice of the removal, and deplore lie influence
on the troops. These officers are Dot all rienis Of
Gen. Fremont but all agree in this feeling and
opinion. "A change Of commanders in such cjr-
cumstance., said Que General, "demorahLes and
dsbeartens troops" The inspiration OF bis susesses,
of their confidence in him. and the effect Of bis
efforts for more thorough discipline, arc completely
lost. | have had no time nor disposition 10 eo
through the camps for inquiry. The testimony cs
such number Of officers is sufficient.
No address was issued +, the !roops. 4 formal
order put Brig. Gen. Ssaenck in command Of the