Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-24
Correspondence of the Evening Post.

Y. PosT.]
Correspondence of the Evening Post.
CAMP NEAR STRAsBURG, July 4. 1862.
During the brilliant march from Franklin
over the mountain to Strasburg, and in the de-
termined, persistent pursuit of Jackson up the
Shenandoah Valley, which eliminated in the
hardearned glorious victory of Cross Keys,
accompanied General Fremont's army. disin-
terested and unprejudiced, sharing its pains in
trial and its JOY in the triumph of success.
In this brief eyentful campaign how often
has my heart swelled with proud exultation to
witness the endurance of our noble soldiers un-
der the most exhausting deprvatons, to see
their heroic courage and superior daring in the
storm of battle l have seen that wondrous
electrical power OF their leader, who shared
with them the scanty ration of hard bread and
coffee, who thought no soldiers bed in the for
est or wheat fields too poor for him if it was
theirs-;hat love and pride in their General,
which, protest against it or explain it as YOU
will, animates the soldier to heroic deeds and
makes his cause their own.
JACKSON DEFEATED AT CROSS KEYS.
1t is the misfortune of these patriot men that
the malignant enmity which has followed FIRE.
mont ever since the political campaign of '56
should be visited upon them in the war cam
paign of '62. There has been a malicious and
cowardly attempt to rob them of the lust
merit of their toll and courage; for it has been
said that the battle of Cross Keys was not a
victory for us, but defeat.
What was Jackson's condition when, after
fierce conflict of five hours, he was driven two
miles from the centre of his position, losing
cannon, small arms, prisoners and stores, with
three times our loss of killed and wounded left
upon the field, retreatng in the night, crossing
the Shenandoah and bun ming the bridge behind
him few moments before the arrival of the
avenging pursuers? Victorious generals do
not often destroy the means of communication
between their armies and defeated enemy.
In the efforts of these persons to drag down a
representative General, let them not strip the
laurel OF honor from the brow of his patriot
soldiers.
THE SUPERSEDURE OF FREMONT.
There is closing chapter in the history of
Fremont's campaign in the mountains which
has not yet been printed, that ought to be
known. in justice to all. 1t was a sad morning
in our camp when the news came of the ap-
pointment of General Pope to the command of
a new combination to be called the army of
Virginia, in which General Fremopt's army was
designated as the First Column. Such a COM
bination was anticipated by ali of us, and among
the officers of Generals Banks and Siges corps
it was never doubted for an instant but that
General Fremont, by every dictate of honor,
gratitude and military law, was entitled to that
command. The personal relations between
Generals Fremont and Pope were well known,
and it was the opinion of every General-Sigel,
Banks, Schenck, Schurz, Plat, Stahel and the
rest--that, aside from the question of rank,
Fremont could not, with self-respect retain his
command. But the Commanding General had
decided this question for himself before any
lna ho oh hoA
the receipt of the new order he teegraphed to
Washington for leave of absence for ten days
Many weeks of anxiety and exposure had made
him i'll, and, suppose, he wished to delay or
avoid the step which the government had forced
upon him. The answer to his request came
quickly, peremptorily; "No stay with your
command" A month before, General Fremont
received a dispatch at Franklin, from President
Lincoln, begging him to "come to the relief of
Banks" that "the country looked to him in this
hour of need to save her honor" lie did what
an unselfsh patriot ought to have done. He
did what very few men, be they Generals or
Presidents, can do. Behold his reward written
upon the strip of paper in his hands.
EFFECT OF THE REMOVAL UPON FREMoNT's
TROOPS.
The last act of the General as he road away
from the camp, was to order one of his staff to
assist to the hospital a sick soldier who had
fallen by the ay-side.
Again | say it was a sad day in our army. In
all the privations and sufferngs of troops there
had been no word of COMPLAINT; they asked
only to measure swords with the enemy. That
day the army was a mass of greved and indig-
nant men. Silently, and most unexpectedly to
all, their chief mounted his horse and rode away
towards the east in few moments the news
OF Ropes appointment to the command,
and the Generals having having been re-
heved, at his own request, from his position,
spread through the camps.
have seen men excited by passion and an
ger, commit deeds of violence have listened |
to the magic power of the orator when a con-
course OF men u d women was moved from |
smiles to tears but | have never witnessed |
such change, from the proud consciousness of
soldiers who felt that they had done their duty, |
and deserved some acknowledgment and re-
ward, but who received, instead, contempt and |
Illumination. ! say the soldiers felt this, for .
every man IN his army, from the General now
III command OF MS column to the lowest pri- |
vate' made common cause with General re-
mont. lie utters not word, but his soldiers
protest. as soldiers may protest, against a
wrong which has no ground of justification.
moral or political, if the latter elements can for
a moment have entered into the outstion i'm
these days of unambitious statesmen and gen
erals. eN"
CONDUCT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
OF the competency of General Fremon, 10
conduct the campaign in Western Virginia tho