Daily national Republican., 1863-04-10
UPON GEN. FREMONT.
They Endorse his Administration In Mis-
soNrI.
REPORT.

REPORT.
Your committee have been unable to take all
the testimony necessary TO enable them to pre-
sent comprehensive report In relation TO the
administration Of affairs In the Department Of
the West, more particularly while under the
command Of Gen. John G. Fremont. Com
PEELED to remain In attendance upon Congress
during Its sesslonB, they were unable to visit
the department In order 10 take the testimony
OF witnesses there. And they did not feel will
ling to call from so great a distance the witt
nesses whose testimony was necessary to fully
elucidate all the facts, as their services were
constantly required In the field. Throughout
their Investigations your committee have strict
ly adhered TO the rule adopted by them from
the first, to ask the attendance of those in tho
military service only when no detriment to the
public interests would result from a temporary
absence from their commands. When Com
gross closed Its session, last summer, most Of
those who had been most actively engaged in
the operations TO which your committee desired
to direct their attention had been ordered to
other parts Of tho countryj some were in Ten
nessee aud Mississippi, some in Arkansas
some in the Army Of the Potomac, and Others
in the Department of the South, under Gen.
Hunter. such testimony as was within reach
your committee have taken. But they are fully
aware that their investigation upon that subject
has been far from complete; and they, there
ore, present but brief report, together with
When the rebellion commenced, Missouri was
one Of the most turbulent among those States
which rebel leaders sought 10 gain over to their
cause by the connlvancO and treacherY of the
State authorities, and by the presence Of armed
forces to operate upon the fears OF the people.
Tho number Of Federal troops in that region
was very SMALL great portion of our troops,
stationed In the Territories and at our military
posts upon the western frontier, had been
6asely surrendered by Twiggs to the rebels in
Texas. st. Louis, the great commercial en-
porium Of the State, was preserved from fall
ing under rebel control only by the prompt
and fearless course pursued by Gen., then Col,
Lyon, who, not waiting for orders or authorl-
ty, occupied the United States arsenal, when
threatened by the traitor governor of tho State,
aud dispersed the rebel troops who were col
lected under the specious name of State guards,
in a camp OF instruction near St, Louis.
; Tne difficulty under which our commanders
there labored in obtaining supplies of arms,
clothing, &c, for volunteers, was far greater
than was felt in any other part of the country.
Distant from all the principal depots, at q time
when the ability OF the Government was taxed
TO the utmost 10 arm and equip the large num-
n Der Of volunteers called into the field those who
i were, from time to time, placed in charge of
4 that department, were compelled to act under
the greatest disadvantages. .E
Just previous TO the appointment Of Gen.
Fremont 10 the command Of that department,
alarming. In every portion Of the State the
rebel forces had appeared and assumed the
otiensiyei all through the State they were COM
mitting their depredAtions, and jackson, the
governor, had appeared with a large force Of
troops furnished by the rebel authorities from
Arkansas aud Texas, In addition TO those he
hae been able 70 collect In Missouri. Pillow
and other rebel generals had collected large
force from Tennessee, Kentucky, &C., and were
threatening the southwestern portion Of the
State, and Cairo, at tho mouth Of the Ohio.
Gen. Lyon, who was the highest officer In com
mand, after the removal of Gen. Harney, had
with his limited means, been most active, and
had taken the field for the purpose Of prevent
ing Jackson, with his superior forces, from
getting possession Of the northern portion of
the State.
In July Gen. Fremont was assigned to that
command. He proceeded to New York city,
where he spent some days, endeavoring to ar
range for supplying his department with the
arms, &c, which were absolutely requisite He
reached St. Louis on the 18th of July. Gen
Pope, who had been assigned the command In
northern Missouri, was calling for troops TO
enable him TO take the field Gen. Lyon, in the
southwestern portion OF the State, had been
calling for re-enforcemeuts for some time; Gen,
Prontiss, at Cairo, was also asking for re-en-
fOrcements. Gen. Fremont first REINFORCED
Cairo, as being the most important point, stu
ated, as II was, at the junction of the Ohio and
the Mississippi, and controlling the navigation
of those two rivers. The number of trooPs
that he could obtain for that purpose was small;
but the enemy were led to believe, by the large
number of steamboats, that went down from St.
Louis, that the reinforcement was far greater
than 1t really wasj and Pillow, who had force
estimated at 1900 men, was deferred from
making the attack he had contemplated.
Cairo being REINFORCED, Gen. Fremont at
once took steps to send troops to the assistance
of Gen. Lyon. The number Of the enemy Op-
posed TO Gen. Lyon was almost overwhelming.
1t was supposed by many that he would retire
before them until he should meet supports He
himself seems to have contemplated such a
movement, for after the affair of Dug Springs
he retired to springheldi and Gen. Slurgis tes-
titles that, at that time, Gen. Lyon expressed
his convictions that re-enforcements could not
be sent to him.
Upon reaching Springfield, Gen. Lyon halted
his forces, and amer waiting there some four or
five days, announced his intention to march
out and attack the enemy. What reasons in
fluenced him in forming that determination arc
not well established by the testimony. Some
of tho officers have expressed their conviction
that he apprehended that the enemy, should
he retire further from them, would fall upon
bis rear and cripple him, or force him to fight
a battle under great disadvantages. His brave
spirit, doubtless, led him to meet the enemy he
had gone so far 70 reach, and endeavor 10 in
fict such a blow MS would lead them not 10
press very closely upon him. Whatever his
reasons may have been, he determined upon
the attack. The battle was fought at Wilson's
Creek, on the 10th Of August, and, though the
enemy outnumbered our forces four 70 one,
our army was eminently successful.
Gen. Lyon fell, leading on a regiment TO the
attack. His loss At that time was most deeply
felt. Dying as brave soldier would wish TO
die, fighting for tho cause Of his country against
those who were seeking It's destruction, his ex-
ample has exercised its influence upon those
who have since won the glorious victories
which have made our armies in tho West 80
illustTiOus.
Amer that battle our fOrces retired to Rolla,
the enemy being so severely punished that they
followed only at q distance. At RollR they
were Joined by the trOops that had been started
TO their relief, but had been delayed for want Of
transportation.
In September, Col. Mulligan, who had been
upon an expedition in the northern part of the