The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-26
LETTER FROM GEN. FREMONT.
Explanation of his Military Position.
NKW YoRL lam

Explanation of his Military Position.
New YORK, January, 1864
GBNERAL-The condensed newspaper re.
ports of the House proceedings in relation to
unemployed officers place me in q position
which am not willing to occupy without ex-
PLANTATION.
need hardly say to you that it is not by my
own wish that / have been unemployed for
the past sixteen months | requested to be
relieved from my command i'll the Army of
Virginia because l regarded the order which
reduced me to. serve under Gen. Pope az a
most unmerited insult.
1t was in the discretion of the President to
refuse or grant my request. The granting of
the request simply implied transfer to other
duty, and was not to he taken with apenalty
attached. That neither the President nor the
Secretary of War so regarded my conduct, it
would be sufficient to mention the repeated as
surance l have received from both that they
were endeavoring to give Inc a command SO
soon as 1t could be done; and the additional
fact that, about the close of the last session of
Congress, highly important command was
expressly arranged for me bv the Secretary of
war. The command itself, and my desgna-
ton to it, received the appreciation of the
President, but it was finally given to another
officer.
Under the condition. therefore, of waiting
orders, l have reasonably been DESTROYS to re-
tain, against the contingency OF entering i'm
medlately upon service, small number of use
full officers, upon whose ability could rely for
any emergency. OF this number, several have
the experience OF many years in their profess
sion. From the beg inning OF the war they
have been in our service, and left comfortable
homes and successful business to engage in it.
The same patriotic motives which led them to
enter service naturally impellcd them to wish
to continue in it.
1t has not been pleasant for them to eat the
bread of idleness, and they have occasionally
felt it almost a duty to resign; but they have
respected my request t" remain, i'll the hope
of finally going into active service As re-
spects their pay, reduced rs il is by absence
from duty, it is barely sufficient for the sup
port of themselves and families. ] have not
thought this severe lux upon the State bear
ing in mind the fact that they have shed their
blood or exposed their lives for il. and at the
same time have rendered it distinguished and
valuable service, and have been always ready
to do it again.
since the question has been raised. that since
the close Of ia last session OF Congress, | have
considered it Il fund TO he applied where it
might relieve dislresseS resulting tom the war,
and it has been used accordingly have re-
gularly drawn it, because | consider it some
thing belonging with my commission, and
do not wish to'seem by any neglect to acquieSce
duties
But it has merely passed through my hands
back to the people from whom received it.
and this Use of it l think | have a right to
make. Respectfully, your obedient servant.
.. j. {. FREMONT,
Major General u. 5. A.
To the Honorable Major General ROBERT 4.
SCHENCK Chairman Military Committee.
Soldiers after the War.
MAoAULAY, in the portion, of his history
relating to the great revolution, touches
upon subject curiously paralleled
in our own times Speaking OF the fears
that were then entertained as to the result
of disbanding CROMwELL's army and
throwing its unruly elements back into
society, he says:
The troops were now dilandcd. Fifty thou
SAND men accustomed TO the profession Of
arms, were at once thrown upon the world,
and experience seemed to warrant the belief
that this change would produce much misery
or crime-that the discharged veterans would
pc seen begging in every street, or would DO
driven by hunger to pillagc But no such re-
suit followed In few months there remain
ed not trace indicating that the most form
liable army in the world had just been absorb
cd into the mass Of the community. The roy
allsts themselves confessed that, in every de,
partment of honest industry, the discarded
warriors prOspered beyond other men thas
none was charged with any theft or robbery
that none was heard to ask an aims; and that
if a baker, a mason, or wagner, attracted
notice by his diligence and sobrlety, ne was IN
all probability. one of divers old soldiers.