Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-10
Letter from Gen. Fremont.

The German papers publish the following
| interesting letter from General Fremont to
Maj. Gen. scbneck, Chairman of the house
Military Committee:
New ferk, January, ,lS64zGsSERAL-The
condensed newspaper reports Of the House
proceedings IN relation to unemployed Off
GERS place NE in a position which l am not
willing to occupy without explanation.
| need hardly say to YOU that it is not by
my own wish that haze been unemployed
for the past sixteen montils- | requested to
be relieved from my command in the Army
CT Virginia because l regarded the order
which required me to serve under Gan.
Pope as "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 to be taken with pen
atty attached. That neither the President
nor the Secretary Of War SO regarded nv
conduct 1t would be sufficient to mention the
repeated assurances have received from both
that they were endeagQring to give me 4 com
nland as soon as it could be done; and the
aGdlu0nal facs that about the close of the
las, congress, highly important command
was expressly arranged for me by the Sec
retary OF War; The command itself and NV
designation 20 IT, received the appreciation
OF the President, but it was finally given to
another officer. ......... -....,,, :. ......
Under the condition, therefore, of waiting
orders, have reasonably been desirous to re-
tam against the contingency e,f entering i'm
medlateiy upon service small number of
useful officers upon whose tried ability could
rely tor any emergency OF this number
several have the experience of many wears in
their profession. From the beginning of
the war they have been in our service. and
left comfortable homes and successful busi-
ness to engage in it. The same patriotic mo-
tives which led them to enter the service
naturally lmpelled them to wish to continue
i'll il. III. .' n y5.... 5...... |
1T has not been pleasant for them to cat
the bread of idleness, and they have oeoa-
slenalE felt it almost duty to resign, but
they nave respected my request to remain,
IN the hope OF finally going into active ser
wee. AS respects their pay, reduced as it
Is by absence from duty, it is barely suf-
hclent tor themselves and families I have
not thought this severe tax upon the State,
bearing IN mind the fact that they have shed
their blood or exposed their lives for it,
and at the same time rendered distinguish
ed and valuable service, and have ALWAYS
been ready to do it again. r. .ano .@,
AS regards my pay, [ think it right to
say, since that question has been raised, that
since the close of the last session of Con
gress have considered it fund to be ap- |
piled where it might alleTiate distresses re- |
sq'ting from the war, and It has been used
accordingly. | have regularly drawn it, be-
cause l considered it something belonging
with my commission, and / do not wish bv |
any neglect to acquiesce in my position of
forced retirement from army duties. But it
has merely passed through MY hands back to
the people from whom l received it; and
this use of it I think have the right to
maize. .~-
Respectfully your ob't serv't,
et j. G. FREMONT, Maj Gen. Z. S. A.