Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-07-19

John Charles Fremont was brave Ameri.
| can explorer and general, and was known as
| the Pathfinder ofthe Rocky Mountains He
was born January q, 1918, at Savannah, Geor.
gia, and was the son Of Frenchman and a
Virginia mother. He graduated at Charles
ton College, South Carolina, and became a
professor of mathematics in the navy about
1885, but he soon resigned that position In
1889 he assisted Nieollett in exploration of
the upper Valley of the Mississippi. He was
appointed second lieutenant Of the topo-
graphical engineers in 1888 and was ordered
in 1871 to explore and survey the river, Des
Moines. In October of that year he married
a daughter of Senator Benton, of Missouri
Having formed project to explore the
Rocky Mountains and to open an overland
route to the Pacific Ocean he began the ardu.
Gus enterprise under the governments author
lty in May, 1912. He Examined the South
Pass of the Rocky Mountains and assembled in
August the highest peak of the Wind River
Mountains, which is 1850 feet above the sea,
and is now called Fremont's Peak. In the
autumn of that year he returned to Washing
ton and published a report of his discoveries,
which was commended by Humboldt in his
ASPECTS of Nature"
In the summer of 1913 he conducted another
expedition up the valley of the Platte and
through the South Pass, explored Great Salt
Lake and made important geographical dis
cOyeries He arrived in November at Fort
Vancouver, near the mouth of the Columbia
river and in the ensuing winter attempted to
return by a more southern route, but his
progress was arrested by deep SHOWS and his
party suffered severely from hunger and cold
Having changed his course, he reached the
Sacramento river in March, 1874, and return
ing through the Great Basin and the South
Pass, arrived at Kansas in July. The daring
and fortitude exhibited in this exhibition
among hostile savages and inhospitabe deserts
In in he Of
human adventure.
Soon after his return he was promoted TO
the rank of captain and prepared a report of
his second expedition. In the spring Of 1915
he conducted third expedition, to explore
the Sierra Nevada in California, He was at
tackled by MeNicans near Monterey in March
1916, defended himself with success, was raised
to the rank of lieutenant colonel in May, and
was appointed Governor of California by Com
modore Stockton, whose authority WINS dis
puted by General Kearney. Fremont, how
ever, continued to recognize Commodore
Stockton as his superior, and was arrested by
General kcarney, who ordered him to report
to the Adjutant General at Washington. lie
was tried by a court-martial, and found guilty
Of mutiny and disobedencp for which he sEs
pardoned by the Presidenct but he declined
the pardon and resigned his commission.
In 1913, Fremont attempted at his own ex-
pense another expedition across the continent
through the northern part Of Mexico, but the
guide lost his way and the party after under
going incredible sufferings in which one
third of the number persisted were compelled
to return. In 1919 he settled in California
and exerted his influence to make California
a free State. He was one of the Senator's
chosen to represent that state in the Federal
Senate in 1850. In 1872 the King Of Prussia
gave him gold medal for his valuable dis
covery; so also did the Royal Geographical
Society of London. In 1858 he conducted at
his own expense an exploring party 10 the
Pacific, and succeeded in finding a new route
about latitude $50 north.
He was nominated for President by the Re
publican National Convention in June. 1856
as the competitor of James Buchanan, the
Democratic candidate, who was elected. Ere
mont received Ia ELECTORAL votes cast by
eleven States, against la votes given TO his
opponent.
In May, 1861, he was appointed Major.
General of the regular army, and commander
of the department of the Missouri, or Western
district. In August he issued an order for the
emancipation ofthe slaves ofthose who should
take arms against the United States, but this
act WIS disspproved and annulled by the
President, who considered it premature. He
was removed from command in November,
1861. In March, 1862, he was appointed to the
command of the Mountain department, in
GLIDING parts Of Virginia, Kentucky and Ten
nessee. He fought an indecisive battle against
Stonewall Jackson's troops at Cross Keys, in
June, 1862 and soon resigned his command.
After his resignation he took no further ac-
tive part in war or in politics until 1875, wlel
he was appointed Governor Of Arizona. lie
served few years and then came East, where
he had lived ever since.