The National tribune., 1891-08-20

IolOmac Home Bugaue, Maryland volunteers,
who had that moment returned from a scout in
search Of a party Of gnorriilas who had mar
dcFed a number Of convaescent soldiers while
on their way from Winchester 10 NoOrlield.
Col D0wney had 0VertakCn and killed Capt.
John limbaugh,
CHIEF or GUERRILLAs,
and had killed and captured n number Of bis
men. Fremont was gratiied 40 the success, and
consequently good deal excited. ] found him
a man Of splendid physique, a Pheasant face,
ailable in manner, wearing a full beard aud
having his thick suit Of hair banged He inn
pressed me at once as a superior man. aud
looked acted and talked the soldier His en-
yironment during the campaign was remark
able in various WAYS His official staff was
marvel in quantity and quality and contained
representatives Of every cline and country,
whose insignia OF rank ranged from Lieutenant
10 General, with any numbered Bar0ns Lords,
Dukes, Princes, Counts, aud Others, speaking
every known tongue and to attempt 10 write
the names of some Of these distinguished for
oi2ners would involve the possibility Of driving
either the writer or the reader 10 the mad
house, OF perhaps, i'm an unguarded moment,
10 induce him say something very like the
follow who comes I'm contact with banana
peel and sits down earlier than he intendod
lu explanation TO my inquiry OF one OF his
personal staff / was informed that tie rush Of
wished 10 become acquainted with our system
OF war had flocked 10 the President and Secre-
tary Of War for assignment for duty in the
field, and somehow the President and Secretary
sent all such 10 Gen. Fremont. The General
took IL very good naturedly and was little dis
turbed on account of his numerous staff. As
each new man would present himself with the
Presidents order the General would very
courteously remark, Make yourself at home;
Will cali on yoa when ] need you," and an
Orderly would refer them TO the C0mmissary
Of Subsistence, whose duty il was 20 care for
them. 1t was intmated that the sending Of
this hoard Of
POLITICAL AND FOREIGN AIDS
to the Shenandoah Valley was one Of Mr.. Lin
coins Characteristic Jokes. Stonewal Jackson
frequently paid visits 10 the Valley.
Gen. Fremont had another nuisance st his
Headquarters I'M a company Of scOuts-brOught
from the West, / believe. They were noted in
this, that no two Of them wore the same uni
1 form, or rather the same dress. They were
/ known IN the army as the Jessie Scouts"
named Jessie" for Mrs. Fremont Ii was
claimed that these noted scouts rOamed at will
I through the Confederate army-always return
I ing with the most important (g) aud pleasing re-
I ports of their hair breadth escapes 1T was
very amusing 70 our old Virginia scouts who
were familiar with every stream. mountain
/ pass and cowpath from Winchester 10 Rich
4 mond but the valuable service 10 the army Of
/ the " Jessie Scouts" was not one OF Mr. Lin
coins jokes.
That this reference 10 the az Of Gen. Fre-
mont may not be miscOnstrued as contemplate
ing all OF his Aids-de- Camp, take pleasure in
4 referring 10y name 10 some OF his personal work
/ ing staff officers whose gallantry was c0nspic-
uous on the battlefield, and whose faithful
services in the camp and on The march was eX-
celcd by none. j recall Adi't-Gcn. Albert
/ Tracy; also Coils. Charles Zag0nyi and John
! Pils0n; Chief Quartemascr, Capt Gouldiug,
/ Chief Of Subsistence, Capt. Mallory; Medical
/ Director, Surgeon George suckley and Surgeon
/ A. G. Hamln.
Returning TO my proposed criticism, ] will
! preface what ] shall have 10 write in this con-
nection by the acceptance Of a conceded fact,
/ that the JaiOn army IN the late war was the
/ best fed, best clothed aud best paid army tho
1 world has ever known, aud Notwithstanding
this admitted fact, as early as April, when
/ Gen. Fremont took command Of the Mountain
/ Department, his plans and promises 10 the
country were hampeTcd-indeCd virtual y clog
ged-lOr want OF quarternaster and commits
| gary supplies, and 40 the time Of bis taking
command IN The field, with Headquarters al
] New Croek-su bs8uucutly Petersburg aud
/ Franklin, wish the exception Of the brigadcs Ol
/ MilrOy aud scbcHck-both Of which, having
recently passed through a severe campaign
were greatly ia need Of such supplies; but
GEN. BLESKEEs DIVISION
was practically helpless; IN fact, the division
might be designated as in ptiablc condition
with but few horses and mules, and they broken
down and starved-uuftied l0r cavalry, artil-
lery, Or wagons and smbulances Forage wa.
30 scarce that the horses Of the entire command
were suffering, and the men were quite as dcs
titute and were suffering not only Tor want
o. sufficient rati0ns but also IN the matter oI
clothing and blankets, and there was at least q
month that many Ol the troops were without
tents or other shelter 10 protect them from the
chilling blasts Ci "a late and stormy Spring.
was frequent visitor 10 Headquarters, and
] know that this condition OF tie army wa
not caused by the neglect o. Cen. Fremont, fol
be showed me copies Of acquisitions made bJ
mail and telegraph, aud tic demand was 70
peated day after day; so when the timo dit
come Tor hls command 10 advance he was iT
poor condition for such an emergency, and
cau truthiuly say that at the time jackson
made Ais raid into the Shenandoah Valley one
third Of lrom0nts command were unit 70
duty by reason Of sickness from exposure an,
! the want Of forage and rati0us.
IN fLb5iant lalDn OF my Tcc5llgcti0ns Z.
noted ] quote from Gen. Fromont's ohlcia
report Of his advance movement:
Z The streams were swollen by tAe !ncessaul rains
! aud the roads had become almost imB.ssabl,
With complement 81 wagons much crcccduu
= iIht upon tie route, the supply would have bee
but moaEer even iu in3r weather With the liuiilt
I number available together with the hiudrAuCe
encountered iho supply was lar below The nee,
I Not 80 much ns ouo-qunftcr forage got f0i
q WARD, aud except hu incomplete ration of bTcn,
{ DO nations had been got mp Tor The mon For day
together fresh blcf with little salt was the ont
! provision on hand Tor issue. Coffee, 80 c-seutii
= aud desirable lu the field, was becoming "a luAur
a almost uuAlUwu. Subsistence arriving uildcT n
y voice 20 "a particular brigade was taken by Ordt
and, 10 Tar ~ li would 60, distributed 10 all Hci
istr were largely 0H the increase, aud such wa
. thr dcmOrul4ltiIon induced by privAtluuB endure
tlla demonstrations among Jho mon, amounting
!, ALMOST TO 0rES MUuNY,
had in instances 70 b. put down with the slron
hand.
y I'M justice to The troops from West Virgin
4 aud OHIO the 5TiRadcs ol Miroy, Schenck, an
y ClusUTet should not be included as among tho
y 10 be put down with the strong hando p
= such iOrcciui Argument had been proposed
4 them, nor could b. possibly apply 10 tho
y troops Tor 90 this date no dissatisfaction OOl
ing 10 revolt had possessed them. Their gTie
e auccs, referred 10 heretofore developed son
'1 weeks after the miserable failure uf the car
= paiFn, aud was not then wholly the result
y exposure hunger, aud weary marches, b
- more from realization Of the fact that the
iS was iBCOmpeteucy aud mismauaPemeut In son
- quarter and they were tired Of it aud sOuR
~ 10 correct %, even unto desperation.
p Leaving Fremont aud hIs command for d
% present will turn 10 the central and most co
ie spicuous figure, Gen. Banks and his depal
u mrut, aud note the part taken by him and /
command in thls great drama Of the Valley
~ the Shenandoah aud i will Rt once disabu
tho mind Of the reader, III 10 ID antcipAt
that shall hold Gen. Banks personally regpon