Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11

At this time, and
later until the plans of self-seeking politi-
clans demanded that they become estranged,
the President and General Fremont were in
accord. When the Rebellion broke out
Fremont was sure of the support of the
President, and did not hesitate to use his
fortune and credit in England-where he
was at the time, looking afte- his vast min
ing interests-in buying arms and other
munitions of war for the United States, al
though the United States Minister Adams
refused the Government sanction. Fremont
offered his services to the Government as
soon as the war broke out.
Competed With the Confederacy for Arms.
Although the experience through which
he had passed might well have daunted any
man from again submitting himself to the
chances of military oppression that had
been so unscrupulously welded against
Fremont in 1916, still he did so, and en-
gagged in obtaining arms-often competing
with the agents of the Confederacy, who
we're exceedingly active and well supplied
with funds and official credit, while the
United States was represented only by this
citizen and his private fortune; and it
must be remembered the United States was
90 deficient in arms at this time, and even
later, that regiments were drilling with
sticks
When General Fremont learned in Eng
land that he had been created major gen.
eral in the regular army be at once started
for the United States In sending his nom-
instion TO the Senate Lincoln had recog-
05za1 he 4ha4F Frauout rlaoed uotiano1
above State interests loyalty to the flag
above friends and family ties, and that the
convictions that had caused him to resist
the introduction of slavery into the new
State Of California would enlist him to fight
on the side whose Justice he had urged in
and out of the Senate.
Lincoln's Lack of Confidence in Fremont
This recognition of Fremont's political
faith and convictions made Lincoln's subse-
quent action in surrounding him with secret
service spies cause of arrangement be-
tween them when it became known to
Fremont that Lincoln had given credence
to the stories Of his enemies to the effect
that Fremont meditated the overthrow of
the United States Government and the es-
tabishment Of military despotism, with
himself as dictator. How Lincoln, after
evineing his faith in the LOYALTY of Ere
mont BY appointing him a Major General
and sending him to command a department
comprising the entire West of the United
States, could doubt his loyalty after Free
mans emancipation proclamation 60 davs
later-a proclamation that so shook the
center Of rebellion that its sympathizers in
the North obtained Its annulment by Lin
coln-is problem that even time cannot
solve, and an examination of the cores
poEdence, while it points to the imam
behind tate" only serves to identify
mystery without explaining it.
Before quoting the correspondence a
glance at the situation in the Department
OF the West in 1861 will aid in an under
standing of the letters The city of st.
Louis-the headquarters of the Department
Ct the West-was SO completely in the
possession Of the Southern element that not
E Union flag or uniform was exhibited A
union officer could not even wear the uni
form Of the Government he defended.
What Fremont had to Contend With
The situation is shown in letter of the
Rev. DIR. W. G. Elliot, of ST. Louis to his
intimate friend Salmon 2. Chase
1t should be remembered that Fremont
assumed command at a time OF greatest diff
Guilty, just after the Manassas disaster, when
the Cnion cause WAS at the lowest ebb. He
found ST. Louis terribly demoralized. The
secesslonlsts were in ecstRcies and had little
said that to me There was q bullet already
moulded for every Yankee abolitionist in Sc.
Louis" Many OF our wealthiest men openly
declared themselves Tor the South At one
OF the most conspicuous corners of the city
Fifth and Pine streets, in the wefl-known
Berthold mansion-the Confederate head
quarters were established, with the Confed-
crate fag conspicuously flying and recruits
were openly enlisted for the Confederate
cause. The city authorities did not dare to
Interfere. There was not a United States
Tar to be Reen anywhere and Union man
spoke with bated breath. -
Outside of St Louis the country was in
the hands of the rebels, except the few
fortified points held by Union garrisons.
and these we're principally recruited from
the three months men whose time was now
expiring. A great source of trouble was
the action Of the rebel inhabitants of the
State Of Missouri, and o little later this
became most serious
Even UnioBistG Doubted Liucoln's Power
The farmers would when notified Join the
camps OF the rebel commanders in great
numbers, suddenly augmenting their forces
and then, II the projected raid or attack
was deferred, would return again to their
homes, reducing the force correspondingly.
In this manner. however, it was impossible |
TO foresee which point would be threatened
next, and failing sufficient troops to control
the State through force OF arms it became |
necessary TO devise some mems to prevent |
this guerilla warfare. The credit OF the |