The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-23

man. Mrs. Fremont. at home In 81.
Louis waited and watched.
At long intervals she received uom him
letter assuring her OF his devotion.
OF this period she has written AZ one
time IN ST. Louis for eight months we
watched every day and each night made
preparations for the sudden return OF Mr.
Fremont The supper table was set
afrcsh every day for eight months.
Later Fremont made several trips into
the wilds, his wife on one occasion ac-
companying him into Kansas then a
part of the Great American Desert.
During the early forties he was almost
constantly away from home, penetrating
the almost or wholly unknown regions
west OF the Rocky Mountains, thor
oughly exploring and mapping the region
as far North as Oregan and as far South
as lower California. and when the war
with Mexico was declared he was In Cal
ifornia with a small force OF troops ana
scouts and took the responsibility OF con-
quering the Mexicans and annexing, the
lands OF fruits 10 the United States.
General Kearny was sent thither In
command, and the impetuous young
lieutenant colonel his rank at the time
was impatient OF authority, having had
full sway In his newly-dscovered country
for SO long.
SO II happened that while the world
was loud with praises OF the Pathfinder
still only thirty-two years old-he was
ordered back TO Washington for court
martial.
The court martial lasted from Novem-
ber 2. 1S47. until January 81, lsis. IL
was gigantic struggle, but army Jeai-
ousies and army red tape won the day
and Fremont was found guilty OF mutiny,
INSTRUMENTATION. and prejudicial conduct.
The sentence was dismissal from the
Dol al "a n
tence. except as applying TO mutiny, but
in consideration OF Fremonts peculiar
services, revoked IL.
Fremont, however, sent In his resigna-
tion declaring that he would have COM
plete vindication, or none, and thus re-
tired from the army.
Mr.and Mrs. Fremont went overland 10
California, bought ranch and settled
down, the explorer making further expe-
ditions OF research from time to time. He
became territorial governor and one or
the first United States senators from
California, as was his father-in-law from
Missouri, when that state was admitted
When Mrs. Fremont returned to Wash
ington as the wife OF a senator she felt
that In a measure her hero had been
partly vindicated and when. I'm 1856. as
a resident OF the state OF New York,
John G. Fremont became the first candi-
date OF the Republican party for presi-
dent of the United States, the yindica-
ton seemed nearly complete.
And IL he had been elected president"
writes Mira. Fremont, there would have
been no civil war"
Such was her sublime faith In her hero!
ST. Louisans remember how Major
General John G. Fremont of the Volun-
teer army went TO st. Louis I'm 1861 as
commander OF the western department.
how he issued n proclamation liberating
the slaves in the district. which was
promptly revoked by President Lincoln.
Mrs. Fremont upheld her husband in
this audacious act. and declared that he
was eternally and inalterably right.
'I went TO st. Louis with brown hair
and came away in November gray"
writes Mrs. Fremont.
Later, when General Fremont was
sent 10 the command OF the armies in
Western Virginia. and resigned his COM
mission when General Pope was put
over him, Mrs Fremont upheld his ac-
ton and defended him against the GEN.
sure OF the nation.
He was still her king. and the king
could do no wrong.
After this came years .of struggle with
poverty for the Fremonts.
( finally. after half century. the war de-
partment clerks were able to figure out
that. instead or Gen. Fremont owing money
To thes government. the government owed
the general several thousand dollars.
This money was turned over to the ven
erable explorer, and he FASTENED 20 his
humble home TO tell his wife.
''You are nearly vindicate ted" she said
'but not quite; IL must come soon"
And so Il did. Congress passed an act
restoring General Fremont to the army
retired list with the pay OF a retired ma
jor general.