Year: 1864

Gen. Fremont has written the following
letter to Maj. Gen. Schcnck, Chairman Of
the House Military Committee


NBw York, January, 1864.


GENERAL, The condensed newspaper
reports of the House proceedings in rela-
tion to unemployed officers place me in a
positian which l am not willing to occupy
without explanation.


l need hardly say to you that it is not
by my own wish that have been unem-
poyed for the past sixteen months. l
requested to be relieved from command
in the Army of Virginia because l re-
garded the order which reduced me to
serve under Gen, Pope as most unmer-
tied insult.


1t was in the discretion of the Presi-
dent to refuse or grant my request. The
granting of the request simply implied a
transfer to other duty, and was not to be
taken with penalty attached. That
neither the President nor the Secretary
of War SO regarded my conduct, it would
be sufficient to mention the repeated as.
surances | have received from both that
they were endeavoring to give me a COM
nand as soon as it could be done; and the
additional fact that about the close of the
last session of Congress, highly impor-
tant command was exprcssly arranged for
me by the Secretary of War. The CON-
mand itself, and my designation to it,
receive the appreciation Of the President,
but it was finally given to another officer.


Under the condition, therefore, of wait
ing orders, | have reasonably been desir-
Gus to retain; n;against the contingency OF
entering Immediately upon service, small
number of useful officers, upon whose tried
ability could rely for any emergency.
Ofthis number, several have the expert
encc of many years in profession. From
the beginning of the war they have been
in our service, and left comfortable homes
and successful business to engage in it,
The same patriotic motives which led them
to enter service naturally impelled them
to wish to continue in it.


1t has not been pleasant for them to eat
the bread of idleness, and they have &C.
casionally felt it almost a duty to resign ;
they have respected my request to re-
main, in the hope Of finally going into
active service. As respects their pay,
reduced as it is by absence from duty, it
is barely sufficient for the support OF them
selves and families. | 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 have rendered it distinguish
ed and valuable service. and have been
always ready to do it again.


As rega: ds my pay, | think it right to
say, since that question has been raised
that since the close OF the the last session
of Congress | have considered 1t fund to
be applied where it might alleviate dis
tresses resulting from the war, and it has
been used accordingly. | have regularly
drawn it, because | consider it something
belonging to my commission, and | do not
wish to secm by any neglect to acquicsce
in my position Of forced retirement from
army duties.


Bat it has merely passed through my
hands back to the people from whom re-
ceiycd it, and this use Of it think | have
the right to make.


Respectfully,


Your obcd't servant,
j. G. FREMONT,


Major Gen, U. S. A.


To the Honorable Major Gen. Robert L