Year: 1861

| from the State. I cannot say whether the at
tack was seriously contemplated on Cairo at tina


time or not, but am disposed to believe tha


the movements of NcCulloch and Pillow wer'


intended to be simultaneous and cooperate
bat Lyon should have had some part Of the re


infOrcements at any ate, and if he had received


two regiments, his victory would have been CON
| plete. / undertake to say, that il Fremont act
ed on them q he does now, Il was away ant
cannot speak on that bead,) he could not have
Informed himself very accurately Of the neces
stiles of his position. Tie event shows that nc
| attack was made on Cairo, and it was probabl,
averted by the reinforcements sent. If the same
or one-haf Of the regiments, had been sent tc
Lyon, we should have had equally satisfactory
| results.


The views / have given of this matter are fast
becoming public opinion here, and think the
Government should know it. Probably you hare
information that will satisfy you that Fremont
was not to blame. II SO, the public here should
know it also, in order that the confidence OF the
people should not be withheld from the com
manding General. could not think, when !
FIST returned here, that any part of the blame
could rest with him, but my observations since
have shaken my faith to the very foundation.


There is one point which did not refer to
In my letter, and which I intended to remark
on, and that is, the utter want of discipline in
the camps around and about St. Louis. It is a
rehearsal of the state of affairs in Washington
before the fight at Manassas, and will, am ap-
prehensive, conduce to similar results. drought
these matters to Fremont's attention, but he put


it aside by saying it would not do to be too ex-
acting at once. Our enemies at the door, and
yet too early to impart discipline to our troops,
and keep them out of the whisky shops! 4
know that you and are in some sort RESPONSE
BILE for Fremont's appointment, and for his being
placed in conn and of this Department, and
therefore feel another and an additional motive
to speak out openly about these matters


MY decided opinion is that he should be re-
iieved of his command, and a man of ability put
In his place. The sooner it is done the better
have given you my opinion and the grounds
for it. If the Government knows more of his
plans than l know-if you are satisfied with
them, then you can burn this paper and say that
am an dtarnsist-you know, however, that am
not. No man has been more hopeful and conf
dent than have been up to within few days
past ielt satisfied Oh my return here that af-
iairs were critical, but that the success and ella
ton OF the enemy could be turned to good acs
count IT the proper 5 cps were promptly taken
1hey hdae not been taken, and either the Govern
ment has failed to support Fremont as he should
have been, or he has failed to apply the means
at his disposal. Affairs are worse than they
we're two weeks ago, and getting worse every
day. Secession increashg-Union men driven
out, and the General, l fear, incapable of CON-
pretending his position. His recent proclama-
ton is the best thing of the kind that has been
issued, but should have been issued when he
hrst Came, when he had the power to enforce it,
and the enemy no power to retaiiate. Now they
are substantially enforcing against us the sub-
stance OF his proclamation, outside of St. Louis
and our garrisons, and his proclamation, fear
an important attempt at retaliation.


want you to lay these things to your heart
and get ready to apply the remedy before it is
too late.


will write you again very soon. hope
may have better news to give you. / shall be
but too happy if anything occurs to restore my
confidence in Fremont.


am well-better than have been fer eight
months. Yours, aff'y,


[Signed] FRANK P. BLAIR.