The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume], November 08, 1861, Image 6

About The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865

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SAINT PAUL.
Saint Paul, Friday, November 8, 1861.
McClellan’* Observation* upon lb*
Crimean 'War.
Those who have expressed impatience at
the delay in our army movements, may be
pleased to know that General McClellan, in
his report respecting the Crimean war, says:
“It is one of the clearest rules of war to
undertake no important operation without
full and reliable information as to the obsta
cles to be overcome, and the means of re
sistance in the hands of the enemy.” Again,
he says, “I am not acquainted with the early
career of the Russian commander, but can
not resist the conviction that the history of
his operations will but present another ex*
ample of the impropriety of intrusting
military operations to any other than a pro
fessional soldier, or at least of the danger of
attempting to combine in one person any
such dissimilar professions as those of sailor
aud soldier.” His concluding observations
upon the Crimean war are so judicious and
so peculiarly applicsble to the present con
dition of our country, that we quote them
in full:
Indeed, the occurrences on the Pacific, the
Baltic, and the Black Sea, all seem|to establish,
beyond controversy, the soundness of the view
so long entertained by all intelligent military
men, that well constructed fortifications must
always prove more than a match for the
strongest fleets.
It is believed that a calm consideration of the
evente so hastily and imperfectly narrated in
the preceding pages must lead all unprejudiced
persons among our countrymen to a firm con
viction on two vital points:
Ist. That our system of permanent coast
defences is a wise and proper one, which ought
to be completed and armed with the least pos
sible delay.
2d. That mere individual courage cannot
scfiice to overcome the forces that would be
brought against us were we involved in a Euro
pean war, but that it must be rendered man
ageable by discipline, and directed by that
consumate and mechanical military skill which
can only be acquired by a course of education
instituted for the special purpose, and by long
habit.
In the day of sailing vessels the successful
siege of Sebastopol would have been impossi
ble. It is evident that the Russians did not
appreciate the advantages afforded by steam
ers, and were unprepared to sustain a siege.
This same power of steam would enable
European nations to disembark upon onr
shores even a larger force than that which
finally encamped around Sebastopol. To resist
such an attack, should it ever be made, onr
cities and harbors must be fortified, and those
fortifications mnst be provided with guns,
ammunition, and instructed artillerists. To
repel the advance of such an army into the
interior, it is not enough to trost to the number
of brave but undisciplined men that we can
bring to bear against it.
An invading army of 15,000 or 20,000 men
could easily be crushed by the unremitting
attacks of superior numbers; but when it comes
to the case of more than 100,000 disciplined
veterans, the very multitude bronght to bear
against them works its own destruction;
because, if withont discipline and instruction,
they cannot be bandied, and are in their own
way. We cannot afford a Moscow oampaign.
Onr regular army never can be, and, per
haps, never ought to be, large enough to pro
vide for all the contingencies that may arise;
but it should be as large as its ordinary avoca
tions in the defence of the frontier will justify;
the number of officers and non-commissioned
officers should be unusually large, to provide
for a sadden increase ; and the greatest possi
ble care shonid be bestowed npon the instruc
tion of the special arms of the artillery and
engineer troops.
The military and volunteer system should be
placed upon some tangible and effective bash),
instructors furnished them from the regular
army, and all possible means taken to spread
sound military information among them.
In the vicinity of onr sea coast fortifications
it will be well to provide a sufficient number
ot volunteer companies with the means of in
struction in heavy artillery; detailing officers
of the regnlar artillery a* instructors, who
shonid at the same time be in charge of, and
responsible for, the gnu* and material.
In time of war, or when war is imminent,
local companies of regnlar artillery might ea.
siiy be enlisted for short terms of service, or
for the war, in the sea coast towns. Tbe same
thing might advantageously be carried into ef
fect on a small scale in time of peace.
John W. Dawson, recently appointed
Governor of tbe Territory of Utah by Presi
dent Lincoln, writes a letter from Washing
ton to his paper, tbe Fort Wayne (Ind.)
2 'me*, in which he says :
Tbe letter of Lord Lyons is well answered by
tbe Secretary of Btate; and yet the dissatisfac
tion on the part of the British Government i*
ominous of evil, and we may as well make np
oar minds to the reality of the fact that the
threatened interference of England with our
affairs will assume greater proportions very
soon. God knows that we already have woes,
bloodshed and desolation enough to cause us
all to wish an avoidance of such a direful result
as a collision with that power. I repeat it, we
may have to meet England, and, in my opinion,
before the Ist of Janaary next our, troubles
will be more complicated, and the hatred be
tween tbe United States and Great Britain
much intensified, no matter bow our interne
cine troubles may shape Uienuelves.
*****
And let me conjure every reader of the
T met to i>e alacritona in making his greatest
sacrifices now, ere by delay it will be too late
to do much good. 1 s-ay now, this fall—this
winter -not later. Why delay ? But Ido not
fear so in non of the people as 1 distrust mili
tary officers—their capacity, etc. I would it
were not so.
The Toronto, Canada, Leader thinks
that the Europeans oan do pretty much as
they please with Mexico. It says—
In present circumstances, American inter
vention is impossible. Themselves divided,
the States are no longer in a position to talk
of foreign polioy. With all tbeir means and
energies absorbed in a struggle to preserve
their own existence, they have neither strength
nor opportunity to meddle with ontside affairs.
Tha Secretary of State may, for appearance
sake, keep np a ahow of defiance toward other
Eowera; but in reality everybody knows that
is braggart circulars are bnt puerile devices
to flatter the pride and soothe the morbid sen*
aibilitiea of the Northern people. Politically,
whilst the civil war continues, they can no
more meddle with Mexico than wiib the islea
of the Mediterranean. Every dollar they can
raise, every man they can spare is needed to
snßtain their pretensions in the war; and,
therefore, however mortifying the spectacle of
of European interference may be, they have
no alternative but to look on quietly with the
the best grace they can command. Nor is the
Southern Confederacy better able to interfere.
The maintenance of its own rights is all, if not
more than all, to which its capacity is equal.
One of the “ Wolf-Killer*.”
At the Abolition gathering at West
chester, Pennsylvania, a letter was read
from Theodore TiltOD, of New York, who
thus stated the relation of the Republican
party and of Abolitionism to the war. Mr-
Tilton said:
There is war, because there was a Repub -
lican party; there was a Republican party be
cause there was an anti-slavery party; there
was an anti-slavery party because there was
slavery. To charge the war upon Republican
ism is merely to blame the lamb that stood in
the brook; to chnrge it upon Abolitionism is to
blame the sheep of being the lamb’s mother;
but to charge it upon slavery is to lay the
crime straight at the door of the wolf. So, to
end the trouble, kill the wolf! 1 belong to the
party of the wolf killers?
That wolf-killer” takes very good care
to stay at borne, however He has no no
tion of venturing where the wolf might
mistake hftn for mutton, and treat bim ac
cordingly.
Another Deep Plot.
When Mulligan was captured and Lexing
ton fell, Fremont’s admirers gave out that
it was a deep plot, being designed to get
the rebel General Price, into a trap. Tb s
profound piece of strategy is eqalled in the
eastern department. We quote from the
New York Commercal Advertiser.
Some assert that the Secretary of the Navy,
by permitting trie blockade of the highway to
the ocean, has executed a double political stra
tegical movement, in demonstrating the im
possibility of haviDg the Potomac a dividing
line between two confederacies, and in render
ing an immediate engagement with the ene
my’s main army imperative, and the river may
alterward be cleared.
Certain it was that it was officially forbidden
to intimate by telegraph what w s apparent to
all here - that the river would soon be impassi
ble for vessels.
Now it is officially admitted that the river is
blockaded. Tbe Pensacola, in accordance
with Mallory’s declared purpose, cannot go to
sea under the stars and stripes, and freight has
to come by the way of Baltimore, over the
single track of railroad npon which supplies of
the great army now defending the Capital, as
well as of the citizens thereof, must be
brought.
McClellan Assumes Command of the
Armies of tlie United States.
Major General McClellan has issued
the lollowing order:
Headquarters ok the Army, 1
Washington, D. C., Nov. 1,1861. J
general order, no. 19.
In accordance with General Order. No. 94,
from the War Department, I hereby assume
command of the armies of the United States.
In the midst of the difficulties which encom
pass and divide tie nation, hesitation and self
distrust may well accompany the assumption
of so vast a responsibility; bat confiding, as I
do, in the loyalty, discipline and courage of
onr troops, and believing, as I do, that Provi
dence wtll favor onr just cause. I cannot doubt
that success wtll crown car efforts and sacri
fices. The army will unite with me in the feel
ing of regret that the weight of many years and
the effect of increasing infirmities, contracted
and intensified in his country’s service, should
jnst now remove from onr head the great sol
dier of onr nation, the hero who in his youth
raised high the reputation of his conDtry .u
the field of Canada, which he sanctified with
his blood; who in more mature years
proved to tbe world that American skill
and valor could repeat, if not eclipse, tbe ex
ploits of Cortez in the land of the llontezumas;
whose whole life has been devoted to the ser
vice of his country; whose whole efforts have
been directed to uphold our honor at the small
est sacrifice of life; a warrior who scorned the
selfih glories of the battle field, when his great
facalties as a statesman could be employed
more profitably for bis conntry; a citizen wbo
in his declining years has given the world a
most shining instance of loyalty in disregard
ing all ties of birth and clinging to the cause of
troth and honor. Such has been the career,
such the character, of Winfield Scott, whom it
has long been the delight of the nation to hon
or both as a man and a soldier. While we re
gret his loss, there is one thing we cannot re
gret—the bright example he has left for our
emulation. Let na ail hope and pray that his
declining years may be passed in peace and
happiness, and that he may be cheered by the
snocess of tbe conntry and tbe cause be has
fought for and loved so well. Beyond all that,
let na do nothing that can cause him to blnsh
for ns. Let no defeat of the army he waa so
long commanding embitter hiß last days, bat
let oar victories illamiuate tbe close of a life
so grand.
[Signed] GEO. B. M’CLELLAN,
Xaj. Gen. Commanding U. 8. A.
Sensible Suggestions. —The Louisville
Democrat gives the Southern people some
excelled advice iD this wise. It were well
for them if they would heed it. It says:
We suggest to yon. Confederates, to come
sack to the Union, and get the rights you left
aehind. The fabulous prices you are paying
for the necessaries of life, the enormous taxes,
the waste of property sod waste of blood, are
valuable rights that you have secured; but you
have lett far better cehind. Free trade, peace
and pleuiy, and a government that all tbe
world admired or feared, yon have left, and
will never finu such another. Quit yoor tom
foolery in the prejudice against the Yankees.
You are nothing but Yankees yourselves ; and
yonr quarrel is sbont as manly and statesman
like as the feud between up.town boys and
down-town boys. There is neither philosophy
nor sense in it. All this trouble is for nothing,
exospt to keep a worthless class of men in
office that couldn't get office nnder the United
States. Now, if you deem it an invaluable
right you have, to feed and fatten these dema
gogues, go on; but you had belter come back
and get yonr rights. They are all safe, waiting
for you.
The Washington correspondent of tbe
New York Independent writes to that paper
of last week :
To those who have watched closely the
movements of statesmen and politicians in
this vicinity of late, the prospect of an im
mediate conflict with tbe enemy upon the
field ol battle is not disagreeable, terrible as
that conflict may prove to be. Whispers of
compromise, of a more decided pro slavery
policy on tbe part of the administration, be
gin to be beard in the corridors of oar hotels
and departments.
—T he son of Senator Baker was the
Adjatant of the regiment commanded by his
father.
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
Field Officers Appointed.
The general order published in another
column announces the appointments of
Field Officers lor the Third and Fourth
regiments.
The Colonel of the Third, Oapt. Henry
C. Lkstkr, of Winona county, is commander
of the Winona company of the First Regi
ment He is a gentleman of liberal educa
tion, of modest bearing, and has the repu
tation of being oue of the best officers of
the First
The Lieutenant Colonol, Benjamin F.
Smith, of Blue Earth county, is a native of
Ohio, and in that State held important po
sitions in its militia. He raised a company
of cavalry in Blue Earth county, of which
he was elected Captain.
The Major, Jwn A. Hadlf.y, of Steele
county, is a prominent citizen of that sec
tion, aud ardently in favor of the vigorous
prosecution of the war, but bis military ex
perience, we understand, has not been very
extensive.
John B. Sanborn, the Coionel of the
Fourth Regiment, has given up a lucra
tive law practice, and devoted his whole
time since the commencement of the war,
to the military service, as Adjutant General
of the State. In the face of many diffi
culties, occasioned by the lack of appro
priations lor the unforeseen emergency ot a
war, he has succeeded much better than
could have been expected in getting our
four regiments ready for the field, and his
appointment is probably due to these ser
vices, rather than to any military knowl
edge or previous experience.
The Lieutenant Colonel, Minor T. Thom
as, of Washington County, is now First
Lieutenant ol the Stillwater Company of
the First Regiment, and is an excellent offi
cer aud much beloved by bis men.
The Major, A. Edwards Welch, of
Goodhue County, was a Lieutenant in the
Red Wing Company at Bull Ruu, and was
distinguished forjbravery and good conduct,
aud was taken prisoner and carried to Rich
mond and afterwards.to New Orleans,where
it is supposed he now is. His appointment
deserved, bat unless measures are
taken for an exchange of prisoners, it will
probably be a long time before he can as
sume the duties imposed upon him
Oar Great Rival,
Certain of the English press have of late
made strenuous efforts to magnify the pros
perity and importance of the Canadian
Provinces, and to hold them np as the rivals
of our own country in the New World.
Fortunately, the census steps in every ten
years, to settle all such mattere, and both
the United States and Canada have just
made their appearance in these authentic
figures. After all that has been said about
the Provinces, here they are: Upper
da, 1,395,222; Lower Candada, 1,103,666;
total, 2,498,888. Ohio alone nearly equals
the whole aggregate. Pennsylvania exceeds
it by ball a million. New York beats it
more than a million. Virginia, Illinois, and
Indiana are each larger than either prov
ince. The national army of the Union—
-512,000 men—is more than the whole popu
lation of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
combined.
A Proper Rebuke;
The President rebuked, with a dignity
becoming his exalted station, the Senators
and individuals of real or assumed considera
tion with the people, who ealled on him to
demand to be told the precise time a forward
movement from Washington would occur—
when a battle was expected to be fought—
and whether it was the intention to attempt
a succession of battles—at the same time
informing the President that all these things
must be immediately done, but if not done,
the President was notified—so far as inti
mation goes—that the people would forsake
the administration. The impudence of the
individuals who demanded this information,
and the vanity of implying this threat, are
apparent and amazing. But they were
answered as they deserved. The Presi
dent reminded them that General Me
Clelian was responsible for the proper con
duct of the war, and that his general, and
not politicians, ignorant of military affairs,
must determine and execute the movements
of the campaign. The President is cer
tainly right. As a cotemporary observes,
“If we have no generals who are fit to be
entrusted with the management of military
operations, we are defeated already, and the
Union is hopelessly lost. We had enough
of senatorial strategy, and reason enough to
deplore its results, in July, and had hoped
that these intermeddlers would have learned
modesty and wisdom from the disastrous
experience of the 2ist of that month.” It
is gratifying to be able to believe that the
men highest in authority in the government
will not rash headlong into a battle the
contingencies of which they have not calcu
lated, and for the details of which they are
absolutely unprepared. Better wait for
months and achieve a great victory, than
fight now, when, it may be, the chances of
success are not clearly in our favor.—Chi
cago Post.
—The Louisville Courier of tbe 18th has
a report of tbe death of the ex-Governor of
Ttxas, which is said to have occurred on
tbe Bth nit. A letter, however, from
Houston, dated the next day, states tbst be
was still alive, with some hopes entertained
of his recovery.
FREMONT’S CASE.
Official Report of Adjutant
General Thomas.
The Charges Against General Fremont.
CONDITION OF THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
The following official report of Adjutant
General Thomas, prepared at the request of
Secretary Cameron, sets forth the charges
against General Fremont in full :
Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 19, 1861
General:—When 1 did myself the honor
to ask you to accompany me on my western
tour, it was with a view of availing myself
of your experience as Adjutant General of
the army. Finding that the result of my
investigation might (as 1 at first appre
hended) have an important effect, not only
upon the army ol the West, but upon the
interests of the whole country, I requested
yon to take full notes upon all points con
nected with the object of my visit. As you
inform me that you have carefully complied
with my wish, I now respectfully request
you to submit your report as early as prac
ticable, in order that the President may be
correctly advised as to the administration
of affairs connected with the army of the
West.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
Brigadier General L.Thomas, Adjutant General
U. S. Army.
Washington, Oct. 21, 1861,
Sir; I have the honor to submit the re
port requested in your letter of the 19th
instant.
We arrived at St. Louis, as you are
aware, at a. m., October 11. After
breakfast rode to Benton Barracks, above
the city. On the street leading to the camp
passed a small field work in course of con
struction. Found the camp ol great extent,
with extensive quarters, constructed of
rough boards. Much has been said of the
large sums expended in their erection; but
some one mentioned that Gen. McKicstry,
principal Quartermaster, who made the dis
bursements, gave the cost at $15,000. If
so, it was judicious. The total cost should
be ascertained. General Curtis was in com
mand. Force present, 140 officers, 3,338
men, principally detachments, except the
First lowa Cavalry— 34 officers, 904 men
having horses, but without equipments.
General Curtis said of General Fremont
that be found no difficulty in getting access
to him, and when he presented business cons
nected with his command it was attended
to. General Fremout, however, never con
sulted him on military affairs, nor informed
him of his plans. General Curtis remarked
that while he would go with freedom to
General Scott and express his opinions, he
would not dare to do so to General Fre
mont. He deemed General Fremont une
qual to the command of an army, and said
that he was no more bound by law than by
the winds. He considered him to be une
qual to the command of the army in Mis
souri.
After dinner, rode to tbe arsenal, below
the city ; Cap' ain Callender in charge.
Garrison, for its protection, under Major
Granger, Third Cavalry. But very lew
arms on hand; a number of heavy guns de
signed for gunboats or mortar boats. The
Captain is engaged in making ammunition.
He said he had heard that some person had
a contract for making cartridges for these
guns; that if so, he knew nothing of it, and
that it was entirely irregular, he being tbe
proper officer to attend to sueh work. This,
in my opinion, requires investigation. He
expected soon to receive funds, and desired
them for enrrent purposes; was fearfnl, how
ever, that they might be diverted to other
payments.
Visited a large hospital not far distant
from the arsenal, iD charge of Assistant
Surgeon Bailey, United States army. It
was filled with patients, mostly doing well.
Hospital in fine order, and a credit to the
service. The doctor had aD efficient corps
of assistants from tbe volunteer service, and
in addition a number of Sisters of Charity
as nurses. God bless these pore and disin
terested women!
Colonel Andrews, Chief Paymaster, called
on me and represented irregularities in the
Pay Department, and desired instructions
from the Secretary for his government, sta
ting that he was required to make pay
ments and transfers of money contrary to
law and regulations. Once, objecting to
what he conceived an improper payment, he
was threatened with confinement by a file
of soldiers. He exhibited an order for the
transfer of SIOO,OOO to the Quartermaster’s
Department, which was irregular. Exhib
ited abstract of payments by one paymast
er (Major Flizer) to forty-two persons ap
pointed by General Fremont, viz: one
colonel, three majors, nine captains, fifteen
first lieutenants, eleven second lieutenants,
one surgeoo, three assistant surgeons; total,
forty two. Nineteen of these have appoint
ments as engineers, and are entitled to cav
alry pay. (See exhibit annexed, No. 1.)
A second abstract of payments was fur
nished. but not vouched for as reliable, as
the paymaster was sick. It is only given
to show the excess of officers of rank ap
pointed to the major general’s body guard
of only three hundred men, the commander
being a colonel, Ac. (See exhibit No. 2.)
The whole cumber of irregular appoint
ments made by General Fremont was said
by Colonel Andrews to be nearly two hun
dred. The following is a copy of one of
these appointments:
HBADQUARTKRB WkBTKBN DEPARTMENT, J
St. Louis, August 28,1861. j
Sir: You are hereby appointed Captain of
Cavalry, to be employed in the Land Trans
portation Department, and will report for duty
at these headquarters.
J. C. FREMONT,
Major General Commanding.
To Captain Felix Yogal, present.
(See Exhibit No. 3.)
I also saw a similar appointment given to
an individual on General Fremont’s staff as
Director of Mosie, with tbe rank and coma
mission of Captain of Engineers 1 This
person was a musician in a theatre in St.
Louis. Paymaster Andrews was verbally
instructed by me not to pay bim—the per
sou having presented the two papers and
demanded bis pay. Colonel Andrews also
stated that these appointments bore one
date, but directed payment, in some cases,
a month or two anterior thereto. He was
then without funds, excepting a small
amount.
The principal commissary, Captain
Haines, bad no outstanding debts. He
expected funds soon.
Major Allen, principal Quartermaster,
had recently taken charge at St. Louis, but
reported great irregnlarities in his depart
ment, and requested special instructions.
This he deemed important, as orders were
communicated by a variety of persons, in
aD irregular manner, all requiring disburse
ments of money. These orders were fre
quently given verbally. (See Exhibit No.
.) He was sending, under General Fre
mont’s orders, large amounts of forage from
St. Louis to the army at Tipton, where
corn was abundant and cheap. The dis
tance was one hundred and sixty miles. He
stated the indebtedness to the Quartermas
ter’s Department at St. Louis to be $4,506,-
309 73 100.
In regard to the contracts. Without an
examination of the accounts it will be diffi
cult to arrive at the facts. It is the ex
pressed belief of many intelligent gentlemen
in St. Louis that General Fremont has
around him, and in his staff, persons directly
aDd indirectly concerned in furnishing sup
plies. The following is a copy of a letter
signed by Leonidas Haskell, Captain and
A.D.C. He, though on General Fremont’s
staff, is said to be a contractor for hay aud
forage and mules. The person numed in
his note, Colonel Degraf, is his partner.
Headquarters Western Department,
Camp Lillie, October 2, 1861.
Sir—l am requested by the Commanding-
General to authorize Colonel Degraf to taKe
any hay that has been contracted for by the
government, his receipt for the same beirg all
the voucher you require.
Respectfully yours,
LEONIDAS HASKELL,
Captain aud A. D. C.
(See Exhibit No. 6.)
What does this mean? Contractors de
liver forage direct to Quartermasters, who
issue the same. But here another party
steps in, and for the purpose, if a contract
or or the copartner of one, of filling his
own contract. It is difficult to suppose
that this double transaction is done with
out a consideration. The accounts in this
case should be examined, and the price paid
to Degraf compared with that paid to
the contractors whose forage was seized.
I’his same Captain Haskell, A.D. C., was
a contractor for mules. He desired Capt.
Turnley to receive his animals, “good, bad
and indifferent,” as Capt. Turnley said.
This be would do, but stated his prices for
the different classes of males, “ wheel,”
“ lead,” &c. B sides he had more mules
than he could possibly send to the army.
Notwithstanding all this be received an or
der to inspect and receive Mr. Haskell’s
mules as rapidly as possible. Capt. Turn
ley very sood after received an order from
General Fremont to leave St. Louis aDd
go into the interior of Missouri. (See ex
hibit No. 7, showing his great labor and
responsibility)
By direction of General Meigs, adver
vertisements were published for proposals
to furnish grain and bay, and contracts
were subsequently made for specific sums—
twenty-eight ceDts per bushel for corn,
thirty cents for oats, and $17.95 per ton
for hay. In face of this, another party in
St. Louis, Baird, or Baird & Palmer,
i Palmer being of the old firm in California,
’aimer, Cook & Co., General Fremont’s
agents in that State,) were directed to send
to Jefferson City, where hay and corn
abound, as fast as possible, 100,000 bushels
of oats, with a corresponding amonnt of
hay at thirty-three cents per bushel for the
grain, and sl9 per ton foV bay. (See
voucher No. 7.)
Captain Edward M. Davis, a member of
his staff, received a contract, by the direct
order of General Fremont, for blankets.
They were examined by a board of army
officers consisting of CaptaiD Hendershott,
Fourth Artillery; Captain Harris, Com
missary of Subsistence, and Captain Tarn
ley, Assistant Quartermaster. The blan
kets were found to be mostly of cotton, and
to be rotten aDd worthless. Notwithstand
ing this decision they were purchased and
given to the eick and wounded soldiers in
the hospital.
Among the supplies sent by General Fre
mont to the army now in the field, may be
enumerated one hundred half barrels, to
carry water in a conntry where water is
abundant, aDd five hundred tons of ice.
We examined the barracks in course of
construction in St. Louis near and around
the private house occupied by bim as
quarters—the Brant House, which, by-the
by, is rented for $6,000 per annum. These
barracks have brick foundations and brick
outer walls, weather boarded, and are suffi
cient as quarters and stables for 1,000 meo.
Like those of Camp Benton, these barracks
were built by contract on published pro
posals. They are certainly more expensive
and more permanent than the quarters a
temporary army would require, and the
precise cost of them, though difficult to be
got at, should be ascertained.
A pontoon bridge bad been erected across
the Ohio river by General Fremont, at
Paducah. A ferry boat in a region where
such boats are readily procured, would be
just as efficient and much less expensive.
Contracts, it will be seen, were given to
individuals without resorting to advertise
ments for bids, as is required by law and
the army regulations.
Having received an intimation from
another quarter of an impropriety, I called
on Captain McKeever, A. A. G., for the
facts, which he gave me as follows: Obo
week after tbe receipt of the President’s
order modifying General Fremont’s pro
clamation relative to tbe emancipation of
slaves, General Fremont, by note to Capt.
McKeever, required him to have two hun
dred copies of the original proclamation,
and address to the army of the same
date, printed and sent immediately to
Ironton, for tbe use of Major Garrett, of
the Indiana Cavalry, for distribution through
the country. Captain McKeever had the
copies printed and delivered. Fremont's
order in this matter was as follows:
Adjutant General will have 200 copies of
Proclamation of Commanding General, dated
JOth of August, together with Address to the
Army of the same date, sent immediately to
Ironton, for the use of Major Garrett, Indiana
Cavalry. Major Garrett will distribute it
through the country.
Sept. 23, 1861°’ P ” Commandin S General -
We left St. Louis October 12 for Gen.
Fremont’s headquarters at I'ipton, one hun
dred and sixty miles distant, passing the
night at Jeflerson City, the Capital of Mis
souri, one hundred and twenty five miles
from St. Louis. General Price was in com
mand of the place with a force of twelve
hundred men. The Eighth lowa were there,
on the way to Tipton. At this place there
was occumulated a large quantity of forage,
landed from steamboats, and means of trans
portation ; also, the halt barrels for carry
ing the water, and a number of mules, which
Captain Turnley said he could not get for
ward, having no control over the transpor
tation by railroad.
We arrived at Tipton at 9 a. m. ( of the
13th. The Secretary of War was called
on by General Fremont, and, upon his invi
tation, accompanied him to Syracuse, five
miles distant, to review General McKinstry’s
division, about 8,000. This body of troop 3
is said to be tho best equipped aud best
supplied of the whole army. They certainly
are, so far as means of transportation are
concerned.
At TiptOD, beside General Fremont and
staff, his body guard, &c., 1 found a part of
General Hunter’s Ist division and General
Asboth’s 4th division.
The force designed to act against Price
consists of five divisions, as follows:
Ist Division.. Hunter’s....at Tipton 9 750
2d Division. .Pope’s at Georgetown9,22o
3d Division. .Sigel at Sedalia 7,980
sth Division. .Asboth’s.. ..at Tipton 6,451
6th Division. .McKinstry. .at Syracuse.. .5,388
T0ta1.... 38,789
As soon as I obtained a view of the sev
eral encampments at Tipton I expressed
the opinion that the forces there assembled
could not be moved, as scarcely any means
of transportation were visible. I saw Gen.
Hunter, second in command and conversed
freely with him. He stated that there was
great confusion, and that Gen. Fremont
W3s utterly in ompeteut; that his own di
vision was greatly scattered, and the lorce
there present detective in many respects;
that he himself required one hundred wag
ons, but that he was under orders to march
that day, and some of his troops were al
ready drawn out on the road. His cavalry
regiment (Ellis’s) bad horses aud indifferent
arms, but no equipments. The men had to
carry their cartridges in their vest pockets
—consequently on their first day’s march
from Jefferson City, in a heavy rain which
fell, the cartridges were destroyed. This
march to Tipton (35 miles) was made on a
mud road, heavy and miry with rains, and
parallel to the railroad and but a little dis
tance from it The troops were directed to
march without provisions or knapsacks and
without transportation. A violent rain
storm came up, and the troops were ex
posed to it all night; were without food for
twenty four hours; and when food was re
ceived the beef was found to be spoiled.
Gen. Hunter stated to me that he had
just received a written report from one of
his colonels, informing him that but twenty
out of a hundred of his guns would go off.
These were the guns procured by General
Fremout iu Europe. I will here state that
Gen. Shermau at Louisville, made to me a
similar complaint of the great inferiority of
these European arms. He had given the
men orders to file down the Hippies. In
conversation with Col. Swords, Assistant
Quartermaster General at Louisville, just
from California, he stated that Mr. Selover,
who was in Europe with Gen. Fremont,
wrote to some friend in San Francisco that
bis share of the profits of the purchase of
t-68e arms was $30,000.
When Gen. Hunter received, at Jefferson
City,.orders to march to Tipton, he was di
rected to take 41 wagons with him, when be
had only 40 moles, which fact had been duly
reported to headquarters. At this time
Colonel Stephenson, of the Seventh Mis
souri Regiment was, without General Hun
ter’s knowledge, taken from him, leaving
him, when under marching orders, with
only one regiment at Jefferson City fit to
take tbe field.
General Hunter also showed me the
order for marching to Durock Ferry, dated
at Tipton, October 10th, which he did not
receive until tbe 12th. (Exhibit No. 10 )
He also showed me his reply, proving that
it was impossible for him to comply with
the order to march. (Exhibit No. 11.)
This order was changed to one requiring
him to make a single day’s march. (Ex
bibit No. 12.)
W hen General Pope received his order
to march at Georgetown, twenty-five miles
distant, he wrote back to General Hunter
a letter, which I read. It set forth the utter
impossibility of bis moviDg for the want of
transportation and supplies, aud asked
whether General Fremont could mean what
be had written.
All of tbe foregoing facts go to show tbe
want of military foresight on the part of
Genera! Fremont in directing the necessary
means for putting into, and maintaining in,
the field, the forces under his command.
General Hunter also stated that, although
the second in command, he never was con»
suited by General Fremont, and never
knew any thing of his intentions. Such a
parallel, I will venture to assert, caDnot be
be found in the annals of military warfare.
I have also been informed that there is not
a Missourian on bis staff—not a man ac
quainted personally with the topography
and physical characteristics of the country
or its people.
The failure of General Fremont to rein
force General Lyon demands notice. Gen.
Fremont arrived at St. Louis ou the 26th of
July, called there from New York by a tel
egraphic dispatch stating that Gen. Lyon
was threatened with destruction by thirty
thousand rebels. At this time Gen. Pope
bad nine regiments in North Missouri, where
tbe rebels had no embodied force. The
Confederate forces in tbe state were those
under Price and McCulloch, near Spring
field, in Southwest Missouri, and those un
der Pillow, Jeff. Thompson, and Hardee, in
Southeast Missouri. Two regiments held
Kolia, near tbe terminus of the southwestern