MISSOURI. 



493 



cavalry, in which the latter were surprised 

 and routed with a small loss. On the 17th a 

 skirmish took place near Pilot Knob, and on 

 the 22d another at Fredericktown. (See FRED- 

 ERICKTOWN.) Several other skirmishes of small 

 importance, otherwise than as showing the ac- 

 tivity of both Federal and secession troops, oc- 

 curred during the month of October. 



On the 1st of November an agreement was 

 entered into between Gens. Fremont and Price 

 that a joint proclamation should be signed by 

 both, and issued, which should provide for cer- 

 tain objects therein specified, as follows : 



To all peaceably disposed Citizens of the State of Mis- 

 souri, greeting: Whereas, a solemn agreement has 

 been entered into by and between Major-Generals Fre- 

 mont and Price, respectively commanding antagonistic 

 forces in the State of Missouri, to the eflect that in fu- 

 ture, arrests or forcible interference by armed or un- 

 armed parties of citizens within the limits of said State, 

 for the mere entertainment or expression of political 

 opinions shall hereafter cease ; that families, now 

 broken up for such causes, may be reunited, and that 

 the war now progressing shall be exclusively confined 

 to armies in the field. Therefore be it known to all 

 whom it may concern : 



1. No arrests whatever on account of political opin- 

 ions, or for the merely private expression of the same 

 shall hereafter be made within the limits of the State 

 of Missouri ; and all persons who may have been ar- 

 rested and are held to answer on such charges only, 

 shall be forthwith released. But it is expressly de- 

 clared, that nothing in this proclamation shall be con- 

 strued to bar, or interfere with any of the usual and 



.regular proceedings of the established courts under 

 statutes and orders made and provided for such of- 

 fences. 



2. All peaceably disposed citizens who may have been 

 driven from their homes because of their political opin- 

 ions, or who may have left them for fear of force or 

 violence, are hereby advised and permitted to return, 

 upon the faith of our positive assurances that, while 

 so returning, they shall receive protection from both 

 armies in the field whenever it can be given. 



3. All bodies of armed men acting without the au- 

 thority or recognition of the Major-Generals before 

 named, and not legitimately connected with the armies 

 in the field, are hereby ordered at once to disband. 



4. Any violation of either of the foregoing articles 

 shall subject the offender to the penalty of military 

 law, according to the nature of the offence. In testi- 

 mony whereof, tlje aforesaid Major-General John G. 

 Fremont, at Springfield, Mo., on the 1st day of No- 

 vember, A.D. 1861, and Major-General Sterling Price, 

 at Cassville, on this 5th day of November, A. D. 1861, 

 have hereunto set their hands, and hereby mutually 

 pledge their earnest efforts to the enforcement of the 

 above articles of agreement, according to their full 

 tenor and effect, to the best of their abilitv. 



JOHN C. FREMONT, 

 Major-General Commanding U. S. A. 



STERLING PRICE, 

 Maj. -General Commanding Missouri State Guards. 



After the removal of Gen. Fremont, the 

 command devolved on Gen. Hunter, who, on 

 the 7th of November, addressed a letter to 

 Gen. Price, in which he recapitulated the agree- 

 ment, and said : " As General commanding the 

 forces of the United States in this Department, 

 I can in no manner recognize the agreement 

 aforesaid, or any of its provisions, whether im- 

 plied or direct, and I can neither issue, nor 

 allow to be issued, the 'joint proclamation' 

 purporting to have been signed by yourself and 



Major-General Fremont, on the 1st day of No- 

 vember, A. D. 1861." 



Some of the objections of Gen. Hunter to 

 this agreement, were that it would render the 

 enforcement of martial law impossible, that it 

 would practically annul the confiscation act of 

 Congress, &c. 



On the 2d day of November, Gen. Fremont, 

 at Springfield, received the order lor his remov- 

 al from the command of the Department of the 

 West. He had arrived there only a few days 

 previous at the head of an army, and was then 

 in the act of marching on after a retiring 

 enemy. Although not altogether unexpect- 

 ed, it occasioned much excitement in the army, 

 and many officers were disposed to resign, de- 

 claring that they would serve under no other 

 commander. Gen. Fremont, however, issued a 

 patriotic farewell address, urging the army to 

 cordially support his successor, and expressing 

 regret to leave on the eve of a battle they were 

 sure to win. The following is his 



HEAD-QUARTERS, WESTERS DEPARTMENT. I 



.^PIUNGFIELD, Not. 2, 1S61. J 



Soldiers of the Mississippi Army : Agreeably to or- 

 ders received this day, I talce leave of you. Although 

 our army has been of sudden growth, we have grown 

 up together, and I have become familiar with the 

 brave and generous spirits which you bring to the de- 

 fence of your country, and which makes me anticipate 

 for you a brilliant career. Continue as you have be- 

 gun, and give to my successor the same cordial and 

 enthusiastic support with which you have encouraged 

 me. Emulate the splendid example which you have 

 already before you, and let me remain as I am, proud 

 of the noble army which I have thus far labored to 

 bring together. 



. Soldiers, I regret to leave you. Most sincerely I 

 thank you for the regard and confidence you have in- 

 variably shown me. I deeply regret that I shall not 

 have the honor to lead you to the victory which you 

 are just about to win ; but I shall claim the right to 

 share with you in the joy of every triumph, and trust 

 ahvavs to be personally remembered by my compan- 

 ions "in arms. JOHN C. FREMONT, 



Major-GeneraL 



So much complaint had been made relative 

 to the management of the Western Department 

 by General Fremont, that the Secretary of War 

 proceeded to St. Louis for the purpose of inves- 

 tigation. An interview with Gen. Fremont took 

 place at Tipton, and when about to return from 

 St. Louis to Washington, the Secretary issued 

 the following order : 



ST. Louis, Oct. 14, 1861. 



GENERAL : The Secretary of War directs me to com- 

 municate the following as his instructions for your gov- 

 ernment : 



In view of the heavy sums due, especially in the 

 Quartermaster's Department in this city, amounting 

 to some $4,500,000, it is important that the money 

 which may now be in the hands of the disbursing offi- 

 cers, or be received by them, be applied to the current 

 expenses of your army in Missouri, and these debts 

 to remain unpaid until'they can be properly examined 

 and sent to Washington for settlement ; the disbursing 

 officers of the army to disburse the funds, and not 

 transfer them to irresponsible agents in other words, 

 those who do not hold commissions from the President, 

 and are not under bonds. All contracts necessary to 

 be made by the disbursing officers. The senior Quar- 

 termaster here has been verbally instructed by the 

 Secretary as above. 



