494 



MISSOURI. 



It is deemed unnecessary to erect field-works around 

 this city, and you will direct their discontinuance; also 

 those, if any, in course of construction at Jefferson City. 

 In this connection, it is seen that a number of com- 

 missions have been given by you. No payments will be 

 made to such officers, except to those whose appoint- 

 ments have been approved by the President. This, 

 of course, does not apply to the officers with volunteer 

 troops. Col. Andrews has been verbally so instructed 

 by the Secretary ; also, not to make transfers of funds, 

 except for the purpose of paying the troops. 



The erection of barracks near your quarters in this 

 city to be at once discontinued. 



The Secretary has been informed that the troops of 

 Gen. Lane's command are committing depredations on 

 our friends in Western Missouri. Your attention is 

 directed to this, in the expectation that you will apply 

 the corrective. 



Major Allen desires the services of Capt. Turnley for 

 a short time, and the Secretary hopes you may find it 

 proper to accede thereto. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obe- 

 dient servant, L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. 



Major-General J. C. FREMONT, 



Commanding Department of the West, Tipton. 



Gen. Fremont immediately surrendered his 

 command to Gen. Hunter, and returned to St. 

 Louis, where he arrived on the 8th of Novem- 

 ber, and found a large assemblage gathered to 

 greet him. He immediately proceeded to his 

 head-quarters, and soon after a procession bear- 

 ing torches, preceded by music, and surround- 

 ed by a vast concourse of citizens, arrived 

 there. A committee previously appointed en- 

 tered and delivered the following address and 

 resolutions : 

 Major-General John C. Fremont: 



SIR : We are instructed by the citizens of St. Louis 

 to welcome you to our city, and perform the duty im- 

 posed upon us, with mingled feelings of sorrow and 

 pleasure. While we deeply regret the occasion of 

 your presence among us, we rejoice in the unmistak- 

 able manifestation of the unflagging sympathy of the 

 people. They have witnessed with astonishment and 

 indignation the event, unprecedented in history, of 

 your removal from the command, while in active pur- 

 suit of the enemy, and on the very eve of reaping the 

 fruits of your incessant and successful labors. The 

 true causes which led to your recall are well under- 

 stood and appreciated. You have risen too fast in 

 popular favor. The policy announced in your procla- 

 mation, although hailed as 'a political and military 

 necessity, furnished your ambitious rivals and ene- 

 mies with a welcome weapon for your intended de- 

 struction. 



The harbingers of truth will ever be crucified by the 

 Pharisees. 



We cannot be deceived by shallow and flimsy pre- 

 texts, by unfounded and slanderous reports. 



We entertain no doubt of your ability to speedily 

 confound and silence your traducers. The day of 

 reckoning is not far distant, and the people will take 

 care that the schemes of your opponents shall in the 

 end be signally defeated. 



As loyal citizens, we follow your example in yield- 

 ing due obedience to the edicts of the powers that be. 



With you we join in the hope that the enthusiasm 

 with which you have imbued the army created by, 

 and devoted to you, may lead them to victory, even in 

 the absence of their legitimate leader. Should we meet 

 with reverses, no fault will be charged upon you; 

 should victory perch on our banners, the wreath of 

 triumph will be placed on your brow by the verdict 

 of the country. 



Permit us to assure you that when the smoke of 

 battle shall have passed away, and peace shall be re- 

 stored to us, an appeal to the people from the action 

 of its servants will be triumphantly sustained. 



In pursuance of our instructions, we take pleasure ia 

 presenting to you a copy of resolutions unanimously 

 adopted by the citizens of St. Louis, in mass meeting 

 assembled. 



Resolutions. We, the citizens of St. Lonis, of Ger- 

 man extraction, in mass meeting assembled to give 

 expression of our sentiments towards Major-General 

 John C. Fremont, have solemnly and unanimously re- 

 solved : 



1. That we recognize in John C. Fremont the em- 

 bodiment of our patriotic feeling and political faith. 



2. That, notwithstanding many paralyzing circum- 

 stances, he has performed his arduous and responsible 

 task with all possible energy and honesty. 



3. That we admire his impartiality and sagacity in 

 selecting his military counsellors, without national 

 prejudices, from among such men as he considered 

 true and worthy of his confidence. 



4. That we will stand by him as long as he shall 

 prove true to himself. 



5. That while we submit to the action of the Gov- 

 ernment, as behooves loyal citizens, we regret to be 

 deprived at the present moment of his services in 

 conquering the rebel enemy, and believe we recog- 

 nize in this event a wise Providence, which may have 

 reserved him for a still wider sphere of action in'future 

 times. 



Gen. Fremont with much emotion replied : 



GENTLEMEN: I wish to say to you that your kind 

 and affectionate I may say affectionate reception of 

 me moves my heart, "it cheers me and strengthens 

 my confidence my confidence, already somewhat wa- 

 vering in our republican institutions. I felt all day as 

 we passed through the country I feel emphatically, 

 to-night that the faithful servant of the people, hon- 

 estly laboring in the public cause, will not be allowed 

 to suffer undeserved, and I feel stronger. 



Since I left you a few weeks ago, many accusations 

 have been rained on my defenceless head defenceless 

 because my face was turned to the public enemy. 

 What I see and hear to-night, the address you have 

 just read to me, and the approving multitude below, 

 show me that I was not wrong in leaving my defence 

 with you. In regard to the baser charges made against 

 me, I will say nothing now. You do not require it ; to 

 speak of them would jar upon the generous feelings 

 with which you come here to-night. Others have been 

 already answered by my brave soldiers at Springfield : 

 and others, of gross incompetency and a weak and 

 aimless administration, to all of these I will adopt your 

 address and the shouts of the grand multitude below 

 as my answer. And, for all this, gentlemen, to you 

 and to them, I renew my thanks with all my heart, 

 which, to-night, is roused to full sensibility' by the 

 hearty and unqualified expression of your confidence 

 and approbation, so valuable and grateful to me in my 

 actual position. 



I shall soon have occasion, for I shall make occa- 

 sion, to answer all these charges more definitely. Un- 

 til then, I will rely upon this evening for my defence. 



The crowd outside becoming impatient, he 

 presented himself, but the high wind prevailing 

 rendered it impossible for him to address them. 

 Subsequently, a committee appointed by the U. 

 S. House of Representatives to investigate the 

 management of affairs at St. Louis, as well as 

 other matters, made a report containing state- 

 ments which seriously detract from the fitness 

 of the Commanding General for the position 

 which he held, but do not affect his personal 

 honor. 



On the llth of October the State Convention 

 re-assembled a\St. Louis. The Governor, in 

 his Message to that body, asked for a simple 

 and more efficient military law, and recom- 

 mended measures to provide means to carry on 



