Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, November 14, 1861, Image 1
BELLEFONTE, THURSDAY MORNIN G, NOV. 14, 1861. OUR COUNTRY’S CALL. £m ah ects, F oe , “BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. y down the axe, fling by the spade ; om Tn 1s heck the toiling plow ; The rifie and the bayonet blade ; For arms like yours are Hitter now ; And let the hands t¥at' ply the pen ‘ Qui t the light task aug, and learn to wield The hosreman’s &1 poked brand, and rein The charger on the battle field. Our country calls ; awhy ! away! To whers the blood siroam blots the green. Strike to defend the'gentlest sway That time in all its course has seen. Bee, from a thousand coverts.—see i ‘Spring the arihed foe, that haunt her trick’; They rush to smite her down, and we ust beat the banded traitors back. Ho! sturdy ss the oaks ye cleave, And moved as soon to fear and flight, Men of the glade and ‘forest! leave Your woodoraft for the Held of fight. The arms that wield the axe must pour An iron Jerapest on the foe ; His sorried ranks shall reel béfore The arm that lays the panther low. And ye who breast the mountain storm By grassy steep or highland lake, Come, for the land ye love to form A bulwark that no foo can break: ; Stand, like your own grey cliffs that motk The whirlwind, stand in her defence ; 2 he blast as soon shall move the rock As rushing squadrons bear ye thence. And ye whos. homes are by her grand Bwift rivers, rising far away, Come from the depth of her in land, As mighty in your march ais ‘they ; As terrible as when the rains Have swelled thet over badk and boarks, With sudden floods to drown the plains And sweep along the woods uptorn, all yo Who throng, beside the deep, ‘Her ports and hahlets of the strand, In number like the waves that leap i © On his long murmuring marge of sand, Come, ike that deep, when, 2¢’r his brim, He rises, all his floods to pour, And flings the proudest barks that swim, A helpless wreck against his shore. Fow, few were they whuse swords, of old, But we are many, we who hold ‘Won the fiir laod in which we dwell ; The grim resolve to guard it well. Strike f r tht broud and goodly land, Blow after blow, till men shall sce 2 That Might And Right move hand in hand, And glorious Bust their triumph be. ~ iscellangous, From the Hollidaysburg Register. THE WILLOW BASKET AGENT. ‘BY X0 MATTER WHOM. To the fall of thé year 1855, the writer of _~ 9 ‘this sketch was appointed an Agent for Olin and Preston Collegs, situtited in Bladks ur, Montgomery Co., Va. An agéne tay te an "eloquent preacher, & scientific ledturer, & ‘peerless gentleman} but if be does oot get ‘the tore}, bie is not the man. Knowing this we started out with the determination that ‘we would ratse the ** wind.” : When the ready cash could not be had, we yesolved to take anything that could be cons verted iuto cash. Adohg nemeless other ar- tieles—ranging from balf-fledged chickens to superanusted slaves 2nd horses,—a little Willow basket was given, for which we allow- od on the stibscription book, fifty cents ; cer tainly ite fill value, The dooer waz a maiden lady, a daughter ot a wealthy Virginia farmer, weighibg three hundred and eight 1s. averdupois ! Capacious however she was in body, she ‘was no less in spirit-—=for although in inde- pendent circumstances, she employed her time in making willow baskets, for the ben- efit of the poor in thé neighborhood. In the evening of the day on which we received the basket; we delivered a lecture on education in the town of 8—=, after which we put the basket at auction, determining to sell to the “ highest bidder.” “We had scazcely donned the auctioneer, whén we received a ten dol- Zar bid lok the basket. *‘ Thinks I—to mys Beli”—good for the basket! and oil we went in the incoherent langage of the gentleman of the “block,” util at length we knocked it off 10 a wealthy lady in the audienfo for Jifty dollars] Wo at once handed the lady "her basket. After examining it for a few minutes, she put the money id it and retiirn- #4 it to us, for whith we, of cotirse, made our tiiost complaisant bbw. As by the gift df the lady, the basket; was oly on once mor, and, being encouraged By olir previous dhiccess, wo determined to try otir hand alittle further at auctionebring. 8o We put up the basket again. The bidding cottidienced, the alidience wazed enthusiastic, od in & few minotes we knocked it off agdin to 4 géntleman sitting nea: te, for fifty dol- lare. He aldo pit the money in the basket, and rétirned it to us. ~ And thus we contin: ued to dell the Basket —the bids ranging from five to fifty dollars—uatil Within forty-five minutes we sold the basket for siz kindred and fifty delldfs; and left the house with the money in our pocket, and the basket on bdr arm. A few days after this, we went to W—, & Wealthy town in the western part of the State, to present the claims of the College. Ngpbat adoeded wo. A friend of ours idformied We fodnd, however, on entering the town, the repbit of the ‘‘ basket agent” had for less than twenty doll Col. F, baving Ly marriage into possession of a valuable plantation, and a large force of ‘‘ contrabands,” was very ond of makidg a parade of his wealth on the community. We were aseured that the Colonel would be at the lecture in the even- ing, When we went to the town hall, we found it literally *“ jammed.” After taiking awhile | upon the subject of ediication as connected with the prosperity df the land, and present- ing the claims of the college, we put up our basket at anotion once more. We had scarcely commenced to ery it off, when some one with a squeaking voice from the back part'of the hall, called out to us: “§o! stranger, bring your basket back here; we must emamiue it; we don’t want to buy a ‘pig in a poke.” From the description given, we readily concluded that it must be the veritable Col- one!, So we at once made our way to him, and on handing him the basket remarked : This is not a very ornate article, butit bas this redeeming quality. it is a home mapu- ufactured basket ; none of your * northern” imported truck. v This was a bappy hit, for even then the Old Deminion was duwn on ** ¥ankee notions.” Tha Colonel took the basket, and after exam= ining it for a few moments, handed it back saying: “ Well, sir, I see nothing remarkable about that basket; but it certainly has quite a history, and I should like to have it, and f we car coms to terms will buy it, but I wan? you to understand distinctly, that I make no child’s bargain, if I buy it I intend to keep it,” Very well if these are the terms on which you vropose to trade, we must tell you what we thirk the basket is worth, “ What is your figure 2” “ Qoe thousand dollars, sir ;”” for we sup- pose that if the Colonel wanted to make » display of his m ney, he would at least give up this eum, but lcoking quizzically at us, he replied ; El “ A little to steep stranger.” Well, now we bave said what we would take, let ws hear what you will give. “ I'l] give you Zen dollars in gold for your Basket.” Generous ! magnanimous !! we repliad, and stepping out into the aisle, related an anecdote, which was peculiarly adapted to kis ‘tase. When be bad finished, we lookél at the Colonel and found hiitt blushing all over his face, he looked es though be bad * cought a Tartar.” The audience was in extaciee over the Colonel’s discomfiture. Judge T. sitting by nim said, ** Come Colonel you'r in for it now ; give this gentleman a thousand dollars for his basket, or be’ll giva you the benefit of another anecdote.” Certainly, we remarked, we have another in point, and commenced to felate it— : “ Stop; stop;”—cried the Colonel, and banding us a hundred dollar bill said—*'here take this and keep your basket, and say no tore about it.” We took the bill from the Colonel, and thanking bim politely, returoed to the plats form, where we found such ready sale for our basket, that in less than an hour we sold it for seven hundred and fifty dollars! On a subsequent occasion, we sold it for four hundred und ten dollars, making in all eighteen hundred and fifteen dollars, the net proceeds of our Willow Basket. The time having arrived for us to leave the «t gacred soil,” we donated the baskel to a lady friend of ours, and returned to our northern home, baving at least earned the sobriquet of the * Basket Agent.” Hollidaysburg, Pa., Oct. 16th, 1861. ——— Pr —— . Te LiopLe Prack Boxny.— Chon, you recklemember dat hiddle plack boney I pyed iit de bedlar next weak 2” ¢ Yah: vot of him 2" ¢ Notting, only I gits sheated burdy pad.” «Bo t + Yah. You see, in de vurst blace lie ish plind mot bote legs, und ferry lame mit von eye. Dep ven you git on him to rite he rares tip pehint unt kicks up pefote so vurser asa chackmule, 1 dinks I dake hima liddle rite yisdertay, unt so sooner Igits strattle his back he gommence dat vay, shust so like a takin peam on poatsteam ; und ven he gits tone I was 80 mixt up mit eferydings I vinds mineself zittin arount packvards, vit bis dail in mine hants vor de pridle.” ¢ Vell, vot you going do to mit him ?" “Oh, I vix him. petter as chamup. TI hitch him in de cart mit his dail vere hig heat ought to pe; den I gife him apout so dozen cuts mit de hitécow ; he Startd to go put so soon he see de cart pefore him he makes packwart. Burty soon he stumples pehint, und sits town on his haunches, und looks like he veel burty shamped mit himself.— Den T dakes him out, hitch him in de right vay, unt he goes off shust so goot as any- pody’s bony.” that a Col. F, residing a short distance in the conntry, had publicly boasted that he “wo’d have some sport with that agent, if he came to town, and that he would bave his basket ntly came all occasions, to ths no little annoyance of Report in Gen. Fremont's Case. BE The Adjutant-Gencral’s Observations in Mis- sourd. Secretary Caraeron’s Visit to Ken- tucky and indiana. Harrissure, Pa., Oct. 19, 1861. Generar: When I 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 investigation might (as I at. first appre- hended) have an important effect, not only |upon the army of the West, but upon the ‘army of the whole country, I requested you to take full notes upon all points connected ‘with the object of my visit. As youdinform me that you have carefully complied with my wish, I now respectfully request yoir to submit your report as early as practicable, in order that the President may be correctly advised ‘as to the administration of affairs Fpanied with the army of the West. ery respectfully, your obedient servaat, SIMON CAMERON, 2 Secretary of War, Brig. Gen. L. Troumas, Adjt. Gen. U. S. A. Wasmn~aron, Oct. 21, 1861. Sir : I have the honor to submit the re- port requested in your letter of the 19th. inst. We arrived at St. Louis, as you are aware, at 2; a. m., Oct. 11. After break- fast, rode to Benton Barracks, above the city. On the street leading to camp passed a small field work in course of construction. Found the camp of great extent, with exten- sive quarters, constructed of rough boards. Mach has been said of the large sums ex- pended in their erection; but some one mentioned that Gen. McKinstry, principal Quartermaster, <who made the disburse- ments, gave the cost as $15,000. If so. it was judicious. The Total cost should be ascertained. Gen. Curtis was in eofomand. Force present, 140 officers, 3,338 men, prin- cipally detachments, except the First Iowa cavalry—34 officers, 904 men—having horses, but without equipments. Gen. Curtis said of General Fremont that he found no difficulty in getting access to him, and when he presented business con- nected with his command, it was attended to. Gen. Fremont, however, never con- sulted him on military affairs, nor informed him of his plans. Gen. Curtis remarked that while he would go with freedom to Gen. Scott and express his opinions, he would not dere to do 50 to General Fremont. He deemed Gen. Fremont unequal to the com- mand of an army, and said that he was no more bound by law than by the winds. He ‘considered him to be unequol to the com- mand of the army in Missouri. After dinner, rode to the Arsenal below Alwialagss 12 canis mati rison, for its protection, under Maj. Granger, Third Cavalry. But very few arms on hand ; a nomber of Beavy guns designed for gun-boats and morter boats. The Captain is engaged in making ammunition. He said he had heard that some person had a contract for making the carriages for these guns; that if so, that he knew nothing of it, and that it was entirely irregular, he being the proper officer to attend to such work. This, in my opinion, requires investigation. —He expected soon to receive funds, and desired them for current purposes; was fearful however that they might be diverted to other payments. Visited a large hospital not far distant from the arsenal, in charge of Assistant Surgeon Bailey, U. 8. A. It was filled with patients, mostly doing well. Hospital in fine order, and a credit to the service. The Doctor had an efficient corps of assistants from the Volunteer service, and in addition a number of Sisters of Charity as nurses. God bless these pure and disinterested women. : Col. Andrews, Chief Paymaster, called on me and represented irregularities in the Pay Department, and desired instractions from the Secretary for his Government, stating that he was required to make pay- ment and transfers of money contrary to law and regulations. Once, objecting to what he conceived an improper payment, he was threatened with confinemegt by a file of soldiers. He exhibited an order for the transfer of $100,000 to the Quarter- master’s Department, which was irregular. Exhibited abstracts of payment by one Pay- master, (Major Felizer) to 42 persons ap- pointed by Gen. Fremont, viz: 1 Colonel, 3 Majors, 9 Captains, 151 Lieutenants, 11 2d Lieutenants, Surgeon, 3 Assistant Sur- geons ; totdl 42. Nineteen of these have sppointments as Engineers, are entitled to Cavalry pay. A second abstract of pay- ments was furnished, but not vouched for as reliable, as the Paymaster was sick. It is only given to show the excess of officers of rank appointed to the Major General Body Guard of only 300 men, the commander being a Colonel, &c. the whole number of irregular appoinments made by Gen. Fremont, wis said by Col. Andrews to be nearly 200. The following is a copy of one these ap- pointment. *HeapQuarTERs WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Sr. Louis, Aug. 28, 1861. } “Sir :—You are hereby appointed captain of cavalry, to ba employed in the Land Transportation Department, and will report for duty dt these Headquarters. J, C. FREMONT, Major-General Commanding. “To Cdpt. FeLix VocEr, present.” I also saw a similar appointment given to an individual on General Fremont’s staff as Director of Music with the rank.and com- mission of Captain of Engineers! This per- son was a musician in a theatre in St. Louis. Paymaster Andrews was verbally instructed by me not to pay him—the person having presented his two papers and demanded his pay. Colonel Andrews also stated that these appointments bore one date, but directed payments, in some cases, a month or two anterior thereto. He was then with- out funds, excepting a small amount, The J Capt. Haines, had no outstanding debts. Ie expected funds soon, or ' Major Allen, Principal Quartermaster, had recently taken charge at St. Louis buy i ibe the Army. Finding that the result of my |1 reported great irregularities in his Depart- ment, and requested special instructions. This he deemed important, as orders were communicated by a variety of persons, in an irregular manner, all requiring disburse- ments of money. These orders were fre- quently given verbally. He was sending, under Gen. Fremont’s orders; large amounts of forage from St. Louis to the army at Tip- ton, where corn was abundant and cheap. The distance was 100 miles. He stated indebtedness of the Quarter master’s De- Jaztment at St. Louis to be $4,500,309 73- In regard to the contracts. Without an examination of the accounts it wiil be diffi- cult to arrive at the facts. It is the ex- pressed, belief of many intelligent gentle- men in St. Louis that Gen. Fremont has around him and his staff, persons directly and 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 Gen. ¥remont’s staff, is said to be a contractor for hay, and forage and mules. The person named in his note, Col. Degraf, is his partner. “HeapQuAaRTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, ) Camp Lillis, Oct. 2, 1861. “Sir :—I am requested by the commander 4 General to authorize Col. Degraf to take any hay that has been contracted for by the Government, his receipt for the same being all the, voucher you require. oneiilly yours, . * “LEONIDAS HASKELL, E i “Captain and A.D, C.” What does this mean? Contractors de- liver forage direct to Quartermasters, who issue the same. Dut here another party steps in, and Tor the purpose, if a contractor or the co-partner of one, of filling his own contractor. It is difficult to suppose that this double transaction is done without a consideration. The accounts in this case should be examined, and the price paid to Degraf be compared with that paid to the contractors, whose forage was seized. This same Capt. Haskell, A. D. C., wasa con- tractor for mules. He desired Capt. Turn- ley to receive his animals, “good, bad, and indifferent,” as Capt. Turnley said. This he would not do, but stated his prices for the different classes of mules, “wheel,” “lead,” &c. Besides, he had more mules than he could possibly send to the army. Notwithstanding all this, he received an or- der to inspect and receive Mr. Haskell’s mules rapidly as possible. Capt. Turnley very soon aftgr received an order from Gen. Fremont to leave St. Louis and go into the interior of Missouri. By directions of Gen. Meigs, advertise- ments were published for proposals to furnish grain and hay, and contracts were subsequently made for specific sums—28 cents per bushel for corn, 30 cents for oats, and $18 95 cents per ton for hay. In face of this, another part in St. Louis, Baird, or Sn Californi th oh Reing ofthe old Erm in Californie, Dats, Rang of the o d Fremont’s agents in that State,) were di- rected to send to Jefferson Gity, where hay and, corn abound, as fast as possible, 100,000 bushels of oats, witha corresponding amount of hay, at 33 cents per bushel for the grain, and $19 per ton for bay. 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 Captain Hendershott, Fourth Artillery ; Captain Harris, Commis- sary of Subsistence, and Captain Turnley, Assistant Quartermaster. The blankets were found to be rotten and worthless. Notwithstanding this decision, they were purchased and given to the sick and wound- ed soldiers at the hospital. Among the supplies sent by General Fre- mont to the army now in field may be enu- merated 500 half barrels, to carry water in a country where water is abundant, and 500 tons of ice. We examined the barracks in course of construction in St. Louis, near and around the private house occupied by him as quar- ters—the Brant house, which, by the by, is rented for $6,000 per annum. These bar- racks have brick foundations and brick out- er walls, weatherboarded, and are sufficient as quarters and stables for 1,000 wen. Like those of Camp Centon, these barracks were built by contract on published propo- sals. 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 has been erected across the Ohio river by Gen. 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 the law and thearmy regulations. : Having received an intimation from anoth- er quarter of an impropriety, I called on Captain McKeever, A. A. G., for the facts, which he gave me as follows: One week after the receipt of the President’s order modifying General Fremont’s proclamation relative to the emancipation of slaves, Gen. Fremont, by note to Captain McKeever, re- quired him to bave 200 copies of the orig- inal Proclamation and Address to the army of the same date, printed and sent immedi- ately to Ironton, for the use of Major Gar- rett, of the Indiana Cavalry, for distribution through the country. Capt. 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 Commander General, da- ted 30th of August, together with Address to the army of .the same date, sent inmmedi- ately to Ironton, for the use of Maj. Garrett, Indiana cavalry. Major Garrett will dis- tribute it through the country. “Sept. 23, 1861. J. C. F., Com. Gen.” We left St. Louis Oct. 2, for Gen, Fre- niont’s headquarters, at Tipton, 160 wiles distant, passing the night at Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, 125 miles from St. Louis. General Price was in command of the place, with a force of 1,2C0 men. The Eighth Iowa wae there, en route for Tipton. At this place there were accumulated a large quantity of forage, landed from steam- boats, and otk .x means of transportation; also, the half-barrels for carrying the wa- ter, and a number of mules, which Captain Turnley said he eould not get forward, hav- ing no control over the transportation by railroad. : iariis, We arrived in Tipton at 9 A. M., of the 13th. | The Secretary of War was called on by Gen. Fremont, and, upon his invita- tion, accompanied him to Syracuse, five miles distant, to review Gen. McKinstry’s division, about 8,000 strong. This body of troops is said to be the best equipped and best supplied of the whole army. They cer- tainly are, as far as means of transportation are concerned. At Tipton, beside Gen. Fremont and staff, his body guard, &c., T found a part of Gen. Hunter’s First Division and Gen. Ashboth’s Fourth Division. The force designed to act against Price consists of five divisions, as follows: 1st Division IHanter’s at Tipton 9,750 2d . Pope’s at Georgetown 9,220 3d Sigel’'s ¢ Sedalia ~~ 7,980 4th Ashboth’s * Tipton 6,451 5th McKintry’s ** Syracuse 5,318 Total 38,789 As soon as I obtained a view of the sev- eral encampments at Tipton, I expressed the opinion that the force there assembled could not not be moved, as scarcely an 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 was utterly incompetent ; that his own division was greatly scattered, and the force there present defective in many re spects ; that he himself required one hun- dred wagons, but that he was under orders to march that day, and some of his troops were already drawn out on the road. His cavalry regiment (Ellis’) had horses and 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 destroy- ed. This march to Tipton (35: miles) was made on a mud road, heavy and mirny with rains, and parallel to the railroad, and bute little distance from it. The troops were di- rected by Gen. Fremont to march without provisions or knapsacks, and without trans- | portation. A violent rain-storm came up, and the troops were exposed to it all night ; were without food for twenty-four hours; and when food was received the beef was found to be spoiled. Gen. Hunter stated to me that he had just received a written report from one of the Colonels, informing him that but twenty out of a hundred of his guns would go off, These were the guns procured by Gen. Fre- mont in Europe. I will here state that Gen. Sherman, at Louisville, made to me a similar comblaint of the great inferiority of these European arms. He had gixan tha men orders to. file down Ys, Assistant Quartermaster General at Louisville, just from California, he stated thas Mr. Selover, who was in Europe with Fremont, wrote to some friend in San Frantisco that his share of the profits of the purchase of these 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 he had only 40 mules, which fact had been duly reported to headquarters. At this time, Col. Stevenson, of the Seventh Missou- ri regiment, was, without Gen, Hunter’s knowledge, taken from him, leaving him, when under marching orders, with only one regiment at Jefferson City fit to take the field. Gen. Hunter also showed moe the order for marching to Durock Ferry, dated at Tipton, October 10th, which he did not receive until the 12th, He also showed me his reply, proving that it was impossible for him to comply with tho order to march. This or der was changed to one requiring him to make a single day’s march. When Gen. Pope received his order to march at Georgetown, twenty-five miles dis- tant, he wrote back to Gen. Hunter a let- ter, which I read: It set forth the utter im- possibility of bis moving for the want of transportation and supplies, and asked whether Gen. Fremont could mean what he had written. All of the foregoing facts go to show the want of military foresight on the part, of Gen. Fremont in directing the necessary means for putting into, and maintaining in the field, the forces under his command. Gen. Hunter also stated that although the second in command, he never was con- sulted by Gen. Fremont, and never knew anything of his intentions. Such a parallel I will venture to assert, cannot be found in the annals of military warfare, I have also been informed that there is not a Missourian on his staff—not a man acquainted person- ally with the topography and physical char- acteristics of the country or its people. The failure of Gen, Fremont to reinforce Gen. Lyon demands notice. Gen. Fremout arrived at St. Louis on the 26th of July, called there from New York by a telegraphic despatch stating that Gen. Lyon was threat- ened with destruction by 30,000 rebels. At this time Gen. Pope had nine regiments in North Missouri, were the rebels had em- bodied force. The Confederate forces in the State were those under Price and Mo- Culloch, near Springfield in Southwest Mis. souri, and those under Pillow, Jeff. Thomp- son, and Hardee, in. Southeast Missouri,— Two regiments held Rolla, near the terminus of the Southwestern branch. of the Pacific Railroad, while Jefferson City, Booneville, Lexington and Kansas City bad each a gar ison of 300 or 4C0 men behind intrenchmenta. Cairo and Bird’s Point, were fortified, and defended with heavy artillery. (Pilot Knob and Cape Girardeau were fortified, after Gen. Fremont’s arrival.) All these places could be reinforced by railroad and river from St. Louis and the Northwestern States, and could nold out uatil reinforced, even if attacked by superior forces, Oa his arrival in St. Louis, Gen. Fremont was met by Capt. Cavender, First Missouri, and Major Farror, aid-de-camp to Gen. Lyon with statements from the latter, and requests for reinforcements; Major Phelps, M, C., from Springfield, Dr. Miller, of Omahs, and “ ““ a“ many other eitizens, having ample means of information, made the same represedtations, aniurced the sending af reinforesments.«— To Gov. Gamble, General Fremont said, * Gen. Lyon is as strong as any other officer in this line.” Ife failed to strengthen Lyon, and the result, as is well knbwn, was the defeat of that gallant officer. The two regi~ meats at Rolla should hava been pushed for: ward, and the whole of Pope’s nine_regi- ments brought by rail to St. Louis und Rolla, and thence sent to Lyon's forge, * Any othef eneral in such an emergency would have pursued the same obvious course. . The battle of Springfield {or mote strictly Wilson Creek)—une of the most desperate ever fought on this continent —took tlave August 10th, when the braye Lyon fell, and the. troops borne down by great suparior numbers were obliged to fall back, but wers unpursyed by a badly beaten foe: : Gen. Fremont called four regiments from North Missouri, and went with them to Cais ro. [It is evident that he had no intenti:a of resenforceing Gen. Lyon, for the two reg- iments as Rolla, 125 only from Springfield, received no orders to march, and were not suppled with transportation, and thirty or forty hired wagons, just returned from Spring field, were discharged at Rolla, August 4th, seven days before the batile, and were re- turned to St, Louis. .--, + 7. After the news of the batile reached St Louis, four other regiments were drawn from Pope in North Missouri, and sent to Rolls. Better 10 have called on these troops befora the battle, as after the battle the whole reve olutionary eiements were let loose. The sig regiments accomplished nothing. They were not ordered to advance and cover the retreat 0" Lyun’s army, although it :was supposed in Si. Louis that Price and McCulloch were following it, and that Hardee had moved up to cat off hiy retreat on the (Gasconade. : An advance of three regiments would have enabled the army to retrace its steps, and to beat the forces of Price and MoUallosh so badly that they would have been unable to follow our force on their retreat, It is eaid that eyery officer in Lyon’s army expected ss meet reinforcements, and to return with them, and drive Price and McCulloch from the Southwest. : ah General Hunter arrived at St, Louis from Chicago, callad thither on a suggestion trom Washington as an adviser. Gen. Fremont submitted to him for consideration and ‘ad- vice, a paper called * Dispositions for retaks ing Springfield.” It sets out with asira+ getical point of that wide celevalion which separates the waters of the Qaaga from those’ of the Arkausas, the key to the whole south western Missouri, commanding an area of nearly 60.000 miles. ‘Why did this not em- ter the brain of the Major General before the fall of Lyon, and he strained every nerve to bold that important key in bis posession ? en. Hunter, in answer to the paper, roe plied, *“ Why march on Springfield, where there is no sae and nothing to take? Les thon, fie Whe” ceed to Hh and ed 6MotBl ag was ed by 40,000 rebels. Instead of this "Hains sent to Rolla, without instructions, and re- mained there until ordered to Jefferson City, still without instructions, and thence to Tips ton, where we found him. (See exhibit No. 13.) $ gf No steps have been taken by General Pro: mont to meet Price in the field, he moved forward his line of march plainly indicating his intention of proceeding .to Lexington.— When within some thirty-five miles of the place, he remained ten or more days, evident ly expecting that some movement would be made against him. None being made he advanced, and with his much superior foroe, laid seiga to Lexington which was defended by Mulligan with 2,700 men, on the 12th of September, and captured it in nine days thereafter, on the 21st of September. " Now, for the.facts to shiow that this catas trophe conld bave been prevepted, and Prices army destroyed before or after that disas- trous affair. Before Price got to Lexington, the forces to resist him were the followings At Jefferson City, 5,500 ; at Rolla, 4,000; aloog the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, about 5,000 ; on the western line of Missouti under Lane, down near Fort Scott, “2.200: Mulligan’s force at Lexington, 2.700; « large force in Illinois, along :the Miesippi river and on the lowa line. Outside of St. Louis were some 17,000 ; in St. Louis itself; 18,000, Say, however, that there were only 10,000 there. Ianter’s plan upto Sunday ; Sept. 22, was to concentrate from St. Louis, Jefferson city and Rolla, alsn from the Hane nibal and St..Joseph Railroad, 20,000 men, and relieve Mulligan. He said that if Price was a soldier, Lexington was already fallen ; but with energy, Price sould be captured, with all his baggage and plunder. - The ob- jection to this thut may be urged—tbat there was no transportation —is an idle ove. The railroad und the river were at command, snd the margh from Sedalia was ouly forty five miles long. The force could, Gen,. Hunter supposes, be thrown into Lexington by Thursday, and, as it appears, before it was taken. : aR 1 (General Fremont ordered Sturgis in North Missouri to Lezington and by crossing the river to reinforce Mulligan: Sturgis bad on< ly 1,100 men, and on reaching the riverop= posite the town, found it commanded b Price, and of enurse wai compelled 10+ fall back. Hanter’s plan-ot moving those troops was to strike the river at a point below Lex ington in our mwn control, to cross it, and march up to the town, .Jo the interview with Gen. Fremont, the question was asked whether any orders had been given to resin force Mulligany a d Ne reply being given in the negative Gen Hunter suggested or- ders to Sturgis ; und bad the order then been given by telegraph. he would have reached: the river bsfurs ‘Price had taken possession of the North bank and could have crossed. The order was not given until three days after the interview. The loss of time. was fatal. ° i: Mulligan was ordered from Jefferson oity then garrisoned with 5,000 troops, with only one regimens, and with that to bold Lezing- ton until be could be relieved. When Lex- ington fell, Prica had under his command 20,000 men, and his forge was receiving daie ly angmentations from the disaffected in the Stafe. He wad vnermitted together much plutder, and to fall back toward Arkansas onmo'ested, untill wus at Tipton on the 13th of October, when the aesounts were