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C. VI.]

FREMONT'S CAREER IN MISSOURI

87

arms on the southern frontier. Gen. evidencing that Fremont was prepared Pope was in North Missouri; Gen. to cut the Gordian knot instead of wastPrentiss was at Cairo with a few regi- ing time in trying to untie it: "Real and ments; the troops which Gen. Lyon had personal property of those who shall take commanded were in the condition above up arms against the United States, or narrated; and altogether a very unprom- who shall be directly proven to have ising scene lay before Fremont. But he taken an active part with their enemies lost no time in attempting to do what he in the field, is declared confiscated to could. He immediately reinforced Cairo public use, and their slaves, if any they and Bird's Point,* carrying with him have, are hereby declared free men." for this purpose eight steamers and 3,800 men. Happily, Fremont was in time, for the rebel General Pillow had, at New Madrid, a few miles below, a force estimated at nearly 20,000, and might readily have seized upon this important strategic point. Fremont next undertook to secure the defence of the state on a comprehensive plan, by fortifying Girardeau, Ironton, Rolla and Jefferson City, with St. Louis as a base, holding these places with sufficient garrisons, and leaving the army free for operations in the field.

1861.

It soon became clear that Fremont did not mean to allow ordinary difficulties to obstruct his path. This was shown by his compelling the United States treasurer at St. Louis to furnish funds to pay the troops; his proclaiming martial law, Aug. 14th, and suppressing two newspapers in St. Louis; and on the 30th, his issuing a proclamation of great stringency, declaring the whole state under martial law. One passage in this we quote,

* Cairo, situate in Illinois, at a point of land formed by the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,

175 miles below St. Louis, was early seen by the Union men to be of great importance to keep possession of; Bird's Point, in Missouri, commands Cairo and could easily shell the place. Illinois troops were in Cairo as early as April 25th, and Gen. Grant bestowed much attention in strengthening and holding it.

This was going quite too fast and too far; Union men in the border states protested against it; the government had, as yet, no fixed or enlarged policy, especially of such a kind as was afterwards adopted; and the president required, in a letter to Gen. Fremont, Sept. 11th, that his proclamation or order be annulled in its most striking features.*

The town of Lexington, on the Missouri, 300 miles above St. Louis, was a point of great importance to be held against the rebels. On the 9th of September, Colonel Mulligan arrived at Lexington and took command, having less than 3,000 men under him. After three days, Mulligan was besieged by a very large body, under Price, some 20,000 or more, and on the 17th, the besieged were cut off from a supply of water, and were compelled to surrender on the 20th of September.

The large numbers under Sterling Price, Ben McCulloch, and others in the western and southern parts of the state, rendered it a matter of necessity, in Fremont's opinion, to pursue Price and

*The rebel Gen. Jeff. Thompson was very violent at Fremont's proclamation, and issued a counter one from the south-western part of the state, threatening dire vengeance, and a determination, as he phrased it, to "retaliate ten-fold, so help me God !"

his marauding forces, until he caught and routed them. Hence, while the gun boats were being got ready for the descent of the Mississippi, Fremont turned his whole attention to the work before him. His army, of which he took the head, was composed of five divisions, respectively commanded by Gens. Hunter, Pope, Sigel, Asboth and McKinstry, the entire force numbering about 39,000. They were a hardy, serviceable race of men, but there was great lack of arms and equipments, as well as of means of transportation. The movement was made southerly, towards Springfield. By the middle of October, Fremont, and his staff, with three companies of his famous "body guard," and the divisions of Sigel and Asboth, were at Warsaw on the Osage River, which, running parallel with the Missouri, divides the central from the southern portion of the state on its western side. While delayed here a few days, a substantial bridge was built for the passage of the army.

Springfield was reached by the advanced divisions on the 28th of October. A few days previously, the brave Hungarian, Major Zagonyi, and his squadron of cavalry, pushed forward, and with a force of a little over 300, attacked the rebels numbering nearly 2,000, and drove them out of Springfield. Fremont, directly after his arrival, having three of his divisions with him, made preparations for a battle with the rebels.

Just at this crisis, when the army was eager for the contest and every thing seemed to promise success, an order arrived, Nov. 2d, superseding

Fremont and directing him to turn over his command to Gen. Hunter. This, although a mortification to Fremont, was not altogether unexpected; for his relations with the department were not satisfactory, and both Secretary Cameron and Gen. Thomas, who had made a visit to the West, in October, to in quire into matters, gave an impression decidedly unfavorable to Fremont and his doings. Others also, like Col. F P. Blair, had made various charges against him; and his extravagance, incompetency, and the like, were freely spoken of; and so, whether wisely or not just at this juncture, his command was taken from him.

Gen. Hunter, who arrived on the night of the 3d of November, put off any attempt at engaging Price's army; he also, on the 7th, repudiated an agreement just formed between Fremont and Price in regard to protecting peaceable citizens of Missouri. After a few days, Hunter began a retreat in the direction of St. Louis, and as he retired Price followed.* On the 18th of November, Gen. Halleck reached St. Louis, and took command of the western department. On the 21st, he ordered that no fugitive. slaves should be permitted to enter the lines of any camp, or of any forces on the march, on the ground that important information had been conveyed to the enemy through their means. the 23d of December, he issued an order, fixing the penalty of death on all

On

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CH. VI.]

GENERAL GRANT AND BELMONT.

89

persons engaged in destroying railroads ance of Missouri at this date to the insurgents as well as the Union cause, we may mention, that not less than sixty battles and skirmishes were fought on its soil during 1861.

In this connection may be noted Gen. Grant's attempt to break up the rebel encampment at Belmont, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi, and opposite Columbus, Kentucky. This latter was the head quarters of secession, General (Bishop) Polk being in com

nois, and, aided by Gen. Smith, with Union forces at Paducah, Kentucky, making a feint of attacking Columbus, he set out for Belmont. With about 4,000 men, mostly Illinois troops, he

and telegraphs; and on the 25th, he declared martial law. The rebel Gen. Price's plan was to approach from the borders of Kansas and destroy the track of the northern railroad, so as to cut off communication with St. Louis. Halleck's activity, however, together with excellent strategy displayed, prevented Price carrying his plan into execution. Gen. Pope, who was, on the 7th of December, placed in command of all the forces in Northern Missouri, mand. Gen. Grant was at Cairo, Illiprojected an expedition against Price, which was rapidly and successfully carried out. On the 15th, Pope encamped near Sedalia; on the 16th, he pushed forward and occupied a position between Warrensburg and Clinton; embarked, November 6th, in four and from thence operated against the steamboats convoyed by two gun boats, enemy, who were entirely defeated by to Island No. 1, within eleven miles Col. J. C. Davis at the mouth of Clear of Columbus. The next morning he Creek. Following upon this was an proceeded to Hunter's Point, a few excursion of Union troops to Lexing miles above Belmont. The troops ton, where a large foundry and several were landed on the Missouri shore, rebel craft on the river were destroyed. reached the camp at eleven o'clock, and The substantial result was, that almost after a sharp contest drove the rebels the entire region between the Missouri out, burned the tents, etc. After some and Osage Rivers was cleared by the hours fighting, with victory just at 25th of December, and Price was glad hand, the rebels received reinforcements to retreat to the borders of Arkansas in large numbers, and Grant and his to find subsistence and safety for himself men were compelled to cut their way and his men. through to their boats. This they acDuring the last two weeks of Decem-complished about five P.M., and escaped ber, the Union army captured, in vari- with a loss of about 600. The rebel ous skirmishes, 2,500 prisoners, including ten commissioned officers, 1,200 horses and mules, 1,100 stand of arms, two tons of powder, 100 wagons, and an immense amount of stores and camp equipage. As evidencing the import

VOL. IV.-NO. 12.

loss was computed at 800. Although forced to retreat, Grant accomplished the main result of his expedition: the camp at Belmont was broken up, and various rebel plans for operating west of the Mississippi were defeated.

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