Peggy's Comments:
The reporting during the Civil War often consisted of letters sent from reporters on the scene. Reports were not always reliable or unbiased.
Two reports from the New York Times November 5, 1861:
Important From Missouri.; Excitement About The Rumored Removal Of Fremont
The following is a special dispatch to the St. Louis Republican: "A good deal of excitement has prevailed in camp for some days past, respecting the report of Gen Fremont's supersession, but Washington advices at headquarters mention nothing of the kind. Gen Fremont's removal would cause intense excitement, and no little trouble in camp. A number of officers declare that they will resign in that event, or insist upon creating him Dictator of the Southwest, independent of the Administration, which is bitterly denounced in camp for its vacillating and injudicious policy respecting this Department."
Our Washington Correspondence.; Storm In Washington--Fears For The Fleet-- Fremont Removed--The President's Reasons--The Tribune's Contraband Enterprise--Historical Names In Washington--M'clellan Not Going Into Winter Quarters At Washington.
WASHINGTON, Saturday Night, Nov. 3, 1861. One of the severest rain-storms ever known in this latitude has prevailed all day. Streets have been converted into made for dashing torrents; cellars, flooded; low lands, overflowed; and the Potomac itself brought up towards high-water mark with a rapidity almost unprecedented. A violent wind has accompanied the rain, giving rise to painful apprehensions in many breasts for the safety of our fleet that lately started in search of a harbor on the inhospitable Southern coast. The most cheerful view that we can take is the one I telegraphed you, to-night, that the fleet either made the harbor it was sailing for, or returned to Hatteras Inlet, and sought safety in Pimlico Sound. If this latter course was taken, the country will have new cause to be gratified by the success of the former naval expedition to Southern waters. So heavy a fall of rain must seriously impede the movement of the army in Virginia. It will be a week, at least, with the most favorable weather, before the roads are firm enough for an advance. The country may rest assured that Gen. MCCLELLAN means to advance, and to prosecute the war actively and unremittingly. He has no thought of going into Winter quarters in front of Washington. Further South it is not so cold, and MCCLELLAN's intention is to Winter in a milder region than even the South bank of the Potomac. I do not mean to say that he may not be disappointed. The natural elements may conspire against him and prevent his moving, as this storm has done. The political elements may restrain him. But it is not credible that a Cabinet edict will be issued against a movement. If left to himself, I have the best authority, for saving that Gen. MCCLELLAN will push the war vigorously and without pause.
The order transferring the Western Military Department from Gen. Fremont’s to Gen. HUNTER's command, was sent West some days since, and has doubtless reached Gen. Fremont camp before this. The determination of the President to relieve Gen. Fremont of the command, had the hearty approval of every member of the Cabinet. The order was accompanied by no conditions whatever, such as that it was "not to be delivered if Fremont was in presence of the enemy." The President was thoroughly satisfied that Col. MULLIGAN and his army of 3,500 men were sacrificed at Lexington by the incompetency and inefficiency of Fremont; and the escape of PRICE, unpunished, into Arkansas, -- an event foreseen by all military men as certain for weeks past, -- put an end to the hope and promise of Fremont and his friends, that he would, if allowed a chance, "bag" PRICE and retrieve his reputation. The Government has lost now not only MULLIGAN's army, but the enormous expense of Fremont’s campaign, with near 50,000 men into Southwest Missouri, in the fruitless pursuit of the victorious PRICE. If Fremont should go forward into Arkansas, his army, being drawn away from its base, would be cut off and lost; if he returns with it to St. Louis, PRICE will follow his retreating footsteps, and reconquer the greater part of the State; if he leaves enough of his army at Springfield to keep PRICE, MCCULLOCH and Gen. A.S. JOHNSTON out of the State, he will go back to St. Louis stripped of the means to operate effectively on any other field, -- having lost two battles, one General, (LYON,) one Colonel, (MULLIGAN,) and 3,500 men, and spent many millions of dollars, since he assumed command in Missouri, and only ended in putting the State where Gen. LYON had placed it last June. It is upon this record of ineffectual service, connected with voluminous and undoubted evidence of extravagant expenditures and confusion in the accounts of the Department, that the President has felt impelled to remove Gen. Fremont. Some doubts are expressed as to the course Fremont will pursue. It is thought by some that he will demand a Court of Inquiry with a view to vindicate his reputation; while others, who know him better, say he will resign in dudgeon, and let the country henceforth take care of itself. There is even another still smaller class, who think that Fremont will disobey the President's orders and put Gen. HUNTER under arrest for impeaching his military capacity. I confess my anxiety that Gen. Fremont should deport himself as a good soldier and loyal citizen, and pursue the first course -- demand an investigation and relieve himself, if possible, from the charges made against him. He owes so much as that to his friends. The example should inspire him of the illustrious Lieut.-Gen. SCOTT -- the great Captain who has just laid aside the harness of war, enjoying the unbounded love and admiration of the American people. Gen. SCOTT returned from the conquest of Mexico under arrest, and with his glories obscured by a cloud of calumnies. He disproved and lived them down. So may Fremont-- if he is innocent. If he resists the Government, he will sink to infamy and be classed with BENEDICT ARNOLD and AARON BURR. I am sorry to see you giving credit to the Tribune's assertion that it received Gen. STONE's and Gen. THOMAS' reports "in regular course from the War Department." It did no such thing. Gen. STONE's report was published in the Tribune before it ever reached the War Department, even before Gen. MCCLELLAN had read and considered it; whereat the latter was justly indignant. The War Department emphatically denies the Tribune's assertion also, so far as it relates to Gen. THOMAS' report -- the publication of which is so injurious to the public service. The Tribune twits the TIMES with lack of "enterprise" in not having secured these reports first. If the War Department and Gen. MCCLELLAN are to be believed, it is only an "enterprise" such as sometimes leads men into serious restrictions of their personal liberty that won the Tribune's recent successes. The TIMES can well afford to let the parties implicated in the guilt settle the question of veracity. Among the visitors at Washington, whose presence revives historical associations, is THOMAS H. CLAY, oldest son of HENRY CLAY, who is here to promote the interests of the Unionists in Kentucky with the Government. He is very like his illustrious father in feature, as he is in spirit. He has been, from the first, one of the boldest opponents of secession in Kentucky, and has done much, in his effective labors, to redeem the name of his great sire from the contamination of these degenerate times. It has been proposed, I learn, to return THOMAS H. CLAY to the United States Senate in place of BRECKINRIDGE. A sounder patriot could not fill a seat in the Senate; and the old friends of HENRY CLAY, again visiting Washington, would be startled to see a face so like their ancient idol's occupying a place in the Senate.
No comments:
Post a Comment