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568 DOUGLASS' MONTHLY DECEMBER, 1861 [[horiz line across page]] [[start 1/3 columns]] REMOVAL OF GENERAL FREMONT. [[horiz line]] As was expected, Gen. Fremont has at last been removed, and Gen. Halleck has been appointed to take his place. A correspondent with the army writes as follows how the news of his removal was received by the army under his command: SPRINGFIELD, MO., NOV. 3. Yesterday small bodies of the enemy came within twelve miles of us, and news was received of the approach of their advance, 2,800 strong. Preparations were being made to go out and attach them, when Gen. Fremont received an unconditional order from Washington relieving him at once from his command. Simultaneously came the newspapers announcing the fact. The intelligence spread like wildfire through the damp, and created indescribable indignation and excitement. Great numbers of the officers signified their intention of resigning at once, and many companies laid down their arms, declaring that they would fight under no one but Gen. Fremont. Gen. Fremont spent much of the time expostulating with the officers and men, urging them by their patriotism and by their personal regard for him not to abandon their posts. He also addressed the following farewell order to the troops: 'SOLDIERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI ARMY:—Agreeably to orders received this day, I take 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 defence of your country, and which make me anticipate for you a brilliant career. Continue as you have begun, 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 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 invariably shown me. I deeply regret that I shall not have the honor to lead you to the victory which you are just about to sin; but I shall claim the right to share with you in the joy of every triumph, and trust always to be personally remembered by my companions in arms. 'JOHN C. FREMONT, MAJ.-GENERAL.' The feeling ran intensely high during the whole of last evening, and there were meetings almost everywhere. The various bands serenaded the General, and whenever he appeared he was greeted with cheers. Altho' after notifying General Hunter, as his order directed, he had no longer command over the troops, he spent several hours in making a personal examination of the ground about the city, to be prepared for a battle, and in accordance with a written request from all the Brigadier Generals here, he remained through the night, to lead the army in case of an attack. All of the troops slept on their arms, and many officers remained up all night. An attack was hourly expected, but nothing more occurred than the firing on our pickets in two different roads. The enemy are now encamped on the old Wilson Creek battleground. Gen. Fremont is prepared to leave for St. Louis, and will go as soon as Gen. Pope arrives, who has been sent forward and will take command until Gen. Hunter gets here. Universal gloom prevails throughout the camps. A battle will undoubtedly occur ere long. Our troops will meet the enemy firmly, but they are disheartened and have lost their enthusiasm. The body guard, who would not be induced to remain, will now disband, as the terms of their enlistment permit, and will accompany the General. Gen. Fremont will permit no demonstration from the troops on his departure. [[horiz line]] HIS RECEPTION IN ST. LOUIS. The reception of Gen. Fremont, his Staff and Body-Guard, in St. Louis, on the evening [[end column]] [[start 2/3 columns]] of the 8th November, after being relieved of his command, was a perfect ovation. They had met with the most enthusiastic salutations along he entire route from Springfield to St. Louis, and on reaching the city they found one of the largest assemblages gathered to greet them ever witnessed there. Gen. Fremont immediately proceeded to his headquarters, and soon after a procession bearing torches, headed by music and surrounded by an immense concourse of citizens, was put in motion. Arriving at the headquarters, the members of the Committee appointed to deliver an address to Gen. Fremont detached themselves from the procession to perform the duty assigned them. As they entered the mansion, they were ushered into one of the large front rooms, and directly after the General made his appearance. Mr. J.C. Vogel then, as Chairman of the Committee, stepped forward and read the following ADDRESS. 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 imposed upon us with mingled feelings of sorrow and pleasure. While we deeply regret the occasion of your presence among us, we rejoice in the unmistakable 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 pursuit 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 understood and appreciated. You have risen too fast in popular favor. The policy announced in your proclamation, although hailed by the people as a political and military necessity, furnished your ambitious rivals and enemies with a welcome weapon for your intended destruction. The harbingers of truth will ever be crucified by the Pharisees. We cannot be deceived by shallow and flimsy pretexts, 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 yielding due obedience to the edicts of the powers that be. With you we joint 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 place don 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 restored 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 in presenting to you a copy of resolutions unanimously adopted by the citizens of St. Louis, in mass meeting assembled. THE RESOLUTIONS. We, the citizens of St. Louis, of German extraction, in mass meeting assembled to give expression of our sentiments towards Major-General John C. Fremont, have solemnly and unanimously resolved: 1. That we recognize in John C. Fremont the embodiment of our patriotic feeling and political faith. 2. That, notwithstanding many paralyzing circumstances, he has performed his arduous and responsible task with all possible energy and honesty. 3. That we admire his impartiality and sagacity in his military counselors, without national prejudices, from among such men as he considered true and worthy of his confidence. 5. That we will stand by him as long as he shall prove true to himself. [[end column]] [[start 3/3 columns] 5. That while we submit to the action of the Government, as behooves loyal citizens, we regret to be deprived at the present moment of his services in conquering the rebel army, and believe we recognize in this event a wise Providence which may have reserved him for a still wider sphere of action in future times. Gen. Fremont, during the reading of the address and resolutions, apparently found it difficult to restrain his emotions, and when he first commenced to respond his voice was quite tremulous. His response was as follows: GENTLEMEN :—I wish to say to you that your kind and affectionate—I may even say affectionate-reception of me moves my heart. It cheers me and strengthens my confidence—my confidence, already somewhat wavering—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, honestly 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, and 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 ill adopt your address and the shouts of the grand multitude assembled below as my answer. And for all this, gentlemen, to you and to them, I renew my thanks with all my hearts, which, to-night, is roused to full sensibility by the healthy and unqualified expression of your confidence and approbation so valuable and grateful to me in my social position. I shall soon have occasion, for I shall make occasion to answer all these charges more definitely. Until then, I will rely upon this evening for my defence. After the General had delivered the above response, the Committee gathered about him, and he shook hands with each member thereof in the most cordial manner. In the mean time, the crowd outside had begun to grow impatient, and in obedience to the tumultuous cries of the multitude, the General presented himself upon the portico. His appearance was the signal for a tremendous outburst of applause, which he acknowledged by bowing. The high wind which prevailed rendered it impossible for him to address the crowd, and there was no very urgent demand for him to do so. Indeed, all the crowd seemed to desire was to obtain a glimpse of their favorite, and nearly every body was gratified in this respect. A blazing torch was held near him, so that his features could be distinctly discerned by the crowd, and as he gazed upon the sea of upturned faces, and comprehended the vastness thereof, and as he saw the enthusiasm which was everywhere manifested, his keen, piercing black eyes seemed to give utterance to the heartfelt gratitude which the ovation seemed to awaken in his breast.—Turning to a gentleman standing near by, he remarked: 'I take this as a record of my administration. This is, perhaps, but a page of the work, but it says a great deal, and, with the illuminated binding which is here offered, I may well be proud of the work itself.' When he was informed that the demonstration was gotten up almost in a few hours, and that not until the previous evening had it been publicly talked of, he seemed surprised, and replied that he could hardly have anticipated such a generous welcome upon so short a notice. The General passed through this city last week on his way to New York. 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