Okla-homey
11/2/2006, 07:26 AM
Nov 2, 1861 : Fremont removed from Western Department
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3150/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilw2069pk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
145 years ago today, the controversial Union General John C. Fremont is relieved of command in the Western Department and replaced by David Hunter.
Fremont was one of the most prominent Union generals at the start of the war. Born in Georgia and raised in South Carolina, he was dismissed from the College of Charleston in 1833 for too many cut classes. He later joined the army in 1838, and helped map the upper Mississippi River.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3396/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijohnfredl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fremont (seated) and his exploring buddy, Kit Carson
He made a significant career move in 1841 when he married Jesse Benton, the daughter of powerful Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton. At first, the senator objected to the marriage, but he soon became Fremont's staunchest supporter.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9529/iiiiijohnfremontjessienp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Wife Jesse
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8941/iiiiiiiiiiiiiii3c10024rdy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Father-in-law Sen. Thomas Hart Benton
With his father-in-law's help, Fremont secured leadership for several famous expeditions to the West in the 1840s. Fremont was branched to the "Topographical Engineers," the Army branch charged with surveying and map preparation.
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5350/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Branch insignia of the "Topographical Engineers." George Meade, the victor at Gettysburg and last commander of the US Army of the Potomac, was also originally a "Topo."
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5364/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
While engaged in his western expeditions of exploration, Fremont used this flag. It featured a "peace pipe," utilized to help convey the notion "they came in peace" to Indians the expedition encountered
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9616/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii76ok6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
General route of Fremont's expeditions
Fremont became involved in politics in the 1850s and was the fledgling Republican Party's first presidential candidate in 1856.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3773/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii3b37731xk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
When the war started in 1861, Fremont became a major general in command of the Western Department based in St. Louis. In August 1861, the Union suffered a stunning defeat when an army under General Nathaniel Lyon was routed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in southwestern Missouri.
Many criticized Fremont for failing to provide proper support for Lyon, who was killed in the battle. In response, Fremont took action to demonstrate his control over the region. He declared martial law and proclaimed freedom for slaves of rebel supporters in Missouri.:eek:
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6443/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiou8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Newspaper account of Fremont's premature proclamation
In doing so, he placed the Lincoln administration in a difficult position. Lincoln was trying to keep the Border States (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri) from seceding from the Union. With the exception of Delaware, these states contained substantial numbers of slaveholders, and opinion over the issue of slavery was divided.
Lincoln feared if the war became perceived as one to end slavery, instead of one to save the federal union, support for the war and the Union cause would quickly dwindle since unfortunately, a great number of Americans really didn't care if black folks were slaves or not.
Fremont's freeing of slaves (well, technically just slaves owned by pro-Confederate owners) threatened to destroy the balance and send the "border" states into the hands of the Confederacy.
Of particular concern was Kentucky, Lincoln's native state. It was of vital strategic importance and the movement for secession there was very strong. Fremont's actions in Missouri fueled secessionist spirit and alienated many Northerners who were unwilling to wage a war merely to end slavery.
Lincoln requested privately that Fremont rescind the order, but he refused. Lincoln had no choice but to negate the order of emancipation and remove Fremont from command in the west.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6128/iiiiiiiiiiiiii047165fref9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fremont profile
Fremont still had many supporters, so Lincoln placed him in charge of a small army in Virginia. He had little success in the Shenandoah Valley, where he was pitted against the brilliant Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Fremont resigned in 1862 after Jackson defeated his force, and Fremont's army was merged with the command of General John Pope, a longtime rival.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4025/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiusacwpomv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
John Pope
Some Republican allies urged Fremont to challenge Lincoln for the 1864 presidential nomination, but Fremont declined. After the war, he served as territorial governor of Arizona and died in New York in 1890.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6850/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiao5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fremont's grave. Wife Jesse is buried next to him. That tube attached to Fremont's marker is a 12 pound pack or "mountain" howitzer like the one Fremont used on some of his exploration expeditions. The guns were packed on mules and the 700 pound package (which included ammunition and the gun carriage) could be transported through rugged terrain and quickly unpacked and assembled if the expedition got jumped by hostiles
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5403/insane7zole4.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3150/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilw2069pk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
145 years ago today, the controversial Union General John C. Fremont is relieved of command in the Western Department and replaced by David Hunter.
Fremont was one of the most prominent Union generals at the start of the war. Born in Georgia and raised in South Carolina, he was dismissed from the College of Charleston in 1833 for too many cut classes. He later joined the army in 1838, and helped map the upper Mississippi River.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3396/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijohnfredl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fremont (seated) and his exploring buddy, Kit Carson
He made a significant career move in 1841 when he married Jesse Benton, the daughter of powerful Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton. At first, the senator objected to the marriage, but he soon became Fremont's staunchest supporter.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9529/iiiiijohnfremontjessienp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Wife Jesse
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8941/iiiiiiiiiiiiiii3c10024rdy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Father-in-law Sen. Thomas Hart Benton
With his father-in-law's help, Fremont secured leadership for several famous expeditions to the West in the 1840s. Fremont was branched to the "Topographical Engineers," the Army branch charged with surveying and map preparation.
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5350/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Branch insignia of the "Topographical Engineers." George Meade, the victor at Gettysburg and last commander of the US Army of the Potomac, was also originally a "Topo."
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5364/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
While engaged in his western expeditions of exploration, Fremont used this flag. It featured a "peace pipe," utilized to help convey the notion "they came in peace" to Indians the expedition encountered
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9616/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii76ok6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
General route of Fremont's expeditions
Fremont became involved in politics in the 1850s and was the fledgling Republican Party's first presidential candidate in 1856.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3773/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii3b37731xk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
When the war started in 1861, Fremont became a major general in command of the Western Department based in St. Louis. In August 1861, the Union suffered a stunning defeat when an army under General Nathaniel Lyon was routed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in southwestern Missouri.
Many criticized Fremont for failing to provide proper support for Lyon, who was killed in the battle. In response, Fremont took action to demonstrate his control over the region. He declared martial law and proclaimed freedom for slaves of rebel supporters in Missouri.:eek:
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6443/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiou8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Newspaper account of Fremont's premature proclamation
In doing so, he placed the Lincoln administration in a difficult position. Lincoln was trying to keep the Border States (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri) from seceding from the Union. With the exception of Delaware, these states contained substantial numbers of slaveholders, and opinion over the issue of slavery was divided.
Lincoln feared if the war became perceived as one to end slavery, instead of one to save the federal union, support for the war and the Union cause would quickly dwindle since unfortunately, a great number of Americans really didn't care if black folks were slaves or not.
Fremont's freeing of slaves (well, technically just slaves owned by pro-Confederate owners) threatened to destroy the balance and send the "border" states into the hands of the Confederacy.
Of particular concern was Kentucky, Lincoln's native state. It was of vital strategic importance and the movement for secession there was very strong. Fremont's actions in Missouri fueled secessionist spirit and alienated many Northerners who were unwilling to wage a war merely to end slavery.
Lincoln requested privately that Fremont rescind the order, but he refused. Lincoln had no choice but to negate the order of emancipation and remove Fremont from command in the west.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6128/iiiiiiiiiiiiii047165fref9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fremont profile
Fremont still had many supporters, so Lincoln placed him in charge of a small army in Virginia. He had little success in the Shenandoah Valley, where he was pitted against the brilliant Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Fremont resigned in 1862 after Jackson defeated his force, and Fremont's army was merged with the command of General John Pope, a longtime rival.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4025/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiusacwpomv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
John Pope
Some Republican allies urged Fremont to challenge Lincoln for the 1864 presidential nomination, but Fremont declined. After the war, he served as territorial governor of Arizona and died in New York in 1890.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6850/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiao5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Fremont's grave. Wife Jesse is buried next to him. That tube attached to Fremont's marker is a 12 pound pack or "mountain" howitzer like the one Fremont used on some of his exploration expeditions. The guns were packed on mules and the 700 pound package (which included ammunition and the gun carriage) could be transported through rugged terrain and quickly unpacked and assembled if the expedition got jumped by hostiles
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5403/insane7zole4.jpg