Civil War Monthly Featured Document return to document overview

Jefferson City Sept. 29th, 1861

My dear father,

I am in the
very midst of the great
warlike preparations of
the West. Genl Fremont
is here & is said to have
within call, though very
much scattered,from
30.000 to 280.000 men.
He will start forth from
here to recapture Lexington
& annihilate Price & McCulloch

I have great faith that
the object will be accomplished

Gen Fremont has been
in command of the Western
Department but 65 days,
& during that time has
had to create & equip his
army and that too under
the most disadvantageous
circumstances. Regiments
which should have come
to him have been ordered
to Washington, & it has
been almost impossible
for him to obtain arms
and clothing for his troops.
He has for instance an
entire regiment of cavalry
which he has been obliged to arm with pikes and
lances, a la John Brown,
because he could get no
sabres. For whatever he
accomplishes he should
receive a double share
of praise, for never man
had so much to contend
with. The total force
which Price is said to
be able to bring against
him is variously estimated
at from 35.000 to 50.000 men.
It is said that the late
affair at Lexington has
caused a perfect uprising
of secesh and that men
are flocking to join Price. Should the two armies
meet in the field, and of
this little doubt is expressed,
there will be at last a
great battle on as nearly as
possible equal terms.

On my arrival last
evening I sought out Major
Dorsheimer [Fremont’s aid-de-camp ] and through his
kindness got my letters
placed before Genl Fremont
-- no small favour at this
busy time. He only said then
that he did not know about
his own staff, but might
perhaps do something for
me on a brigade.
Dorsheimer says he will
do his best to get me on

[The following text is written perpendicularly across the text on page one:] on the General’s own staff, and I indulge
hopes accordingly.
I shall probably
get a definite
answer today.