troops was to strike the river at a point below Lexington in our control, cross, and march up to the place. In the interview with General Frémont the question was asked whether any orders had been given to re-enforce Mulligan, and the reply being in the negative, General Hunter suggested orders to Sturgis, and had the order then been given by telegraph, he would have reached the river before Price had taken possession of the north bank and could have crossed. The order was not given until three days after the interview. This loss of time was fatal. Mulligan was ordered from Jefferson City, then garrisoned with 5,000 troops, with only one regiment, to hold Lexington until he could be relieved. When Lexington fell, Price had 20,000 men, his force receiving daily augmentation from the disaffected in the State. He was permitted to gather much plunder and fall back towards Arkansas unmolested, until we were at Tipton, the 13th October, when the accounts were that he was crossing the Osage. Frémont's order of march was issued to an army of nearly 40,000, many of the regiments badly equipped, with inadequate supplies of ammunition, clothing and transportation. With what prospect, it must be inquired, can General Frémont, under such circumstances, expect to overtake a retreating army, some one hundred miles ahead, with a deep river between? General Hunter expressed to the Secretary of War his decided opinion. that General Frémont was incompetent and unfit for his extensive and important command. This opinion he gave reluctantly, owing to his position as second in command. The opinion entertained by gentlemen who have approached and observed him is, that he is more fond of the pomp than the stern realities of war; that his mind is incapable of fixed attention or strong concentration; that by his mismanagement of affairs since his arrival in Missouri the State has almost been lost, and that, if he is continued in command, the worst results may be anticipated. This is the concurrent testimony of a very large number of the most intelligent men in Missouri. Leaving Tipton on the 13th, we arrived at St. Louis late in the evening, and on the 14th the Secretary of War directed me to issue the following instructions to General Frémont: "ST. LOUIS, Mo., October 14, 1861. "GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs me to communicate the following as his instructions for your government: "In view of the heavy sums due, especially in the quartermaster's department in this city, amounting to some $4,500,000, it is important that the money which may now be in the hands of the disbursing officers, or be received by them, be applied to the current expenses of your army in Missouri, and these debts to remain unpaid until they can be properly examined and sent to Washington for settlement; the disbursing officers of the army to disburse the funds and not transfer them to irresponsible agents; in other words, those who do not hold commissions from the President, and are not under bonds. All contracts necessary to be made to be made by the disbursing officers. The senior quartermaster here has been verbally instructed by the secretary as above. "It is deemed unnecessary to erect fieldworks around this city, and you will direct their discontinuance; also those, if any, in course of construction at Jefferson City. In this connexion it is seen that a number of commissions have been given by you. No payments will be made to such officers, except to those whose appointments have been approved by the President. This of course does not apply to the officers with volunteer troops. Colonel Andrews has been verbally so instructed by the Secretary; also, not to make transfers of funds, except for the purpose of paying the troops. "The erection of barracks near your quarters in this city to be at once discontinued. "The Secretary has been informed that the troops of General Lane's command are committing depredations on our friends in western Missouri. Your attention is directed to this, in the expectation that you will apply the corrective. "Major Allen desires the services of Captain Turnley for a short time, and the Secretary hopes you may find it proper to accede thereto. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "L. THOMAS, Adjutant General. "Major General J. C. FREMONT, "Commanding Department of the West, Tipton, Mo." Instructions were previously given (October 12) to the Hon. James Craig to raise a regiment at St. Joseph, Missouri. We left St. Louis October 14, and arrived at Indianapolis in the evening. I remained at Indianapolis October 15, and conversed freely with Governor Morton. We found that the State of Indiana had come nobly up to the work of suppressing the rebellion. Fifty-five regiments, with several batteries of artillery, had been raised and equipped; a larger number of troops, in proportion to population, than any other State had sent into the field. The best spirit prevailed, and it was manifest that additional troops could easily be raised. The governor had established an arsenal, and furnished all the Indiana troops with full supplies of ammunition, including fixed ammunition for their batteries of artillery. This arsenal was visited, and found to be in full operation. It was under the charge of a competent pyrotechnist. Quite a number of females were employed in making cartridges, and I venture to assert that the ammunition is equal to that which is manufactured anywhere else. Governor Morton stated that his funds for this purpose were exhausted; but the Secretary desired him to continue his operations, informing him that the government would pay for what had been furnished to the troops in the field. It is suggested that an officer of ordnance be sent to Indianapolis to inspect the arsenal and ascertain the amount expended in the manufacture of ammunition, with a view to reimbursing the State. Left Indianapolis October 16 for Louisville, Kentucky, where we arrived at 12 o'clock p. m., and had an interview with General Sherman, commanding the department of the cumberland. He gave a gloomy picture of affairs in Kentucky, stating that the young men were generally secessionists, and had joined the confederates; while the Union men, the aged, and conservatives, would not enrol themselves to engage in conflict with their relations on the other side. But few regiments could be raised. He said that Buckner was in advance of Green river with a heavy force on the road to Louisville, and an attack might be daily expected, which, with the then force, he would not be able to resist, but that he would fight them. He, as well as citizens of the State, said that the border State of Kentucky must furnish the troops to drive the rebels from the State. His force then consisted of 10,000 troops in advance of Louisville, in camp at Nolin river, and on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, at various points; at Camp Dick Robinson, or acting in conjunction with General Thomas, 9,000; and two regiments at Henderson, on the Ohio, at the mouth of Green river.-(See paper No. 14.) On being asked the question, what force he deemed necessary, he promptly replied, 200,000 men. This conversation occurred in the presence of Mr. Guthrie and General Woods. The Secretary replied that he supposed that the Kentuckians would not, in any number, take up arms to operate against the rebels, but he thought General Sherman over estimated the number and power of the rebel forces; that the government would furnish troops to Kentucky to accomplish the work; that he (the Secretary) was tired of this defensive war, and that the troops must assume the offensive, and carry the war to the firesides of the enemy; that the season for operations in Western Virginia was about over, and that he would take the troops from there and send them to Kentucky; but he begged of General Sherman to assume the offensive, and to keep the rebels hereafter on the defensive. The Secretary desired that the Cumberland Ford and Gap should be siezed, and the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad taken possession of, and the artery that supplied the rebellion east. Complaint was made of the want of arms, and on the question being asked, "What became of the arms we sent to Kentucky?" we were informed by General Sherman that they had passed into the hands of the Home Guards, and could not be recovered; that many were already in the hands of the rebels, and others refused to surrender those in their possession, alleging the desire to use them in defence of their individual homes if invaded. In the hands of individuals, and scattered over the State, these arms are lost to the army in Kentucky. Having ascertained that 6,200 arms had arrived from Europe at Philadelphia, 3,000 were ordered to Governor Morton, who promised to place them immediately in the hands of troops for Kentucky. The remaining 3,200 were sent to General Sherman, at Louisville. Negley's brigade at Pittsburg, 2,800 strong, two companies of the 19th infantry from Indianapolis, the 8th Wisconsin at St. Louis, the 2d regiment of Minnesota volunteers at Pittsburg, and two regiments from Wisconsin, were then ordered to Kentucky, making in all a re-enforcement of about ten thousand men. We left Louisville at 3 o'clock p. m. for Lexington, accompanied by General Sherman and Mr. Guthrie. Remained there a few hours, and proceeded to Cincinnati, arriving at 8 o'clock p. m. At Lexington, also, we found that the opinion existed that the young men of Kentucky had joined the rebels; that no large bodies of troops could be raised in Kentucky, and that the defence of the State must necessarily devolve upon the free States of the west and northwest. Having accomplished the object of our visit to the west, we left Cincinnati on the 18th and reached Washington on the 21st, having spent the 19th and 20th at Harrisburg. Respectfully submitted. Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. L. THOMAS, Adjutant General. [Paper No. 3.] HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, SIR: You are hereby appointed captain of cavalry, to be employed in the land transport department, and will report for duty at these headquarters. To Captain FELIX VOGELI, Present. A true copy: J. C. FREMONT, Major General Conmanding. C. MCKEEVER, Assistant Adjutant General. [Exhibit No. 6.] HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Camp Siller, October 2, 1861. SIR: I am requested by the commanding general to authorize Colonel Degraf to take any hay that has been contracted for by the government, his receipt for the same being all the voucher you require. Respectfully, yours, LEONIDAS HASKILL, Captain and Aide-de-Camp. [Paper No. 9.] HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, Jefferson City, Missouri, October 4, 1861. COLONEL: Your letter of yesterday, ordering me to march this morning, was only received this morning at ten minutes after two. You will see by my report of transportation, sent you on the 2d instant, that for the fortyone wagons in possession of my quartermaster he has only forty mules. It will therefore be impossible for him to take the forty or more wagons agreeably to your order. Colonel Stevenson, of the 7th Missouri regiment, informs me that he is attached to Colonel Totten's brigade of the fifth division. I must protest, in the strongest terms, against this very unmilitary proceeding of depriving me of the most important part of my command, when under marching or ders, without giving me an official notice of the change. Detaching Colonel Stevenson from my division will leave me but one regiment here fit to take the field. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General Commanding 1st Division. Colonel J. H. EATON, Headquarters Western Department, Jefferson City. [Paper No. 10.] HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Camp Asboth, Tipton, Mo., October 10, 1861. GENERAL: The following movements of the several divisions of the army of Western Missouri, under my command, have been decided upon : Acting Major General Pope, with the forces under his immediate command, will march, by way of Otterville, to Sedalia, and from there by the most direct route to Leesville. Acting Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis will start on the 13th of October from Georgetown, by Sedalia, with the troops belonging to General Pope's division, and pursue the same direct road to Leesville, reaching his destination on the 15th instant. Acting Major General Sigel will start from Sedalia on the 13th, and proceed in three marches by Spring Rock and Cole Camp to Warsaw, which place he will occupy; commence preparations immediately to cross the river the next day, supported by Acting Major General McKinstry's forces, and cross on the 16th at all hazards, if a position can be taken on the right bank under the protection of which a bridge may be built. Acting Major General McKinstry will start on the 13th, and proceed in Part iii-2 four marches, by Florence, How creek and Cole Camp, to Warsaw, where he will co-operate with General Sigel. Major General Hunter will also start on the 13th instant, and proceed in four marches, by way of Versailles and Minerva, (Hibernia,) to Duroc Ferry. Acting Major General Asboth will start with his division on the 14th, and march in three days to Cole Camp creek, by way of Wheatland and Hibernia. Generals Sturgis and Lane are expected to be at the same time in Clinton on our extreme right. You are therefore instructed to commence your march on the day appointed for your troops to move, and proceed according to the directions above laid down. The state of the roads is such that trains may not unfrequently be delayed, which renders it more than usually necessary that the troops should in all cases have at least one day's rations in their haversacks. The commanders of divisions will also in all cases where possible send forward, in advance of the march, a company of pioneers, protected by cavalry, to repair the bridges and roads wherever impassable. J. C. FREMONT, Major General Commanding. [Paper No. 4.] QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, GENERAL: I take the occasion of the presence of the honorable Secretary of War and yourself to make certain inquiries. Is it competent for every member of the staff of Major General John C. Frémont to issue orders in the name of the general, directed to me, and involving an expenditure of money? Am I bound to recognize any other signature than that of Captain McKeever, the regularly-constituted assistant adjutant general of the western department? I desire to be instructed whether the simple approval of an account by the commanding general carries with it the weight of an order. There are heavy accounts, involving hundreds of thousands of dollars, that have come under my observation, which are approved by Major General John C. Frémont, but in direct terms are not ordered. It is doubtless the intention of the general to order the payment. But as I understand the army regulations and the laws of Congress, an approval is not an order. If I am mistaken in this, I desire to be corrected. Great latitude is taken in verbal orders. And the general being in the field, I cannot stop to question the authenticity of these orders, and feel it to be my duty to see them executed, although I have not the authority on paper necessary to carry these expenditures through the treasury. Accounts involving hundreds of thousand of dollars have been presented to me within the few days I have been here, informal, irregular, and not authorized by law or regulations. No quartermaster who understands his duty can pay this class of accounts without involving himself in irretrievable ruin. I do not mean to say that these accounts are not just, or should not be paid; but as they are outside of the regulations-in other words, extraordinary-they can be adjusted only by extraordinary authority. Some three days ago I telegraphed the quartermaster general, M. C. Meigs, a message; and I give you an extract, from memory: "If the reckless |