. The story of a border city during the Civil War . of Major-GeneralJohn Charles Fremont.^ On the 26th he arrived in ourcity and took up the vastly important work confidedto his hands. All the loyal wished him well. Many ofthem received him with exultation. He came withprestige. He was a renowned path finder to the had been the standard-bearer of the Republicanparty in 1856, and though defeated had polled a heavyvote in the most intelligent and progressive States ofthe Union. No one ever assumed military commandunder more favorable auspices. He at once appointed Colonel McNeil comma
. The story of a border city during the Civil War . of Major-GeneralJohn Charles Fremont.^ On the 26th he arrived in ourcity and took up the vastly important work confidedto his hands. All the loyal wished him well. Many ofthem received him with exultation. He came withprestige. He was a renowned path finder to the had been the standard-bearer of the Republicanparty in 1856, and though defeated had polled a heavyvote in the most intelligent and progressive States ofthe Union. No one ever assumed military commandunder more favorable auspices. He at once appointed Colonel McNeil commandant ofSt. Louis,^ that he himself, measurably free from localdemands, might expend his energies in directing thelarger affairs of his department. The best volunteersof the West rapidly and enthusiastically gatheredaround him. He gave himself without reserve tohis great and difficult task. But from the start heappeared to be vainglorious. His headquarters wereluxurious. Immediately around him he gathered a »w. R. S. 1, Vol. Ill, p. 390.»P. Fremont and Fiasco 207 body-guard of about three hundred men, some of whomwere foreigners with jaw-breaking names. It was latershown that most of them were enUsted not to serve theUnited States, but simply the ^ He and they,in full uniform, on horseback, often went thunderingalong our streets, kicking up a cloud of dust, or elsemaking the mud fly. At Fremonts headquarters werestationed so many sentinels that it was exceedinglydifficult to find access to his person. Eminent citizensof St. Louis early began to complain that he ignoredboth them and the important questions on which theyneeded his counsel. Moreover, there was a marked lack of system in allthat he undertook to do. He evidently had little talentfor details; so everything in the encampments of hisvolunteer soldiers was in confusion. All this was in-auspicious and disheartening. We had expected somuch and were getting so little. The general soon reported to the autho
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