John Charles Fremont-Union Army
(1813-1890)
Born out of wedlock and poor, Fremont had achieved much in a very short time. He was a man who did things, but often without clear authority; the latter quality would cause him problems throughout his life. His rapid advancement in the Army, and great popularity with the public, at times may have inspired jealousies that further contributed to his troubles.
As a second lieutenant of the newly formed Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, his Report of his first mapping expedition to the Rocky Mountains in 1842, and his conquest of what was considered the highest peak in the Rockies, was published by Congress, and appeared in newspapers all over the country.
The Report of his second expedition in 1843-44, and his winter crossing of the ten thousand foot Sierra Nevada Mountains into California, received even wider notice. It was also published in Europe in several languages, which led to many honors presented by European societies, including Founders Medalist of the Royal Geographical Society, Baron von Humboldt Gold Medalist, and the Société de Géographia, Paris. President Tyler awarded him a double brevet in rank to
His third expedition the following year involved him in the War with Mexico.
Hailed as "The Conqueror of California," he became involved in the middle of a dispute over seniority between Commodore Robert F. Stockton, and General Steven Watts Kearny, which eventually led to Fremont’s court martial. He was convicted, but President Polk reinstated him at his full rank of Lieutenant Colonel; however, personally convinced that he had done nothing wrong to warrant the charges against him, he resigned from the Army. Even this did nothing but to make him even more popular with the people.
In 1856, as an abolitionist, he was nominated as the first presidential candidate of the newly organized Republican Party.
He carried the North, and nearly won in the 3-way race. Had he won, it is likely that the Civil War would have started in 1856 instead of 1860 when Lincoln was the successful Republican Candidate. (Note the 1st and 3rd ribbons from the left issued by the opposition.)
In 1860, Lincoln called on Fremont to command the Army of the West in Missouri--a slave state. There was no army, no weapons, no money, and half its population were secessionists. Against all odds, Major General Fremont managed to put together an army. To deal with guerrilla warfare in Missouri he was forced to institute martial law, and to issue an Emancipation Proclamation. This led to his removal from command by Lincoln. On the eve of battle [November 2, 1861], when the order superseding him, and directing him to transfer to General Hunter arrived---
Frémont was not by training a soldier. His training and talents were in the sciences, and he was commissioned an officer in the Topographical Corps. Of his role in the Mexican War, and the Conquest of California, he would later write:
Frémont, largely as a result of a very dirty presidential campaign of 1856, where he ran as an abolitionist and because of a dispute with historian Hubert Howe Bancroft, has received a century and a half of bad press. Along with others of the period, including his friend Kit Carson, Frémont is today often considered not P.C. But all things must be considered in the context of the times.
When he wrote and published his memoirs in 1887, Fremont further reflected on the course of his life.
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As a second lieutenant of the newly formed Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, his Report of his first mapping expedition to the Rocky Mountains in 1842, and his conquest of what was considered the highest peak in the Rockies, was published by Congress, and appeared in newspapers all over the country.
The Report of his second expedition in 1843-44, and his winter crossing of the ten thousand foot Sierra Nevada Mountains into California, received even wider notice. It was also published in Europe in several languages, which led to many honors presented by European societies, including Founders Medalist of the Royal Geographical Society, Baron von Humboldt Gold Medalist, and the Société de Géographia, Paris. President Tyler awarded him a double brevet in rank to
His third expedition the following year involved him in the War with Mexico.
Hailed as "The Conqueror of California," he became involved in the middle of a dispute over seniority between Commodore Robert F. Stockton, and General Steven Watts Kearny, which eventually led to Fremont’s court martial. He was convicted, but President Polk reinstated him at his full rank of Lieutenant Colonel; however, personally convinced that he had done nothing wrong to warrant the charges against him, he resigned from the Army. Even this did nothing but to make him even more popular with the people.
In 1856, as an abolitionist, he was nominated as the first presidential candidate of the newly organized Republican Party.
He carried the North, and nearly won in the 3-way race. Had he won, it is likely that the Civil War would have started in 1856 instead of 1860 when Lincoln was the successful Republican Candidate. (Note the 1st and 3rd ribbons from the left issued by the opposition.)
In 1860, Lincoln called on Fremont to command the Army of the West in Missouri--a slave state. There was no army, no weapons, no money, and half its population were secessionists. Against all odds, Major General Fremont managed to put together an army. To deal with guerrilla warfare in Missouri he was forced to institute martial law, and to issue an Emancipation Proclamation. This led to his removal from command by Lincoln. On the eve of battle [November 2, 1861], when the order superseding him, and directing him to transfer to General Hunter arrived---
Frémont was not by training a soldier. His training and talents were in the sciences, and he was commissioned an officer in the Topographical Corps. Of his role in the Mexican War, and the Conquest of California, he would later write:
Frémont, largely as a result of a very dirty presidential campaign of 1856, where he ran as an abolitionist and because of a dispute with historian Hubert Howe Bancroft, has received a century and a half of bad press. Along with others of the period, including his friend Kit Carson, Frémont is today often considered not P.C. But all things must be considered in the context of the times.
When he wrote and published his memoirs in 1887, Fremont further reflected on the course of his life.
Back to Hero index