John C Frémont.

Copyright © 2012 Bob R Bogle



During the last few days I've been researching a bit into the life of John C Frémont, the Pathfinder, whose role as commander of the Department of the West early in the war was important to events unfolding in Missouri. Writers about the Pathfinder generally fall into two polarized camps: those who admire him, and those who find him to be incompetent and reprehensible. Consequently, I'm having some difficulty arriving at any reasonably informed opinion of the man. To some degree this is reminiscent of the troubles and challenges I faced when trying to come to terms with Sterling Price.

I'm inclined to believe that Nathaniel Lyon erred grievously, perhaps unforgivingly, in pursuing Price so far south in 1861. It is a recasting of history to suppose that Lyon hoped to win the Battle of Wilson Creek: more accurately, it was fought as an action to stall his pursuers so that he could afterwards withdraw his army to Rolla and subsequently, perhaps, to St Louis. In that sense the federal engagement at Wilson Creek -- while not (by far) constituting a victory for the Unionists -- did achieve its goal.

It seems quite unlikely that Frémont could have materially aided Lyon at Wilson Creek. Moreover, in the wake of First Manassas, national attention necessarily and appropriately zeroed in completely on the Eastern Theater, and arms and munitions that had been intended for the West were urgently reapportioned to Washington City.  Any concerns Frémont might have at the moment had simply become irrelevant.  At least to one degree or another, then, Frémont was appointed to his sprawling Western post at precisely the wrong time. Whatever his shortcomings as a military man and a politician, he was not dealt a favorable hand.

According to Shelby Foote:

Lee said, "I don't think anyone could name anyone who could have done a better job than Jefferson Davis did, and I personally don't know of anyone who could have done as good as job." That's from Robert E. Lee, which is pretty good authority.

I've (so far) been unable to track down this quote, or this paraphrase, but I have no reason to doubt its veracity.

A similar judgment might be made about Frémont. . . .although I'm still looking into it. (If you're interested in the subject, follow this last link and check out the two reviews posted at Amazon, which are at least as insightful as the book itself.)