Description:

Fremont John

John C. Fremont 2x Signed ANS on the Brink of Dismissal and the Hall Carbine Affair

 

ANS 2x signed by John C. Fremont (1813-1890) as "J.C. Fremont" beneath a 1p ADS written by one of his Western Department staff officers in St. Louis, Missouri on September 6, 1861. Docketed verso. Cream blue-lined bifold paper is in near fine condition, with expected paper folds. Each page measures 7.625" x 9." From the Collection of Norman Boas of Seaport Autographs and recently purchased at Christie's December 5, 2017 sale.

 

Captain John Hoskins, one of Fremont's staff, wrote Major Simon Stevens (1825-1894) requesting changes in shipping procedure in New York. Fremont's office requested that packages be clearly marked with their contents, weight, and invoicing information. Underneath Hoskin's letter, Fremont wrote: "Approved, J.C. Fremont / Major Genl Commandg / Major Stevens will hereafter recognize Capt. John Hoskin as of my staff. J.C. Fremont."

 

President Lincoln had appointed Fremont Commander of the Western Armies on July 3, 1861. After arriving at his post in late July 1861, Fremont was dismayed to discover that Union forces in Missouri were numerically inadequate, ill-equipped, and constantly harassed by Confederate guerillas. Fremont declared a state of martial law in Missouri without obtaining permission from Washington. Martial law granted Fremont the power to court martial, shoot armed citizens, confiscate property, and emancipate slaves as the property of the enemy. When President Lincoln demanded that Fremont rescind the declaration of martial law and the emancipation edict, Fremont refused. He was dismissed from his command on October 24, 1861.

 

Another scandal involving Fremont erupted just before his dismissal, in September 1861, amid rumors that Fremont was setting up his own private republic in the West. In the so-called Hall Carbine Affair, 5,000 surplus rifles were purchased for $3.50 and sold to the U.S. Government for $22 each. Specifically, an arms dealer sold the rifles to Hoskin's correspondent, Major Simon Stevens, who then delivered the arms to Fremont. The scandal revealed some of the systemic profiteering and corruption in munition supply chains during the Civil War.

 

John C. Fremont was dubbed the “Pathfinder” after leading five expeditions through Western territories during the 1830s and 1840s. The fiery Mexican War veteran was appointed Governor of California in 1847 and served as one of the first two senators from California. Fremont become the first Republican Party presidential candidate in 1856. It was during this campaign that Abraham Lincoln became deeply involved in the election process, giving about 50 speeches in favor of Fremont, and also compiling an analysis of 1856 Illinois election returns. Fremont attempted one more presidential bid in 1864 as a Radical Republican, but failed. He served as Governor of the Arizona Territory between 1878-1872. When Fremont’s business ventures permanently overturned in the 1870s, his wife Jessie Benton Fremont began to publish travel narratives and other memoirs to earn some income.

 

Provenance: Ex-Christie's December 5, 2017 sale; Ex-Norman Boas, Seaport Autographs

 

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