His successes
were contrasted in the ordinary mind with the crushing defeat at
Bull Run, which happened at about the same time.
The most serious of all these struggles in the border States,
however, was that which took place in Missouri, where, owing to
the strength of both factions and their promptness in organizing,
real war began immediately. A Union army led by General
Nathaniel Lyon attacked the Confederates with great spirit at
Wilson's Creek but was beaten back in a fierce and bloody battle
in which their leader was killed.
Even before these events Fremont had been appointed to chief
command in Missouri, and here he at once began a strange course
of dawdling and posing. His military career must be left to the
military historians--who have not ranked him among the great
generals. Civil history accuses him, if not of using his new
position to make illegitimate profits, at least of showing
reckless favoritism toward those who did. It is hardly unfair to
say that Lincoln, in bearing with Fremont as long as he did,
showed a touch of amiable weakness; and yet, it must be
acknowledged that the President knew that the country was in a
dangerous mood, that Fremont was immensely popular, and that any
change might be misunderstood.
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