Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890 to Simon Cameron

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05032.01 Author/Creator: Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890 Place Written: St. Louis, Missouri Type: Letter signed Date: 6 August 1861 Pagination: Order a Copy

Possibly written and signed by John's wife Jesse Benton Frémont. General Frémont, commander of the Western Department, writes to Cameron, Secretary of War. Frémont writes, "I am desirous of placing a force of three thousand men near the Southern part of New Mexico, from which to threaten Arkansas and Texas. In operating in the Indian Territory and Arkansas, we will be met and opposed by a large force of Texans, now encamped near San Antonio, unless we keep them idle by a force threatening them with attack... A force occupying El Paso, Texas, could be moved either upon San Antonio or into the Indian Territory and thence into Arkansas..." Proposes to draw the El Paso force from the Pacific states, noting that it should be composed of artillery and cavalry, and should be moved by steamer. Suggests that the brigade should be put into motion immediately from California to El Paso. 1 black and white bust engraving of Frémont included.

Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890
Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889
Fremont, Jessie Benton, 1824-1902

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources