Blair, Montgomery, 1813-1883 to Francis P. Blair Jr.

GLC02089

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GLC#
GLC02089
Type
Documents
Date
20 September 1861
Author/Creator
Blair, Montgomery, 1813-1883
Title
to Francis P. Blair Jr.
Place Written
Washington, District of Columbia
Pagination
1 p. : docket Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm
Primary time period
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
Sub-Era
The American Civil War

Telegraph draft to his brother, regarding the quarrel between Francis Blair and John C. Frémont. Blair writes, "Fremont requests your letter from President & I sent it, It will do to stand by - Caution friends against controversy with the Provost either in German or English…." Francis Blair had been highly influential in getting Frémont appointed as commander of the Western Department, which included Blair's home state of Missouri. Blair had believed Frémont would ensure that Missouri remained under Union control, but he quickly clashed with him, and began to lobby for his dismissal from office. The heavy-handed Frémont ordered Blair's arrest, just a few days after this letter was written, while Blair was in St. Louis. Soon afterward, Blair and others were able to convince Lincoln to remove Frémont. The reference in this note to the German language, no doubt pertains to Francis Blair's work in recruiting German-American Missourians into supporting the Union. Francis P. Blair Jr., a Congressman from Missouri and officer in the Union Army, later rose to the rank of major general, and served in the U.S. Senate.

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