Today in Wheeling History: March 20--Major General John C. Frémont, known as "The Pathfinder" for his exploring and mapping of the American West, assumed command of the Mountain Department of the Union Army, with headquarters in Wheeling, Virginia (1862).
John C. Frémont was a prominent 19th century American explorer, military officer and politician. He led multiple expeditions to map the American West in the 1840s, providing valuable information for westward expansion. Frémont played a key role in the U.S. conquest of California during the Mexican-American War. In 1856, he ran as the first presidential candidate of the newly formed Republican Party, losing to James Buchanan. During the Civil War, Frémont served as a Union general but had a tumultuous military career, clashing with President Lincoln over his unauthorized emancipation edict in Missouri. The next year, in 1862, Frémont was given leadership of another army in the Appalachian region, but he proved ineffective against the rapid maneuvers of his opponent, Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. After losing command of his army to a rival, John Pope, Frémont again angrily resigned from the military. In his later years, he lost his fortune in railroad investments and briefly served as territorial governor of Arizona.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/yyvzwkpc) (https://tinyurl.com/ycyd39ap) (https://tinyurl.com/2jmybsxw) (https://tinyurl.com/5n6e7h3r)
Photo credits: West Virginia & Regional History Center, Wikipedia
John C. Frémont was a prominent 19th century American explorer, military officer and politician. He led multiple expeditions to map the American West in the 1840s, providing valuable information for westward expansion. Frémont played a key role in the U.S. conquest of California during the Mexican-American War. In 1856, he ran as the first presidential candidate of the newly formed Republican Party, losing to James Buchanan. During the Civil War, Frémont served as a Union general but had a tumultuous military career, clashing with President Lincoln over his unauthorized emancipation edict in Missouri. The next year, in 1862, Frémont was given leadership of another army in the Appalachian region, but he proved ineffective against the rapid maneuvers of his opponent, Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. After losing command of his army to a rival, John Pope, Frémont again angrily resigned from the military. In his later years, he lost his fortune in railroad investments and briefly served as territorial governor of Arizona.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/yyvzwkpc) (https://tinyurl.com/ycyd39ap) (https://tinyurl.com/2jmybsxw) (https://tinyurl.com/5n6e7h3r)
Photo credits: West Virginia & Regional History Center, Wikipedia
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