For some time there had been rumors that General Fremont was about to be removed from the command of the Western Department. It was said that the authorities at Washington were greatly dissatisfied with the way he had managed affairs, and thought he gave more attention to making a grand display than in pushing operations against the enemy. Rumors of the impending change grew more and more numerous, and finally, on the second of November, General Fremont was officially notified of his removal from command and the appointment of General Hunter in his place.
Then on the third came the report that the enemy was in force at Wilson's Creek, and the plan of battle was formed. But the arrival of General Hunter at midnight caused the order for the troops to march at daybreak to be countermanded, and so the army did not move out to fight, greatly to the disappointment of our young friends.
It was fortunate for Fremont's reputation that the army did not make the proposed march, as the fact would have been revealed, which was discovered next day by a reconnoitering party which General Hunter sent out, that there was not a rebel camped on the old battleground or any where near it. A scouting party of about fifty men had been in the neighborhood, but they did not remain an hour; they had simply satisfied themselves that the Union army was still in Springfield, and then returned to their army at Cassville.
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“How could General Fremont have been so deceived?” was the very natural inquiry of Jack when it became known exactly how little foundation there was for the report of the near presence of the enemy.
“He was deceived by his scouts, I presume,” said Harry. “Suppose we ask one of our friends, who 'll know more about it.”
So they referred the matter to one of the soldiers attached to the commissary department, and the latter explained as follows: