Gustave Koerner to Richard Yates

Head Quarter, Western Department.

Confidential

September 18. 1861

Dear Governor That Blair and his friends, including the Postmaster General are determined to break down General Fremont, I have no doubt. Without entering into the merits of the question, I am prepared to say, that a removal of Fremont at the present time would be disastrous perhaps to an alarming extent. It would produce a Revolution almost in our own ranks. Gov. Morton, whom I saw yesterday is of the same opinion. Now if you have not done it already, I would in your place write the strongest sort of a letter to Lincoln. The Blairs are energetic sagacious and I am sorry to say implacable, and in this instance, strange as it may appear supported from the circumstances of the case, not of course by any assimilation, otherwise, by the quasi-Union- neutrality, secession faction of the Country Unless we counteract them by strong effort they may succeed. Now the Blairs are my friends

and they deserve great credit and deservedly for many thing; but in this crisis personal feelings must be often disregarded. I discovered that in my conversation with him since I came to head quarters, and after the Blair flare-up. He is impetuous, and will not budge an inch from what he deems to be right. So it appears to me. It may be an evidence of strength or weekness of character as events will develop.

I have no special duty assigned to me as yet. Our conversations have been general, on politics, and also on military affairs. I cannot tell yet, if I can be of any particular use.

Yours truly G Koerner

Gov. Koerner & Yates in reply.

File simply

File – this & copy of answer in “private correspondence”