Arthur Lyon Fremantle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle
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Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle
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| Born | 11 November 1835 |
| Died | 25 September 1901 (aged 65) Cowes Castle, Isle of Wight, England |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1852–1901 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Mahdist War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Companion of the Order of the Bath |
General Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle (1835–1901) was a British Army officer. He is famous for being a British person who saw the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Even though he was a high-ranking officer, he wasn't officially representing the United Kingdom. He was more like a "war tourist," someone who travels to see a war. He spent three months in North America in 1863, visiting both the Confederate States of America (the South) and the Union (the North).
Contents
Early Life and Army Career
Arthur Fremantle was born into a family with a long history in the military. His father, Lieutenant-General John Fremantle, had fought in famous battles like the Peninsular War and the Waterloo Campaign. Arthur was named after the Duke of Wellington, a very famous general.
Arthur Fremantle joined the British Army in 1852 after studying at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He quickly moved up the ranks. By 1860, when he was only 25, he was a captain in his regiment and a lieutenant colonel in the Army.
In 1860, he worked as an assistant military secretary in Gibraltar. There, he met Captain Raphael Semmes of the Confederate ship CSS Sumter. Semmes told exciting stories about sea battles. This made Fremantle very interested in the American Civil War.
Like many other officers, Fremantle was curious about the war in America. He decided to take a trip to the South in 1863. At first, he didn't like the idea of slavery, so he supported the North. But he later wrote:
At the outbreak of the American war, in common with many of my countrymen, I felt very indifferent as to which side might win; but if I had any bias, my sympathies were rather in favour of the North, on account of the dislike which an Englishman naturally feels at the idea of Slavery. But soon a sentiment of great admiration for the gallantry and determination of the Southerners, together with the unhappy contrast afforded by the foolish bullying conduct of the Northerners, caused a complete revulsion in my feelings, and I was unable to repress a strong wish to go to America and see something of this wonderful struggle.
On March 2, 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle left England to begin his journey.
Traveling Through Texas
Fremantle entered the Confederate States through Mexico on April 2. He crossed the Rio Grande into Brownsville, Texas. Soon after arriving, he saw a dead body by the road, which showed him how rough life could be on the frontier. He spent almost two weeks in Brownsville, meeting generals and traders.
He then traveled across South Texas. He wrote in his diary about interesting things he saw, like the taste of polecat meat and how Texan women used snuff. He also noted the strong language used by his travel companions.
He arrived in San Antonio, Texas, on April 24, and then in Houston, Texas, on April 30. In Houston, he had dinner with General William Read Scurry. Fremantle noticed that Confederate officers spoke highly of Great Britain and Queen Victoria. They even toasted her health!
Fremantle hurried across Texas because he heard rumors about battles. He worried that the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, might be captured, which would make it hard to cross the Mississippi River. On May 2, he met Sam Houston, a famous figure in Texas history. Fremantle found him a bit proud and rough. He left Texas on May 8, arriving in Shreveport, Louisiana.
From Louisiana to Tennessee
Following advice, Fremantle went to Monroe, Louisiana, hoping to cross the Mississippi River there. On May 10, he heard that the city of Alexandria had fallen. In Monroe, he also learned about the Confederate victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville. However, the news that General Stonewall Jackson was wounded saddened people. Fremantle noticed that Southerners had very high hopes and often looked down on their enemies.
After a tense journey on a steamboat, Fremantle finally crossed the Mississippi River. He arrived in Natchez, Mississippi, on May 15.
From Natchez, Fremantle traveled to Jackson, which he reached on May 18. The city had been attacked recently, so soldiers and locals were suspicious of him. One man even threatened him! Fremantle eventually convinced a Confederate officer and a doctor that he was a legitimate British visitor. He then met General Joseph E. Johnston. Fremantle stayed with Johnston for several days and learned that General Jackson had died from his wound.
Fremantle's next stop was Mobile, Alabama, which he reached on May 25. He inspected the city's defenses and briefly visited Montgomery. He then arrived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on May 28. Here, he met more important people, including Generals William J. Hardee and Leonidas Polk. He also saw a small fight between Union and Confederate forces. He left for Charleston on June 6.
On to Richmond
Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle really wanted to reach Richmond, the Confederate capital. From there, he hoped to find General Lee's army. He traveled through Augusta and Atlanta, arriving in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 8. Charleston was where the war had started.
He explored the city's defenses, including Fort Sumter. He also met General PGT Beauregard.
On his way to Richmond, Fremantle passed through Wilmington, North Carolina, and Petersburg, Virginia. He arrived in Richmond two days after leaving Charleston. On the day he arrived, he met Judah P. Benjamin, the Confederate Secretary of State. Benjamin told Fremantle that if Britain officially recognized the Confederacy, the war would end. Fremantle also met President Jefferson Davis and spoke with him for an hour. It seemed the Confederate leaders wanted to impress him, hoping Britain would help them.
Fremantle was eager to find Lee's army. On June 18, he met James Seddon, the Confederate Secretary of War. Seddon gave him letters to introduce him to Generals Lee and Longstreet. Fremantle left Richmond two days later. On June 21, he found General William Dorsey Pender's division. He reached Lee's headquarters at Berryville a day later.
Here, Fremantle met the people who would travel with him for the next two weeks. These included Francis Charles Lawley, a newspaper reporter, and Captain Justus Scheibert, a Prussian army engineer. These men wrote important accounts of the Campaign and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Gettysburg
Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle met General Longstreet on June 27. This was important because it allowed Fremantle to watch the army's advance through Maryland and Pennsylvania up close. As a neutral observer, Fremantle was even allowed to enter Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a town that was off-limits to most soldiers.
On June 30, Fremantle met General Lee for the first time. He learned that General George Meade had taken over as commander of the Union Army. The next day, Fremantle heard artillery fire, which meant the two armies had met. He spoke to Union prisoners and met General Ambrose Powell Hill, who was feeling ill. Later, Fremantle climbed a tree to watch the fighting.
On July 2, the foreign observers returned to the battlefield early. They saw Generals Lee, Longstreet, Hill, and others meeting. Fremantle climbed his tree again to get a better view. He was frustrated that the attack didn't start until late in the afternoon. For the first time, he heard the famous 'Rebel Yell' (a battle cry). That evening, they heard that General Hood was wounded and General William Barksdale had died.
On the morning of July 3, Fremantle and Captain Ross explored the town of Gettysburg. They wanted to see the seminary's cupola, which had been used as a lookout point. But the Union army started shelling, so they returned to Longstreet's headquarters. Fremantle found Longstreet sitting on a fence. Thinking the battle was just starting, Fremantle said he wouldn't have missed it. Longstreet sadly told him that the attack had already happened and failed. Longstreet then asked if Fremantle had anything to drink, and Fremantle gave him his silver hip flask.
Fremantle then saw General Lee trying to encourage his defeated troops. Lee was preparing them for a possible Union counterattack, but it never came. Fremantle retreated with the Confederate Army on the night of July 4. He met Jeb Stuart, the cavalry commander, whose absence during the battle had hurt Lee's intelligence. On July 7, Fremantle said goodbye to Longstreet and his staff. He planned to cross into Union territory and go to New York City. Longstreet was confident Fremantle could do it, saying he had traveled through rough parts of Texas.
Two days later, in Hagerstown, Fremantle left his companions. He convinced General Benjamin Franklin Kelley that he was not a spy, even showing a pass from General Lee.
New York and the Draft Riots
Fremantle arrived by train in New York City on the night of July 12. He checked into the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The next day, Fremantle went for a walk. When he returned, he saw shops closing and buildings on fire. Fire engines were there, but a large crowd wouldn't let them work. Fremantle became very worried. He saw a Black youth being chased by the mob, who found safety with soldiers. Fremantle asked a bystander why the crowds hated Black people so much. He was told they were "the innocent cause of all these troubles."
In fact, the New York City draft riots (July 13–16, 1863) had begun. These were very violent protests against the draft (forcing people to join the army). They also turned into attacks against Black people. The next day, Fremantle noted that the mob's actions were getting worse, with fights between police and rioters. An English captain reported that the mob had attacked his ship and beaten his Black crew members.
Return to England
On July 15, while the city was still in chaos, Fremantle boarded a ship called the SS China and began his journey back to Britain.
Back in England, Fremantle's friends and colleagues asked him many questions about the situation in the Confederate States. Only Union newspapers were easily available in England, so people wanted to hear his firsthand account. This encouraged Fremantle to write a book about his experiences in America. The book, called Three Months in the Southern States, was based on his diary. It was published in 1864 and was popular in both Great Britain and the Union. Southerners also eagerly read it to see how a foreign visitor saw their struggle.
Later Life and Career
Fremantle married soon after returning to Britain. He served with his regiment until 1880. The next year, he was promoted to major general and became an aide to Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, who was the commander-in-chief of the British Army.
The United Kingdom was concerned about battles against the Mahdist army in the Sudan. Fremantle was sent to the Sudan and briefly commanded the port of Suakin. He then joined General Graham in a raid and fought in the difficult Battle of Tamai.
After the British left the Sudan, Fremantle returned to England in 1886. He worked in the War Office. In 1893, he became Commander-in-Chief, Scotland, but held the post for less than a year.
He finished his career as Governor of Malta in January 1894. He was a popular governor on the island. In 1897, he renamed a line of forts the Victoria Lines to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. In 1898, he hosted a visit from the German Emperor, Kaiser William II.
In 1899, after his time as governor ended, Lieutenant-General Arthur Fremantle returned to England. He was honored with the title Knight of Grace of the Order of St John in 1900.
General Fremantle died at age 65 on September 25, 1901, from complications of asthma. He died at the Royal Yacht Squadron's headquarters on the Isle of Wight. In 2001, on the 100th anniversary of his funeral, a ceremony was held to mark the restoration of his grave in Woodvale Cemetery, near Brighton. His family and American Civil War re-enactors attended.
Legacy
Even though Fremantle's book was a best-seller at the time, interest in Civil War diaries in Britain decreased after the Confederacy lost in 1865. However, in 1952, historian Walter Lord published a new version of Fremantle's book, called The Fremantle Diary. This new edition brought Fremantle's story back into the public eye.
In Popular Media
Fremantle is still famous today partly because of his role in Civil War books and movies. This is thanks to Michael Shaara's historical novel, The Killer Angels, published in 1974. The novel is about the Battle of Gettysburg and its impact on key figures. Shaara used diaries and letters, including Fremantle's, to research his book.
In the 1993 movie based on Shaara's novel, called Gettysburg, Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle is played by James Lancaster. In the movie, he talks with General Longstreet about the Confederacy's relationship with the United Kingdom. However, his appearance in the movie is different from real life. In the film, he wears a bright red British uniform and sips tea. In reality, he was dressed in a "gray shooting-jacket" and lived roughly, like many others.
Since 1993, Roger Hughes has portrayed Fremantle in historical re-enactments in the United States. Hughes also led the efforts to restore Fremantle's grave in Brighton in 2001. He runs a website with lots of information about Fremantle and his travels.
See Also
Images for kids
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Sir Arthur Lyon Fremantle
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A plaque on the Victoria Lines in Mosta, Malta, with a reference to Governor Fremantle
