Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 1 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the warStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
History
Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 1 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the war
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
The geographical position of Missouri is such, that if thrown into the
scale, she would weigh heavily either for or against the Union. When the
war broke out her people were divided, though the majority were believed
to be loyal to the Constitution; and when the Governor refused to meet
the requisition of the President for troops to sustain the national
flag, Hon. Frank P. Blair and other prominent citizens of the State,
replied, on their personal responsibility, that the quota of four
regiments should be raised, without either the aid of the Governor or
his consent. In order to give character and legality to their
proceedings, and to guard against the power of the State rulers, Captain
Nathaniel Lyon, of the United States army, then in command of the
Arsenal at St. Louis, was directed by the Government, on the 30th of
April, to enrol in the military service of the United States, from the
loyal citizens of the city and vicinity, 10,000 men, for the purpose of
maintaining the authority of the Government—for the protection of the
peaceable inhabitants of Missouri, and to guard against any attempt on
the part of the secessionists to gain military possession of the city of
St. Louis. Captain Lyon was also instructed that this force should be
disbanded when the emergency ceased to exist.
Recruiting offices were opened, under his direction, the loyal citizens
were prompt in their response, and on the 2d of May, Colonel F. B. Blair
announced that the four regiments called for from that State had been
enrolled, equipped, and mustered into service.
The Police Commissioners of St. Louis had called upon Captain Lyon, on
the opening of recruiting stations, and demanded the removal of the
United States troops from all places and buildings occupied by them in
the city outside of the Arsenal grounds, but he declined compliance, and
the Commissioners referred the matter to the Governor and the
Legislature, alleging that such occupancy was derogatory to the
Constitution of the United States—that Missouri had “sovereign and
exclusive jurisdiction over her entire territory,” and had delegated a
portion of that territory only (the Arsenals, etc.,) to the United
States for military purposes.
CAPTURE OF CAMP JACKSON.
In response to Governor Jackson’s order directing the military in
certain districts to go into encampments for the purpose of improvement
in the tactics of war, a camp had been formed at Lindell’s Grove, in the
suburbs of St. Louis, called “Camp Jackson.” On the 4th of May it was
inaugurated, under the charge of General D. M. Frost, and within a week
numbered 800 men. Having received intelligence that it was the purpose
of Captain Lyon to break up this encampment, General Frost addressed him
a letter, dissuasive in its tone—disclaiming any intention on the part
of himself and men of hostility to the Government, and containing an
offer to preserve the public peace and guard the property of the United
States.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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