But secession influences were exceedingly active in almost all parts of the State, and the fact that the Governor and members of the Legislature were disorganizers, occasioned great apprehension in regard to her future destiny. The neighboring States of Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas made tender of liberal aid to the loyal men of Missouri, whenever required, to maintain their rights and their freedom. The secessionists now threw off their disguise, and resorted to violent aggressions and bitter persecutions of Union men. Many loyal citizens of Potosi, Washington county, seventy miles from St. Louis, were driven from the town, and their property injured or appropriated by the rebels. Previous to the arrival of General Harney at St. Louis, Captain Nathaniel Lyon was commissioned a brigadier-general, having command of all the troops at St. Louis. On Tuesday, the 14th of May, he sent Captain Cole, of the Fifth Missouri Volunteers, with one hundred and fifty men, to Potosi, who surrounded the town before daylight, and arrested about one hundred and fifty persons. They were marched to the court-house, and fifty of them required to give parole not to take up arms against the Government. Nine of the leaders were taken to the St. Louis arsenal. On his return to St. Louis, Captain Cole led his troop through De Soto, Jefferson county, where a body of secession cavalry was collected, who fled at his approach. Thirty of their horses were captured by Captain Cole, and a large secession flag seized, which they had just raised on a pole in the town, and the stars and stripes elevated in its place. On the 21st of May, General Harney was induced by Price to enter into an arrangement which was professedly designed to “allay excitement,” and “restore peace;” and for this common object, the “general officers of the Federal and State Governments were to be respected.” Price was recognized as “having by commission full authority over the militia of the State,” to direct the whole power of the State officers, and to maintain order. General Harney admitted that this, faithfully performed, was all he required; and that he had no wish to make any “military movements” on his part. This was all that Price desired. Having by these plausible pretences tied the hands of General Harney, knowing that he would regard his obligations, the secession leaders continued their plots, and took measures for consummating the rebellion in the State. Loyal men in Missouri, as well as in other States, soon perceived the situation of affairs. The General Government became cognizant of the embarrassment in which General Harney was placed, and to release him from his engagements with General Price, as well as to secure the most efficient action at this stage of the rebellion, relieved him and appointed General Lyon to the command. Under his administration, vigorous, all-observant, prompt, and decisive, General Price found himself under a pressure very different from what he had anticipated.