For three or four weeks that portion of Missouri had been in a state of anarchy. There had been no security for life or property, nor any effectual efforts made to enforce the laws and restore order. Actual force had not as yet been resorted to, but the secessionists, determining to drive the Unionists out of the country, had visited their houses in squads—insulted the women, and threatened death, both by the rifle and rope, unless their orders to leave the country were complied with. Union men and their families, thus kept in a state of perpetual alarm, in many instances abandoned their homes and possessions, and obeying the cruel command, left the State. Some determined men, however, resolved not to be trampled to the earth without resistance, and formed companies of “Home Guards;” but they were powerless to protect themselves or friends from assassination, and being scattered far apart, were almost useless in a sudden emergency. Day by day the rebels became more bold, until finally the Unionists went into camp, at the town of Cahokia, eighteen miles from the Mississippi, in Clarke county, about six hundred strong, with a brave commander who had seen service in Mexico. They soon received two hundred and forty stand of arms from St. Louis, and thus became, in a measure, prepared to protect themselves and sustain their country’s honor. In the mean time, the rebels had formed a camp at Monticello, the county seat of Lewis county, about thirty miles south of Cahokia, under Martin Green, a brother of the ex-Senator. A few days subsequently the Unionists received word that Green was about to attack them with eight hundred men, and sent to Keokuk and Warsaw for assistance. Keokuk did not respond, but the Warsaw Grays, Captain Coster, fifty in number, went over to the Union camp, though with the intention of acting only on the defensive; but no enemy appearing, Colonel Moore determined to rout the prowling bands of secessionists who were hovering around him, and for three days his men searched in vain to find an enemy to give them battle. Numerous secessionists were arrested, but liberated on taking the required oath, and Moore finally marched his command to Athens. A peace in the vicinity was proposed by the enemy, with the object of lulling the suspicions of the Union men, and inducing them to disperse; and through these influences the Colonel soon found his forces dwindled down to one-half their original number.