New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-01
HEADQUARTERS ARMY on POTOMAC,
M.x.sa.. Itf,.o.roa June -. 1861. }
F. p. BLAIR, JR.

TnoS. JORDAN, A. A. AdutantGenersl
FP. BLAIR, JR.
From The ST. Lopis Demoeyoe .
Col Blair left this city on Monday last Tor the East.
The situation of things in Missouri at ibe moment NOT
calling for his presence at the head OF hs reglneot ne
has departed for the East TO render more valuable
service to Missouri and to the whole country The
time that must eapse between this aud the 4th OF July,
on which day Congress will meet, is short enough ior
the duties he has undertaken TO discharge before no
will he required to resume his seat In the Hoube VI
Representatives. .
That he will do "wel and quickly what is IN his
hands to do none can doubt. From the moment that
Col. Blair entered pubc li'e he has had tins con-
fdence from bis friends. From that moment lac mas
commanded this rsspec; from bis oppouents. B9y o,
man, all have conceded to Frank Blair the will ana
the ability TO meet the responsibilities OF every ocoa
sion ia which it has been his duty to act WIN inc
expansiye yigor Of superior Intellect, no has deye
o. cd new powers Ia evey crisis aDd risen equal 10
the demands Of every emergency. To-day he mis-
higher place In Tie popular estimation than
be has ever filled. lie has left Missouri
with greater reputation. a more EXTENDED
influence aud larger capabilities for good, than she has
yet enjoyed 1t is but just to Col Blair to record that
on bis return to this city in April last lbs talents were
subjected to most severe AID trying experiment Inc
grand object before him at that time, was TO arrest the
State of Missouri then trembl ng the verge OF Teyo-
luton aud bind her fast to the Union. The means oy
which this great and patriotic end was TO be accom-
rshed of the most difficult and delicate nature.
They cons ted in the organizing and armng 10 TINS Guy
of military force sufficient TO protect its loyal inhaol
tnnts against armed bands of Secesiouiss already Or
gained and differed and drilled and backed up by
traitorous State Government, and City Govern
nent which il not trditorous In fact, was hostile
20 the Union and sympa,bzing strongly win seces-
sion. Who does lot remember the naughty bear
bog of the Secessionists at that timei So ehopal'
leu withal and humbled now.) Our Commissioners
of Police had discovered that Captain NOW Gen.l
Lyon. who had only some 200 men in the Arsenal nad
Lri, bia nfita ia wall
had procured the option Of certain traitor lawyer
that 10 do 30 was UNCONSTITUTIONAL they bad posted
sentnes around the Arsenal TO spy out the movements
there and bring into contempt the national nag and
put under the law Of rebel city police The men who
bore it. BigGen. Frost (who has since melted quite
away hid announced bis purpose to plant batteries on
the high grounds commanding the Arsenal, and Gen.
Harvey bad decided thatit would not he prudent In
Lyon take any step TO prevent IL, and that no sueh
attempt Saudi be made. st. Louis trebled and cow
cred beneath the overwhelming power of Secession.
The difficulty Of organizing such military force %
Blair desired was threefold. There difficulty in
overcoming the fears Of the rank and file Of the Union
men, who knew their motions were watched by a
sharp and hostile police. There danger that the
tint ruall body Of Union men who might initiate the
work would be eet upon aud cut TO pieces by the
"Minute-Meo," who had garrisoned and fortified with
cannon the building the corner 81 Filth and f1ne,
or BY Frosts brigade, who were at that time quartared
in toe city. 49,
Law in the hesitation aud tniiity OF many OF n
nnence among tho Union men themselves- Ii was
dangerous taid these TO organizer was rash TO arm;
IL would excite Seces-ionsts--proyoke an attack
draw down upon the city police, aud lead 10 blood
she'd. But all these difficulties were surmounted. IL
was In the genius of Col. Blair TO them. He
moved night on. His quiet, steady, and uDprelendinR
courage inspited the faltering Union men HIS dis
cTei0n and celebrity Of action over-rea nod ooth the
police and the Minute Men. The organization was
perfected with 70 much secresy and drpateb that an
army seemed TO have been created in Gn hour. IL was
In ills way that Col Blair held up and sustained the
Uni q men with one hand, while with the other he
suoe and discounted the Secessioniss.
TIE rcst Is knowp. The capture OF Camp Jackson,
at nucleu. Of the Secession army which was 20 take
Missouri out Of the Union the moss gallant feat In the
history Of the war; was but one OF the resuits Oh the
wisdom we have been attempting 10 portray.
The battle Of Bonneville, another brilliant feat OF
arms. whose tplcndors have covered our little army as
with a mantle. might have been won by any oihcer
with leo than a 1.-THE Of tho credit for talents which
iybtfuIly belong TO Col. Blair. Ibese victories
won. in feet Last Winter ard Spring when Frank
ir and tho friends who followed after him. in their
self.denying work Of parotism threaded the streets
aud alleys Of St Louis by nigt-and met with secrecy
In baHs and gaIets-and collected, ana Offered, and
drilled, and formed and moulded into shape by slow
degrees tho Union army Of st. Louis, 500 strong,
aeon amer TO DO swell.d by contributions from the
country to nearly thrice that number: And When in
The eoaS Of S1, S Lyon has routed and dispersed
the followers Of the traitor Rains, and the pirate
McCnocb, and set the seal Of humiliation on the
Missouri rebellion, and award TO the triumphant
ror the honors due to The first General OF TIE country
we shall not fail TO refer for the causes Of his succes
10 a small law office In this city, where Frank Blair
opened TO few friends Last Winter, bis phn ofdeIing
with Secession in Missouri Tho work set foot that
night is now nearly or quite finished. The traitors OF
Mi.sour arc overthrown. The State Is safe and has
been saved by stroke Of genius with little blood
from the horror Of protracted conflict. The "indis
erection" Of farresching sagscity and lofty courage
in single man, has done the work. We do believe
thst tho same policy would have saved Virginia, Ten,
nessee, and Arkansas from Secession. But they had
no such man.