The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-05-16
The First Victory.


The First Victory.
ST. LOUIS, May 10.
General Frost's brigade of Missouri
militia, encamped at Camp Jackson in
the Western outskirts of the city, sur
rendered Internationally this afternoon
on demand of Capt. Lyon, commander
of the U. S. forces in this city. Captain
Lyon marched on Camp Jackson with
some 1000 volunteers, surrounded it
and planted eight field pieces on the
adjoining eminences.
The following letter was sent from
Captain Lyon to Gen. Frost: 60
"HEApouARrERs u. s. TRoops.
st. Louis, May 9, 1861. )
To Gen. d. NJ FROST:
"SIR Your command is regarded
as evidently hostile towards the gov
eminent of the United States. 1t is
for the most part made up of those
secessionists who have openly avowed
their hostilities to the General Govern
ment, and have been plotting at the
seizure of its property and overthrow
of its authority.
"You are openly in communication
with the Southern Confederacy, which
is now at war with the United States,
and you are receiving at your camp
from the said Confederacy, and under
its flag, large supplies. of material of
war, the most of which is known to be
the property of the United States.
"These extraordinary preparations
plainly indicate none other than the
we'll known purpose of the Governor
of the State under whose orders you
are acting, and whose purpose, recent.
ly communicated to the Legislature,
has just been responded to by that
body in the most unparalleled legisla-
ton, having in direct view hostilities to
the General Government and co-opcra-
ton with its enemies.
In view of these considerations,
and your failure to dispense in obe-
dience to the proclamation of the Pres
ident, by the obligations imposed upon
me by instructions from Washington,
it is my duty to demand, and do here
by demand of you an Immediate sur
render of your command, with no 9TH
err conditions than that all persons sur
rendering under this demand, shall be-
humanely and kindly treated. Believj
ing myself prepared to enforce this de-
mand, one-half hours time before do
ing SO, will be allowed for your COM
pliance Herewith.
'sCapt I'd Infantry, Commanding Troops"
1t is understood that General Frost
says this letter was not received by him
until his camp was surrounded by.
United States troops. He then replied:
that the encampment was organized
under the law of the State, and simply
for organizing and drilling the volun-
teer- militia of this military district.
Not expecting any demonstration, he
was unprepared to successfully resist
the attack, he therefore accepted the
terms specified, and surrendered his
command. About 500 men then In
camp, large number being in the city
on leave of absence, then laid down
their arms and were escorted to the
city as prisoners of war.
A release on parole was rendered the
officers and troops, providing they
would take an oath not to take up arms
again against the United States Gov
eminent, which they declined, on the
ground that it implied that they had
already taken up arms against the gov
eminent, which they denied. just
before the troops started fer the city,
and while the State forces were drawn
up between tive lines of volunteers
several rocks were thrown at the vol.
unteers and few pistol shots were
fired by excited parties in the sur
rounding crowd which was composed
of large number of citizens, including
many women. One shot took effect in
the leg of Capt. Blantorosk, and as he
fell, he gave the word to fire, which
was obeyed by some two or three eem-
panies, resulting in the death of up
wards of twenty persons, including two
women and several children, and badly
wounding several others. The follow
ing are the only names of the killed
that can be ascertained tonight:
Walter Mcdowell, Thos. A-Hezen-.
Nicholas Noblack, and Emily Sum-.
mers. Probably fatally wounded.
Clairbone Wilson and Truman Wright.
Intense excitement exists in the CITY.
and large bodies of men are thronging
the streets. The Democrat and Ameys.
cam Offices have been threatened by a
mob, but through the promptness of
the Chief of Police, McDonough, any
violent demonstration has thus far been
prevented. All the gun shops in the
city are guarded by armed police. and
about two hundred have been detailed
to protect the Democrat and Americaw
offices. The lateness of the hour pre-
cludes the possibility of getting more
reliable information fo.n;nLt