The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-05-07
THE ST. LOUIS ARSENAL.
How it was Stripped by an Illinois Vol
unteer.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
SPRINGFIELD, April 2Sth

am now able to give complete and
accurate narrative of the transfer Of the
twenty-one thousand stand of arms, from
St. Louis to Springfield.
Capt. James Ill. Stokes of Chicago,
late Of the Regular Army, volunteered
to undertake the perilous mission; and
Gov. Yates placed in bis hands the re-
quision of the Secretary of War for ten
thousand muskets. Captain Stokes went
to st. Louis and made his way as rapid
ly as possible to the Arsenal. He found
it surrounded by an immense mob, and
the postern gates all closed. His utmost
efforts to penetrate the crowd we're, for
long time, unavailing. At last he man
aged to attract the attention of one of the
guards, by whom he sent for the Cap
tain of the Company stationed at that
part of the Arsenal, and 10 him he made
known that he was bearer Of dispatch
es from the War Department. With
some difficulty he was admitted without
attracting the particular notice of the
crowd. On reaching the Arsenal prop
er, he learned that Major Haymer, of the
Ordnance Department, had just been or
dered to Leavenworth, whittier he had
gone on the preceding day. He had
been superseded by Major Calender, an
old class mate of Capt Stokes at West
Point. A council was Immediately held
between Capt. Stodes, Maj Calender and
Capt. Lyon, the latter being the officer
in command of the regular troops aud
ynluptaapc frbn rn,,,;-,t;o, Il
Capt. Lyon doubted the possibility of
executing it. He said the Arsenal was
surrounded by a thousand spies, and
every movement was watched and re-
ported to the head quarters Of the seces-
slonists, who could throw an overpower-
ing force upon them at any moment
Capt. Stokes represented that every
hours delay was rendering the capture
of the Arsenal more certain and the
arms must be removed TO Illinois, now
or never. Maj. Calender agreed with
him and told him to take them at his
own time and in his own way. This was
Wednesday night. Capt Stokes had
spy in the camp of the secesssionists
whom he met at intervals in certain
place in the city. On Thursday he re-
ceiyed information that Gov. Jackson
had ordered two thousand armed men
down from Jefferson City, whose move
ments could only contemplate seizure
of the Arsenal, by occupying the heights
around it and planting batteries thereon
The job would have been an easy one. They
had already planted one battery on the
St. Louis leyee. aud another at Powder
Point, short distance below the Arsen-
nj. Capt Stokes Immediately telegraph
ed TO Alton to have the steamer City of
Alton drop down to the Arsenal landing,
about midnight. He then returned to
the Arsenal and commenced moving the
boxes Of guns, weighing some three hun
dred pounds each, down to the lower
floor. About seven hundred men were
employed in the work. He then took
five hundred flint lock muskets, which
had been brought there TO be altered,
and sent them to be placed on steamer
as blind to cover his real movements
The secessionists nabbed them at once,
and raised perfect Bedlam over the
capture. A large portion of the outside
crowd left the Arsenal when this move
ment was executed ; and Capt Lyon took
the remainder who were lying around as
spies, aud locked them up in his guard
house
About IL o'clock, the steamer City of
Alton came alongside planks were
showed out from the windows to the main
deck, and the boxes slid down. When
the ten thousand We're safely on board,
Capt. Stokes went to Capt. Lyon and
Maj. Calender, and urged them by the
most pressing appeals, 10 let him empty
the Arsendt. They told him to 60 ahead
aud take whatever he wanted. Accor-
dinghy he took 900 more muskets,
500 more rifle carbines, 500 revolyers,
10000 musket cartridges, to say Moth
ing OF the cannon, and large quantity
ol miscellaneous accoutrements, leaving
only 1000 muSkets in the Arsenal, to
arm the St. Louis volunteers.
When the whole were on board, about
two O'Clock Friday morning the order
was given, by the captain Of the steam
er, TO cast off. But Judge of the con
9tci VI an udldS " hIlSu IL WIS IOunI
that she could not move. The arms had
been piled IN great quantities around the
engines 10 protect them against the bat
terry on the leyee, aud the great weight
had fastened the bows OF the boat firmly
on a rock, which vas tearing hole
through the bottom AT every turn OF the
wheels. a man OF less nerve than Cap.
tain Stokes would have gone crazy Oh
the spot. He called the arsenal men on
board, and commenced moving the box
es TO the stern. Fortunately, when about
two hundred boxes had been moved the
boat fell away from the shore, and float /.
ed IN deep water i" Which way ," said I
Capt. Mitchell Of the steamer "Straigh
70 Alton in the regular channel" replied
Capt. Stokes, What II we are attack
ed ?" said Captain Mitchell Then
we will fight !" said Capt. Stokes -
" What if We are overpowered ?" said
Capt. NJ. :" Run her TO the deepest part
Of the river and sink her" replied Capt.
;. Ill do it," was the heroic answer
Of Capt. Mitchell, and away they went
past the secession battery, past the en-
tire S. Louis leyee, and on to Alton, in