The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-05-09
gerrpsburs Aunrnsl.
: -
j. w. BAILEY. Editor.
A GALLANT EXPLOIT.
How the Arms were taken from the \,
Louis Arsenal.

The Springfield Ill. journal has de-
tailed statement Of the execution Of the
Government order to remove arms from
the arsenal at St. Louis, by Capt. Stokes,
Of Chicago, formerly Of the United States
army. As a strategic movement, the
transaction will compare in importance
with Anderson's transfer Of his commai d
from Moultrie TO Sumter, as upon its sue
cessful execution depended the arming oi
the whole northwest, there being no 9th
er arms in the country available for the
purpose. Mo- one but those engaged in
the service can fully apprehend the diff
culties attending it. Situated in a city
boiling over with the elements of revolu
luton jsalously watched by thousands
OF organized 'minute men" who had all
sworn that the arms should not be remov-
ed the authorities of the city covertly
sympathizing with and abetting their foul
schemes commanded on all sides so that
lit could not have resisted an attack for
FIVE minutes-it will readily be seen that
The attempt to carry off ihc arms was an
enterprise Of no ordinary difficulty and
danger.
The Jou nails statement is as follows:
Captain Stokes had been telt graphed a.
Chicago by the Governor of Illinois, to
take command of Camp Yates. When he
arrive in Springfield, the Government
had received information that the arsenal
was in danger, and Il al the arms had bet
ter be removed at once. They were then
hourly expecting the return of special
messenger f. ON Wa.hin gton, bridging the
necessary requi iiion for their rcn.oy al
from the War Department. This messen-
gar arrived Oh Tuesday morning, by the
Great Western Ra'lro I'd, but the requisi-
ton was not received and necessary ar
rangements made until after the d psrlurc
of the train for S Louis. An cx ra en-
gine with one car attached was immedi-
ateIy procured, and Cap. in Stokes START
ed off at lightning speed to overhaul the
regular passenger train before it reached
ST. Louis This was done few miles
this side of Alton, the train having been
kept there for near two hours TO allow the
sp cial 10 overtake it. Upon the arrival
of the latter, all eyes were drect,d d TO.
wards the car to see who would get out,
much speculation having arisen am mongst
the passengers as to The cause of their de-
tention. Captain Stokes, however, man
aged 10 escape notice, and took his s. a.
am ngA the o her passengers in the tr III
which proceeded to s.. Louis.
Cp)n his arrival in the city he went d.
reclly to the arsenal, which he found sur
rounded by an i'm nense crowd and G ,ards
stationed at every place ofentrance Find
ing it impossible TO penetrate through lh-
crowd, and seeing picket GU, ard station
ed at a short dis ance, he sought the Cap
tain of the gu srd and told Linn he was the
bearer of dispatches from the S ere larry of
War, and must get into the arsenal. A
way was eventually opened, and Captain
Stokes found himself in the interior of the
arsenal.
Capt. Callendar introduced him to Can't.
Lyon, The officer in cha'g of the arsenal,
and the three officers held long council
upon the m amer in which the requisition
should be compiled with, 1t was at once
evident to Captain okes tha. the arsenal
could not be held agains any serious
tack, and he was more anxious to have
the arms removed without delay. The |
"minute men" who were pstroling tn.
streets were constantly on the alert, stop
ping every person whom thy rega rded |
with the least suspicion, and ii any intima-
ton of the purpose TO remove the arms
hal got abroad they would dou uItless have
endeavored to prevent it indeed. t. ey
had publicly declared tina! they would a.
tack and capture the arsenal on the first
attempt at removing the arms.
We may mention here circumstance
that will account for the extensive prepa-
rations made here for the II ansportation
of troops on Thursday evening. which did !
not take place. 1000 men had been or
dered to st. Louis to assist in the removal |
and they were to have left This city on that
evening, but Capt. Stokes, knowing that
what was to be done must BE- accomplish
ed by stratagem, and not by force, and |
seeing that the presence of troops from H.
linois would be the signal for an immedi-
ate and general attack, sent his private
agent to Alton to counternand the order.
The ito ps acc cordingly remained where
they were, and the cars did not leave,
greatly to the surprise of all who had OBJ
served the preparations made.
The order from the department was
simply for ten thousand muskets, saying
no hing about the cartridges, field pieces
or anything else. The arms were stored
in the third sto:y of the buldino, and a
ia igue party was detailed to lower them
to the first floor, while Capt. Stokes ma lie
arrange ments to have the steamers in
readiness 10 receive them on Thursd ty
night. Two Of The fastest boats oa tie
river had been chartered by the S;ate of
Illinois for the service, and were lying a
Alton, in readiness for immediate orders.
These arrangements consumed all of
Wednesday, and it was deemed unadvis-
able TO attempt the removal on that nj ght
as suspicion had already been aroused,
and Captain Stokes movements closely
watched. BY good fortune there happen
ed to be in the arsenal six hundred flint
lock muskets belonging to the State of
Kentucky sent there for the purpose of
being changed into percussion locks
These were boxed up and directed, and
sent TO the city in wagons. AS Captain
S okes anticipated they were i'm nediately
Cal hxr. kag III