Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-22

Commanding Camp jackson, NJ. V. NJ
Capt L. refused to receive the above commu-
nication. He forwarded Gen. Frost the follow
ing. about the time If we are not mistaken, of
the 81 rounding of his camp:
H1ApouAKTEEs UNITED STATES TEoors,l
ST. LOUIS, Missouri. Nay 10, 1851 J
Grx D. NJ Fsosr, Commanding Gimp Jackson:
SIR:-YOur command Is regarded eYi-
IDENTIFY hostile towards the Government of the
United States. 1t is. for the most part, made
up of those secessiOnists who have openly
avoyed their hostility to the General Government
and have been plotting at "a seizure OF its property
and the overthrow of its authority. You are
openly in communication with the sOcaled
Southern Confederacy, which is now at war with
the United States, and YOU are receiving at your
camp from the said Con.ederacy, and under its /
fag, large supplies of materials of war, most of
which is known to be the property of the Uuited
States.
These extraordinary preparations plainly indi-
cate none other than the well known purpose of
the Governor of this State, under whose orders |
you are acting, and whose purpose recently COM
municated to the Legislature, has just been re |
sponded to by that body in the most unparalleled |
legislation. having in direct view hOstlties to the
General Government and cooperation with Its
enemies In view of these considerations and of
your failure to dIsperse in obedience to the procla
nation of the President and of the eminent ne
cessities of State policy and welfare and the Obli
cations imposed upon me by instructions from
Washington, it is my duty to demand, and do
hereby demand of you an immediate surrender of
your command with no other conditions than that
all persons surrendering under this demand shall
be humanely and kindly treated.
Believing myself epaied to enforce this de
mand, one half hours time before doing so will
be allowed for your compliance Herewith.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant, N Lyon,
Capt. 2d Infantry, Commanding Troops.
Immediately on the receipt of the foregoing,
Gen. Frost called a hasty consultation of the of
ficers of his staff. The conclusion arrived at
was about as follows: The brigade was in no
condition to make resistance to a force so numer-
icaily superior. With but few field pieces of
small carber and with less than dozen rounds
of cartridges for his command, battle must nee
essariiy be of short DURATION and of but one re-
sul-the total rout and defeat of the State troops
/ To have withstoCd an attack would have been
sheer recklessness and cruelty to the men of Gen
Frost's command. In short, the brigade was not
/ by any means in a war condition. Gen. Frost
stated, moreover, that he had no war to wage
upon the United States or its troops; that he was
only acting in cheerful obedience to the orders of
his superior officer and in compliance with the
laws of the State; that he had anticipated no con-
fict. and would not willingly jeOpardize the lives
| of his men in ANYTHING that might be construed
into hostility to the United States Government.
Only one course was to be pursued, and that was
quickly agreed upon, viz: surrender.
The demand of Capt. Lyon was accordingly
i agreed to. The State troops were therefore made
prisoners of war, but offer made to release
/ them condition that they would take an oath
to support the Constitution of the United States,
and would swear not to take up arms against the
Government. These terms we're made known to
the several commands, and the opportunity given
to all who might feel disposed to accede to them
to do so. Some eight or ten men signifed their
willingness; but the remainder about eight hun
dred, preferred, under the circumstances, to be-
come prisoners "A number of the troops were
absent from the camp in the city, on leave. }
Those who declined to take the prescribed oath
said that they had already sworn allegiance to
the United States and to defend the Government
and to repeat it now would be to admit that they
had been in rebellion, which they would not con-
cede
The preparations for the surrender and for
marching, as prisoners, under the escort of the
arsenal troops, occupied an hour or two. The
, brigade was then formed in line, headed by Gen
Frost and his staff, on horseback and with colors
{ flying and drums beating, marched through the
} wood skirtng the road up to an opening that hat
! been made in the fence the turnpike. Her,
halt was ordered for some reason, and the op
a
cited citizens to draw near the officers of the staff
4 and salute them with cheers. The men appeareC
detected and rathere ;ad, but evidently were no
e conscious of having done anything cowardly
One of the officers achieved vOlley of deafenin.
: huzzss by riding up to fence and hacking ava,
at it with his sword breaking and berding it so
' to render il entirely useless 1t was very hand
i some sword, costing 800, and was a recent pres
y ent from some military friends. This exampl
It was followed by others, amidst shouts of ap
o plause.
4 About half past five the prisoners of war lei
s the grove and entered The road the United State
e soldiers enclosing them by single file stretche
q along each side of the line. A halt ordere
, and the troops remained standing in the position
i they had deployed onto the road in. The head 0
( the column at the time rested opposite smal
N hill the left ycu approach the city, and tn
"a rear n line with the entrance TO the grove
= Vast crowds of people covered the surroundin
rs grounds and every fence and house top in tn
:. vicinity.
ii Suddenly the sharp reports of firearms wer
II heard from the front of the column and the spec
m tators that lined the adjacent hill seen et
A. ing in the greatest dsmay and terror 1t appear
y ell that several members of one Of the Germa
companies, on beng pressed by the crowd and n
X cciving some blows from them, turned and d:
ar charged their pieces. Fortunately no one wa
70 injured, and the soldiers who had done the a,
he were at once placed under arrest. Hardly, how
in ever had tranquility been restored when wolfe
a after volley of rife reports were suddenly hear
nv from the extreme rear ranks, and men, wome
ell and children were beheld running wildly an
n franticaliy away from the scene. Many, viii
in running, were suddenly struck tG the sod, al
the wounded and dying made the late beautif
ad field look like battle ground We went oy
in the grove Immediately after the occurrence M
on more fearful and gllastly sight is seldom see
L. t1.o e
ey staining the green grass with their blood as
he flowed from their wounds. Children of eight
se, ten years of age were pale and mOtionless as
ch asleep under the trees, and women cried in pa
ere as they lay upon the ground. One, girl Of lou
les teen, presented a mOurnful picture, as she r
he clned against stump, her face cold and viii
Nv. from the sudden touch of death. We count
re fifteen dead persons, and half as many wounde
he lying around.
me The wounded, who were unable to be move
vas were suitably cared for on the grounds
Dut To day the bodies of the dead will be recOgI
m zed, and the names of the wounded ascertaint
wv The total number killed and injured is abe
pt twenty five. IL reported that the Arser
troops were attacked with stones, and a couple
shots discharged at them by the crowd befc
they fired Whether this be true or not, a me
:. reckless act has never been committed than
armed body Of troops discharging those terriI
-, instruments of war-Minie rtfles-among Gro
m of defenseless spectators.
III The most of the people exposed to the fire
md the soldiers were citizens with their wives q
Of children, who merely spectators, and to
oss no part in any demonstration whatever
~; firing was said to have been done by BOernste.
FIJI company, and at the command of officer
der night closed in and hid the CHASTITY horrors of
the scene. German regiment took possession of
mi blOod-stai camp, and the tents Of the st
.or soldiers. BY citizens of st. Louis. and especia
those who have lost friends by the oecurre
rjx ofyesterday, the events will not be easily forg
~, ten.
a. The United State, troops are now in possess
,ha of Camp Jackson, with all the equipage, ter
ves provisions, &c. The prisoners of war are,
- believe at the Arsenal
-. Ii is utmost impossible to describe the inte
ni exhibition of feeling which was manifested
a. evening in the city. All the most frequen
IS streets and avenues we're tlronged with citizen
IN the highest state of excitement. and loud huz
;t and occasional shots were heard in various lOc
nm Htes. There was any amount of hurrying to