Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-07-18

We were talking over the early days
of the civil war. Something In the
majors manner Indicated that he had
a story to tell, and with one accord we
gathered round him rs he reiiiled his
pipe and sought satisfactory recline
on the cushions.
Yes" he began; those We're days of
SUSPENSE ANA anxiety, but, you III ow.
we volunteers never doubted the re. ult
for an instant. We had our misgivn rs.
to be sure, at times, but We knew THIS
ultimate victory was ahead OF us.
u often recall incidents connected
with those early days,
Did / ever tell you how GOV. Yates
cleaned out the st. Louis arscnalg
Wen, you see 1t was in 1851. and at
that time it was almost impossible TO
get musketS as fast rs they were need
ed. Illinois was filling her quota
promptly, but most of the regiments
had to go to The front before being
equipped.
Gov. Yates had an eye on the st
Louis arsenal. and he determined 10
equip some of the Illinois trons with
the arms stored there. With tbs object
in view he secured from the Secretary
Of War a requisltion for 10000 mus
kets.
'At that time the arsenal was occu-
pied by a few United States regulars
under the command of Capt. Lyon, that
brave and efficient soldier W.. fell at
Wilson's Creek In the August follow
ing
AS you will remember, the govern.
ment of The State of Missouri at that
time was IN the hands of disloyalists;
and all over the State troops were be-
Ing raised for the Southern Confeder-
acy. There was camp in st. Louis
where volunteers were being assembled
and drilled. The arsenal was under
surveillance and every movement ON
the part of Capt. Lyon was being re
ported at the headquarters of the dis
uniOniStS, who We're making prepara-
tons to overwhelm him.
AS matter of preparation they had
already planted battery on a point
just below the arsenal and another one
on the st. Louis leyee, SO rs to com
mand the river. This was previous to
the seizure of Camp ia 'krOn by the
forces under Capt. Lyon, which oc-
CURED a short tire afterwaId
"Of course, under such conditions, the
removal of the arms from the arsenal
was attended with difficulty and some
danger. However, the Governor was
fortunate in securing the services of
Capt. Stokes, of the regular army, an
officer eminenly qualified in every way
for the undertaking.
with the reQuisition of the Secre-
tary of War in his pocket Capt. Stokes
went to st. Louis, arriving there April
II, 1851. He found the city in state
of intense eXcitiment; warlike pr.rara-
tons Were everywhere in evidence, and
the arsenal was surrounded by an i'm
mense mob, many of whom were
armed, and all of them making hostile
demonstrations.
When at length be gained admission
and presented the requiSition to Capt.
Lyon the latter fra ky expressed
doubt OF the possibility Of executing it.
but he told Capt. stokes to 90 ahead
and make the attempt. and that he
would render all the assistance in his
power. A large fortN, was soon at work
getting the arms ready FOR shipment.
ION the very next day Capt. Lyon
received information that Gov. Jack
son, of Missouri. had issued orders for
the immediate concentration OF troor,s
at st. Louis, for the purpose Of captur-
ing the arsenal; and on learning this
Capt. Stokes decided to make the re-
moval that night at all hazards.
During the day be telegraphed to
Alton and engaged the steamer City
of Alton TO be at the arsenal about mid
night
in looking through the arsenal he
found a quantity of old fiint-lock mrs-
kets that had been sent there to BIZ al
tered. and, as a blind to cover his real
movements. Capt Stokes sent these
ti!nt-locks, ostensibly u be placed on
steamer that was lying ut the levee.
well knowing That the mob would
pOunce upon them, aS, in fact, il did.
This capture seemed 10 satisfy them
for a while. At any rate, the number
surrounding the arsenal visibly dimin-
ished as night approached.
Il happened TO he in Alton when the
dispatch from Capt. Stokes was re
ceived, and being acquainted with
Capt. Mitchell Of the steamer, / solic-
tied permission to accompany the expe-
dition lie readily granted my request.
and l was on Hand promptly at the
hour designated for starring
The distance from Alton TO st. Louis
is about twenty miles. End II took us
little more than an h5ur-as / now
recollect- to make til, run. 1t was just
about ght when tie boat swung
round at the arsenal landing. and
line was run ont to the shore
You are badly mistaken # You think
we lost any time in filing that requlsi-
ton. The way the mel fell 10 work on
that job wae somethin4 10 see. Talk
Of hustling, Well, aftcr ne 10000 mus
kets we bad come 10y we're safely OH
board we all expected that the boat
would pull out, but this was not the
case.
Ten thousand more muskets. over
10000 cartridges, about 900 carbines.
800 reyolvers. bcsidt-- CANON and a
large quantity Of m.@c"i lane0us ac-