The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
"The Struggle for Missouri"
BE yohn MeElrOy Pgblished By z the NatIop b.D

By John McEroy Published by the National
Tribune company, Washington, ID. c. Price
81.
The contest as to which Side the
great border state of Missouri should
take was of momentous Importance at
the beginning of the civil war.
The weight of that great common
wealth in men, money and resources
and commanding geographical situa-
ton thrown to one side or the other
might determine the result. The
struggle was grand world drama,
with rapidly shifting scenes of start
ling vicissitude, and the leading actors
were General Nathaniel Lyon and Colo
mel Frank P. Blair on the union side
and Governor Claiborne +. Jackson and
General Sterling Price on that of Sc
cession. Later Generals John G. FIRE.
mont, H. w Halleck, Franz Sigel, S. r,
Curtis, John M Schofeld j. III. Lane,
John Pope and u. S. Grant entered
the stage from the union side and
Generals Ben McCulloch, Earl Van
Dorm. Daniel S. Frost, NJ jeff Thomp-
son, j. o. Shelby, ]. S. Marmaduke and
Albert Pike from the. confederate.
These men played with the highest
stupendous stakes.
The contest began as soon as Lincoln
was elected, with maneuvers to get
possession of the great st. Louis ar
senal with its priceless store OF arms
and ammunition and the control of
which involved that of the city of st.
Louis and ultimately of the state OF
Missouri This was secured in spite
of the sympathies and efforts of the
state authorities. by the high courage
and skilIful management of Blair and
Lyon, backed by the splendidly loyal
union element.
At the presidential election of 1860
the great mass of the people of Mis-
souri, had voted for union candidates
Stephen A. Douglas and John Bell. This
was also true of many other southern
states the people of which were finally
carried over to secession by the skillful
and audacious maneuvers of the seces-
sion leaders. 1t required tactics Of con-
summate boldness and skill on the part
of the union leaders to prevent this
being done with Missouri, and the his
tory of how it was accomplished is
more thrilling than any romance. Camp
Jackson, Wilson's Creek, Springfield
and Pea Ridge were the great incl
dents in this mighty play for state
bigger and richer than some European
A careful analytical presentation
never before attempted--is made of the
way the people, at first reluctant or in
different, were finally arrayed into two
great opposing camps.
There are vivid pen pictures of all
the leading actors in this great drama,
with fascinating descriptions of the
eternal play of cross purposes among
the radical secessionists, the radical
abolitionists, the conditional union
men, the southern sympathizers, the
states rights men and the uncompro-
missing nationalists.
The story is told with the swiftness of
narrative of novel, with events big
with the keenest human interest on
every page.
John McElroy. the author, has very
high reputation all over the country
for accuracy and impartiality in his
speciality as historian of the civil
war. and this work has received the
strongest Communications from those
who participated in the great struggle.
Mr.. McElroy attracted much lively
attention last year by his monograph,
THE Economic Functions of Vice