The evening world., 1911-05-06
Anniversary of First Bloodshel
In War Beyond the Missis-
sippi This Week.
By Philip X. Dillon.

day OF next week will be Wednesday,
the first shots of the war west Of the
Mississippi werc fired. and the first
blood was shed in Missouri.
In order TO understand well the Inn
mediate cause OF this first clash In Mis-
souri, we must clearly know wha. was
meant by border states" At Christ
mas time In 1850 South Carolina had
seeded: II was the first state to leave
the Union. In tho next SIX weeks Mis-
sissippi. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Lou
isiana and Texas, In the order named.
seeded by acts OF their Legislatures,
and North Carolina Joined them later.
Hut there were other States In which
slavery existed. and these were called
border Slave States" They were Mary
land. Virginia. Tennessee. Kentucky.
Arkansas and Missouri. In these States
there were many antl-slavery men, ana
their Legislatures were undecided until
President Lincoln had called Tor 5000
volunteer soldiers on April IL, 1861. THIS
call by Mr.. Lincoln was the final act
which Influenced virginia, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee and Arkansas to join
the C~onfederacy.
Where Division Was Close.
In the other three Border States
Maryland. Kentucky and Mlssouri-iae
people continued 20 he nearly equally
divided In sentiment. Great efforts we're
made by the leaders OF both sides to
control the state Legislatures n the
public offices. and especially the. arms
and militia armories. Tho Northern
leaders succeeding In holding .neso
three States. 4. tina: time West VIZ
| ginla was Il part OF N!rsinla; l. was
made a separate State in 1872. ami re-
manned loyal to tho Union.
Especially tho Southern leaders want
ed to told Missouri, FOR the city OF 81.
Louis was then tho greatest city OF
the West. with 10000 population. While
Ch!csg, had then only 10000 popu!a-
t!on. 70 -. Louis came the great
Mississippi River steamers from New
orleans. and the Mississippi River was
tlc great channel o. commerce in the
interior OF the country, for there were
few railroads.
The Governor Of Missouri was cal
borne T.. Jackson. a Southern iian who
was trying 10 del!ve" his state to the
| C~onfederacy. lie established u ami
on the outskirts Of 81. Louis ard called
It Camp Jackson" He ordered out the
regular militia to drill pretending tina;
thls was only 10 havc the militia ready
t. put down floss aid preserve order,
In reality he a!nlel to &c; together a
body OF soldiers who would fight for
the South, seize the arsenal and arms
In II. Lolls and other places. and then
send h,s 'm!litia'' TO the regular Con.
felcrate army.
Plotted in Secret.
OF course. In those days, most OF the
people dld not know Just what the BIS
politicians aud generals were dr.v!na
at. except as IL was printed in the news
papers; but comparatively few Poop
read tie newspapers In those days. Now
we have the private correspondence OF
the great leaders Of the war, and We
can explain many things which Were
then unknown to the people. We know
that Oh April %. 1861, President Jefferson
Davis of the Confederacy wrote TO GOV
Jackson OF Missouri, saying:
concur with you as to the great
Importance OF capturing the arsenal
and occurring its supplies. rendered
doubly important by the means taken
to obstruct o commerce and rem
der you unarmed Victims OF u nos
tile invasion. We look anylously and
hopefully for the day when the star
OF Missouri shall be added to tho
constellation OF the Confederate
States o. America.
On May 8 Gov. Jackson wrote 20 tn.
Confederate Secretary OF War at Rica'
mond rs follows:
Missouri. you know. II yet under
the tyranny OF Lincoln Government
so FAR. ut least. as forms go. We
are wofully deficient here IN arms
and cannot furnish them at pres
ent. but so Ear AS men are con-
ccrned we have plenty OF them
ready. willing and anxious to march
at any 70 the defense ~
tns South. Our Legislature has Just
mot, and ! doubt not will give me al!
the necessary authority over the
matter. II YOU can arm the men.
they Will go wheHevC" wanted, and
to any point where they may be
most needed. send this TO Menu
pills by private hand. being afraid
to trust our mails or tclegraphs.
Let me hear from you hy the same
means. Missouri can and Will nut