The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-06-02

the scene. This was Nathaniel Ly-
on.
Feb 6, 1861, was an important
date mark in the history of Missouri
On that day Capt. Lyon, with so
soldiers of the Second United States
Artillery, landed in St. Louis from
Fort Riley, Kans., and marched up
to tho arsenal. Lyon, who was
born in Connecticut in 1918 and
who was graduated from West Point
in 1871 and had served with credit
in tho Mexican war, had acquired a
strong antipathy to slavery and it's
champions while he was stationed
in Kansas during the territorial
struggle, and had a profound dis
trust for the southern leaders
Prompt sagacious, resourceful and
resolute, he was the man for the
crisis. Blair Immediately appraised
him Of the situation in st. Louis
Lyon instantly grasped it and these
two chieftians worked in harmony
from that time until Lyons death
at the head of his army at the bat
tie of Wilson's Greek on August TO-
1851.
Hampered at the outset by his
military superiors, some apathetic
others incapable and still others I'M
faithful, Lyon at last, through the
influence of Blair with Lincoln was
put in command at St. Louis with
the rank of brigadier general, and
on April 81, a week after Sumpter's
capture by Beauregard. But in that
week events of a startling character
had been shaping themselves in Mis-
souri,.
To LincoIn's call for four regi-
ments of infantry, Missouri's quota
Gov. Jackson answered: "Your re-
QUESTION, in my Judgment, is illegal,
unconstitutional and revolutionary in
its objects, inhuman and diabolical
and cannot be complied with. Not
one man will Missouri furnish to
carry on such an unholy crusade"
Arriving at st. Louis from Wash
ington at that moment, Blair wired
Secretary of War Cameron that
Missouri's four regiments would be
furnished just as quickly as a Unit
ed States officer could be sent to St.
Louis to muster them into the SER
vice. And this promise was prompt
| ly carried out. The arms in the ar
senal, now under Lyons control,
were put into the hands of the new
regiments, one of which had Blair
for its colonel, and John. M. Scho-
field, afterwards commanding gen.
eral of the army, for its major. An
other reiment had Franz Seigel af-
terward major general Of volun-
! teers, for its colonel.
Prompted by Blair, Secretary
Cameron on April 80 sent this COM
mand to Lyon: "The president of
the United States directs that you
enroll in the military service of the
United States loyal citizens of St.
Louis and vicinity not exceeding,
with those heretofore enlisted, TO-
900 in number, for the purpose of
maintaining the authority of the
United States and for protection of
the peacable inhabitants of Missouri.
And you will, II deemed necessary
for that purpose, by yourself and
Messrs. Oliver d. Filley, John How,
James 0. Broadhead, Samuel T.
Glover, ]. ]. Witzlg and Francis P.
Blair, Jr., proclaim martial law in
the city of st. Louis"
This order bore the following en-
dorsoment from Gen. Winfield Scott,
commanding general of the army.
"Tt is revolutionary times. and there
fore I don't object to the irregular
ity of this. w, S" The order also
| utiU lhld dilNSdllbHs ApplONOu
April 80, 1861. A. Lincoln" I'm
der this authority, five more regl-
ments wero mustered into the ser.
vice. In tho aggregate, In these
nlne regiments the Germans were In
the majority.
Camp Jackson.
Bforo Lyon had mustered in any
of these later regiments most OF
Jackson's state militia, a large ma
jority of whom were secession sym
pathizers. gathered in Camp Jack
son, named for tho governor, in tn,
western part of st. Louis. Includ
ing tho minute men, organized II
the city, they numbered In the neigh
borhood of 2,OO0 Gen. D. NJ, Eros
was in command. The original In