Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-30

Fifty years ago today Capt. Nathaniel
Lyon, of the United States army, with
force of regulars and volunteers. cap
tured Camp jackson. an encampment of
Confederate volunteers under Brig. Gen.
Daniel M. Frost, in a suburb of ST. Louis.
The effect of this was Immediately to
check secession activities in Missouri and
to guarantee the retention of st. Louis,
If not Of the entire state, by the union.
These activities had begun when on
April II Gov Claiborne Jackson, the
same day that he refused to furnish
troops to Lincoln and sent to President
Davis, of the confederate government, to
ask for artillery with which to assault
the wen-stoclzed st. louis arsenal
President Davis had agreed to furnish
two 12-pounder. howitzers and two 81
FOUNDER guns, which he deemed would be
most effective for the purpose.
Meanwhile the Confederate sympa-
thizers in the western part of the state
had seized the arsenal at Liberty, and
under Jen NJ. Thompson considerable
force was threatening that at Leaven-
worth.
CAMP JACKSON ESTABLISHED.
In St Louis secession sentiment had
made no Roadway There Capt. Ma
thaniel Lyon, since April % in command
of the arsenal, with Francis p. Blair and
other prominent men had been drilling
enlisting and arming regiments of Tn
ionist 'shome guards" The arsenal had
been nearly emptied of It's arms ana
these sent over to Illinois.
The governor, therefore, fearing that
Captain Lyon might dominate the city,
had issued orders to the militia officers
of the state to call together May 8, for
six DAYS drill, those legally required to
do military duty. In St Louis this had
resulted I'm the establishment of Camp
jackson, commanded by Brig. Gen. Dan
lei NJ. Frost.
Frost was West Point graduate and
a Mexican war veteran, and a friend
to Governor jackson. He had sought for
authority to form such a militia en-
campment near the city as early as April
rs. having the intention Of placing It on
the heights commanding the arsenal
These heights were now occupied by
Captain Lyon with an adequate force OF
infantry and artillery. and General Frost
was left 10 pitch his camp in Lindelfs
grove on the western border of the
city. The camp was named for the
governor, and two of its streets for
President Davis and General Beauregard.
lmen-four companies of Minute Men.
the secession organization from st.
Louis. and others from all parts of the
state. All had taken the oath of alle-
glance to the United States, as well as
to Missouri. and the stars and stripes
floated over them, yet to friends of the
union it seemed that their purpose was
secession.
on May z, for example, a company
had been detailed to convoy TO Jefferson
City a considerable quantity of muni-
tions of war-hunting rifles, camp
equipage and tons of powder-bought
for the state by its auartermaster gem
eral
The following day there had arrived
at the camp me artillery furnished by
President Davis. which was part of
that acquired by the confederates by
the seizure OF the Baton Rouge arse
nal
CAPT. LYON VISITS THE CAMP.
This was not unknown to Capt. Lyon.
who succeeded in learning of about all
that was done by Governor Jackson and
General Frost He had, moreover. an
ample force of arms. and by an order of
April 80 had been authorized to raise
more troops. and if necessary to pro-
claim martial law.
The governor, however, in ordering
out the militia for drill. had been act
Lyon did not intend to seize the camp
| by force until he had convinced his
counseIors. the members of the st. Louis
committee of safety. that such action
was required for the safety of city and