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| Saturday May 11, 1861 |
St. Louis continues to be in turmoil and more people are
killed. General William S. Harney, the Federal
commander, arrives back in St. Louis and takes command.
He is very concerned with the actions of Lyons.
Below is the report that Lyons files.
SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 11, 1861.
SIR: In compliance with instructions from your office of
the 30th ultimo, I accepted, swore in, and armed 3,436
men and 70 officers of the loyal citizens of Saint
Louis, as a "reserve corps," for the protection of
Government property and enforcement of its laws, on the
7th and 8th instant, and should probably have still
further proceeded in receiving further offers but for
events to which I will now advert. The steamer J. C.
Swan arrived at Saint Louis on the night of the 8th,
with a large supply of military stores, including, as I
was informed, muskets, ammunition, and cannon taken on
board at Baton Rouge, and there obtained from the
arsenal. The boat arriving in the night, great industry
was used to transport these stores during the night (and
before being likely to be exposed in the morning) to the
camp of what is called the State militia, and which is
made up for the most part of what has for a long time
been known as a body of rabid and violent opposers of
the General Government, and who have, during this time,
been a terror to all loyal and peaceful citizens.
Their extraordinary and unscrupulous conduct, and their
evident design, and of the governor of this State, to
take a position of hostility to the United States, are
matters of extensive detail and of abounding evidence.
Having appealed to the South for assistance, every
appearance indicated a rapid accumulation of men and
means for seizing Government property and overturning
its authority. I accordingly foresaw that under the
extraordinary measures of the governor and legislature
of this State aggressions would soon commence against
the General Government on the part of these opposers of
it, and of all who were in such astute of hostilities,
willing to support the State against the Government. Of
this there can be no doubt, as also that the issue would
be taken by the State as soon as she felt able to
sustain it. It was therefore necessary to meet this
embarrassing complication as early as possible, and
accordingly I proceeded yesterday with a large body of
troops, supported by artillery, to the camp above
referred to, and which is situated in the western part
of the city, at what is known as Lindell's Grove,
between Olive street and Laclede avenue, and arrived at
3.15 o'clock p.m., and demanded of General Frost, the
commander, a surrender of his entire command. Copies of
the correspondence are herewith inclosed.(*) Of the
stores from Baton Rouge Arsenal, so far as understood,
there were found three 82-pounder guns, one mortar,
three mortar beds, and a large supply of shot and shells
in ale barrels. All these artillery pieces were in boxes
of heavy plank, and were addressed "Tamoroa, care of
Greely & Gale, Saint Louis," "L C. R. R.," to whom no
delivery was made, this being a guise to cover the
movement, and Greely & Gale being known as strong Union
men saved them from close scrutiny. No doubt many arms,
the mortars corresponding to the beds, and other war
materials were received, agreeably to numerous reports
made, but which can be obtained only by a thorough
search over the city, Of the material besides tents,
baggage, camp equipments, &c., left in camp by the
troops, were 1,200 rifle muskets of United States
manufacture, late model, .58 caliber; 6 field pieces,
brass; 25 kegs of powder; from 30 to 40 horses, and
several arm chests of arms understood to be like the
1,200 muskets mentioned.
During the surrender of Camp Jackson and their passage
into our lines a mob attacked our force, a published
account of which will be transmitted. The prisoners,
some 50 officers and 639 men, were marched under guard
to this post, previous to which Camp Jackson was taken
possession of by two regiments of volunteers and two
companies of regulars, under command of Captain Sweeny,
who remained in possession all night, bringing the
entire camp equipage and munitions of war into this
arsenal this morning. To-day the prisoners were all
released (with the exception of one captain, who
declined this parole)---the officers on their parole of
honor not to fight against the United States during this
war, and the men on their oath to the same effect. Your
will see by the returns of an election of brigadier-
general for the volunteer brigade raised here, that I
have been elected to this office, which, so far as
depends upon me, I have accepted, and the duties of
which I am now performing under the authority of the
President. This subject is submitted for such action as
the Department may determine to be proper.
Since the foregoing was written, I have noticed among
the stores taken from Camp Jackson were parts of
muskets, all separate, and apparently without ever
having been put together, and were doubtless taken in
this condition from the arsenal.
It is proper and gratifying to mention that Captain
Callender, in charge of the ordnance, has not, either
through punctilious exactions about forms and
responsibilities or assumed monopoly of corps above the
power of the Government itself, attempted to embarrass
me, but, on the contrary, has cordially and most
efficiently co-operated to advance the Government
interests.
Col. F. A. Dick, of this city, who has to this time
served as adjutant-general of the brigade of volunteers,
will be the bearer of this, and visits Washington on
business connected with the Government interests at this
place.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. LYON,