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The War in Missouri. 243
the Indians in the Territory; one million was borrowed from the
Banks, and bonds for another million decreed for the absolute use
of the Governor, whose powers were enlarged to equal those of any
despot; the semi-annual interest money was diverted to military uses,
and the School Fund seized for the same purpose. The few Union
members were powerless, the measures receiving an almost unanimous
vote. Some acts had little practical bearing upon immediate events,
such as the purchase of foundries for the casting of cannon, or of
real estate for armories and factories of arms and of constructing a
State road to Arkansas; but all these measures proved that the State
authorities sized up their prospective difficulties. Before adjourning
on the 15th, the Legislature requested the Governor to call out the
Militia.
One of the few stanch Union members of the Legislature, James
Peckham, from St. Louis, graphically describes the scenes in that
Legislature, on the eve of May 10, 1861.
"Nearly every individual was armed, some with many more weapons than
others. Members in their seats were surrounded by guns of every descrip-
tion, some leaning against desks, some against chairs, some held between the
knees, some leaning against the wall, some laying on the floor, and some
across desks. Many members had belts strapped around their waists, and
from one to three pistols or bowie knives fastened to them. The scene in
the House particularly was exceedingly grotesque and ludicrous. Many
showed faces pale with fear; others exhibited the anxiety natural in any
crisis; a few sought to impel the movements of the doubtful into the Secesh
ranks, while the leaders proposed measures for adoption and dared opposi-
tion."
At midnight the toll of bells aroused the people of Jefferson City.
Legislators hurried to their halls and were informed by the Governor
that two Union Regiments were on their way to the Capital. The
Legislature voted for the Governor almost dictatorial powers: "to
repel invasion or put down rebellion."
Dispatches were sent all over the State, calling for armed help, as
it was anticipated that Union forces would seize the Capitol and State
Government. Colonel N. C. Claiborn was dispatched with an engine
toward St. Louis to reconnoitre the threatened Union advance upon
Jefferson City. He proceeded to the limits of St. Louis County, but
did not find any sign of the anticipated military movement, for the
hindrance of which the bridges over the Gasconade and Osage rivers
were to be destroyed, otherwise only to be guarded. Both of these
bridges are large structures and would require considerable time to
Object Description
| Title | The Union cause in St. Louis in 1861, an historical sketch |
| Author | Rombauer, Robert J. (Robert Julius), 1830-1925 |
| Subject.LCSH |
Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Saint Louis (Mo.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories Missouri -- Militia |
| Coverage | United State -- Missouri |
| Source |
475 p. : front., illus. (maps, plans) pl., ports. ; 24 cm. St. Louis, Mo. : Press of Nixon-Jones prtg. co., 1909 |
| Language | English |
| Date.Original | 1909 |
| Date.Digital | 2004? |
| Type |
Books and pamphlets |
| Format | JPEG |
| Collection Name | Civil War in Missouri - Monographs |
| Editorial Note | All blank pages have been eliminated |
| Publisher.Digital | University of Missouri Digital Library Production Services |
| Rights | These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Please contact contributing institution for information. |
| Contributing Institution |
University of Missouri--Columbia. Libraries |
| Copy Request | Contact Ellis Library Special Collection, University of Missouri - Columbia at (573) 882-0076 or email: SpecialCollections@missouri.edu |
Description
| Title | civm000005p0243 |
| Description | The War in Missouri. 243 the Indians in the Territory; one million was borrowed from the Banks, and bonds for another million decreed for the absolute use of the Governor, whose powers were enlarged to equal those of any despot; the semi-annual interest money was diverted to military uses, and the School Fund seized for the same purpose. The few Union members were powerless, the measures receiving an almost unanimous vote. Some acts had little practical bearing upon immediate events, such as the purchase of foundries for the casting of cannon, or of real estate for armories and factories of arms and of constructing a State road to Arkansas; but all these measures proved that the State authorities sized up their prospective difficulties. Before adjourning on the 15th, the Legislature requested the Governor to call out the Militia. One of the few stanch Union members of the Legislature, James Peckham, from St. Louis, graphically describes the scenes in that Legislature, on the eve of May 10, 1861. "Nearly every individual was armed, some with many more weapons than others. Members in their seats were surrounded by guns of every descrip- tion, some leaning against desks, some against chairs, some held between the knees, some leaning against the wall, some laying on the floor, and some across desks. Many members had belts strapped around their waists, and from one to three pistols or bowie knives fastened to them. The scene in the House particularly was exceedingly grotesque and ludicrous. Many showed faces pale with fear; others exhibited the anxiety natural in any crisis; a few sought to impel the movements of the doubtful into the Secesh ranks, while the leaders proposed measures for adoption and dared opposi- tion." At midnight the toll of bells aroused the people of Jefferson City. Legislators hurried to their halls and were informed by the Governor that two Union Regiments were on their way to the Capital. The Legislature voted for the Governor almost dictatorial powers: "to repel invasion or put down rebellion." Dispatches were sent all over the State, calling for armed help, as it was anticipated that Union forces would seize the Capitol and State Government. Colonel N. C. Claiborn was dispatched with an engine toward St. Louis to reconnoitre the threatened Union advance upon Jefferson City. He proceeded to the limits of St. Louis County, but did not find any sign of the anticipated military movement, for the hindrance of which the bridges over the Gasconade and Osage rivers were to be destroyed, otherwise only to be guarded. Both of these bridges are large structures and would require considerable time to |
| Source | The Union Cause in St. Louis in 1861 |
| Type | Books and monographs |
| Format | JPEG |
| Identifier | civm000005p0243.jpg |
| Collection Name | Civil War in Missouri - Monographs |
| Editorial Note | All blank pages have been eliminated |
| Publisher.Digital | University of Missouri Digital Library Production Services |
| Rights | These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Please contact koppk@umsystem.edu for more information. |
| Copy Request | Contact Ellis Library special collection at: SpecialCollections@missouri.edu |
