tunes of Missouri with the more southern States. The Union men from all parts of the State enthusiastically rallied, and elected a majority of the delegates. Never in the history of the State had there been gathered together in a legislative body men of such great ability as composed that convention.

In the Pike County District the leader of the Union forces was John B. Henderson, while Aylett H. Buckner, then judge of the Circuit Court, was the leader of the disunionists. Henderson and his associates (Calhoun of Audrain and Zimmerman of Lincoln) were elected by a large majority. From other parts of the State came their greatest men. Hamilton R. Gamble, James O. Broadhead, Samuel M. Breckenridge, Uriel Wright of St. Louis, Sterling Price of Chariton, William A. Hall of Randolph, Willard P. Hall of Buchanan, John F. Philips of Pettis, A. W. Doniphan of Clay, Joseph J. Gravelly of Cedar, Robert M. Stewart of Buchanan, and John T. Redd of Marion were some of the men elected to that Convention which met at Jefferson City on the 28th day of February, 1861.

The Legislature that called it into existence was also in session and continued to pass bills of a treasonable character, among which was one known as the "Jackson Military Bill" providing for the enrollment of all white male citizens of the State between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years. Provision was made for the appointment of enrolling officers, etc. This bill provided for an oath to be administered to each enrolled militiaman to support the Constitution of the State and obey orders of the com

mander-in-chief, Claiborne F. Jackson, then Governor of the State, but no mention was made of the Constitution and laws of the United States.

All of this was being done before Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated and while the Southerners in President Buchanan's cabinet had absolute control of the Army and Navy. During this time the Union men of the State began to organize companies and regiments of what was then called "Home Guards." They had only such arms as were owned by individual members, such as shot-guns, squirrel rifles, with now and then an old "horse pistol" that was worthless except for the noise it made.

A semblance of order was maintained in the State for a while. The courts were in session, trials of causes held, etc. I attended the courts in my circuit, presented cases to the Grand Juries and tried quite a number of persons that were indicted. While the courts were in session, the people were busy organizing for what seemed, and subsequently was shown to be, an inevitable conflict. The citizenship of Pike County was made up largely of Virginians and Kentuckians. The very active participants on either side were chiefly Virginians. The most prominent on the Union side was John B. Henderson who was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The most prominent and aggressive on the disunion side was Judge Aylett H. Buckner, also a Virginian by birth. The contest took the appearance of a "family row" and was very, very bitter.

During its session in Jefferson City, the Legislature was visited by one or more emissaries from the South, notably one from the State of Mississippi.

They came as accredited representatives of their respective States, and as such were received by the General Assembly in joint session of the two houses. The purpose of the visit was to lay such facts before the Legislature as would induce it to pass an act in favor of secession.

The Convention after being in session for sometime, adjourned to meet in the city of St. Louis. The Legislature remained in session at Jefferson City and continued to pass bills that were in every way hostile to the sentiment of the people as expressed in the election of delegates to the Convention.

State after State in the South passed ordinances of secession and established temporary governments. The Governor of the State of Missouri was in close touch with the southern program and was heart and soul a part of it. He ordered the assemblage of the militia at St. Louis under the command of General Frost who resigned from the army of the United States sometime before. This camp was given the name of the Governor, and became known as Camp Jackson. Secessionists from all parts of the State came to this camp and were present aiding and assisting in the organization and drilling of this militia. The men had been armed with guns taken from the United States Arsenal at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and shipped to St. Louis on the Steamer Swan; this, of course, all done with the knowledge of the Secretary of War in Mr. Buchanan's cabinet.

When Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated in March, 1861, the policy of the Administration was changed. At that time the active, aggressive leader of the Union men in Missouri was Frank P. Blair, Jr. He was

supported locally by such men as James O. Broadhead, Samuel T. Glover, Samuel M. Breckenridge, John How and others, and, of course, had the friendship and support of the Union men in the Convention. By authority of President Lincoln, Blair organized a regiment of loyalists and became their Colonel.

Like organizations were made throughout the State and sworn into the service of the United States. These regiments were composed very largely of Germans, while the regiments of militia at Camp Jackson were made up of Southerners who were opposed to Mr. Lincoln and believed in the right of the State to secede from the Union. Recruiting and drilling were carried on in each camp. The feeling between them became very bitter and a conflict seemed inevitable. At this time there was a small garrison of Federal troops at Jefferson Barracks, commanded by a slight, red-headed Captain by the name of Nathaniel Lyon who was born in the State of Connecticut. He was every inch a soldier, and loyal to the flag of the United States. He and Blair conferred, and at this conference it was determined that a movement against Camp Jackson should be made with the soldiers at Jefferson Barracks and the regiments of volunteers. On the morning of the 10th of May, 1861, the assault took place and the entire State force was captured and made prisoner. This was the culmination of what at all times seemed imminent, a conflict between the two.

Men hastily took sides, and those who claimed to be Union men with conditions, went with the secessionists. Members of this kind in the State Con

vention resigned, notably ex-Governor Price, who became a Major General in the Confederate Army.

The taking of Camp Jackson brought matters to a focus. The people of the State were everywhere in a frenzy, the secessionists for what they termed a "dastardly outrage" upon the rights of the State, and the loyalists for what to them was a glorious achievement in the cause of the Union. The State Government became greatly alarmed and by its agents sought conferences with Blair and Lyon at St. Louis. In this they accomplished nothing, for the result was that the Governor and other State officers fled from the capital and it was occupied by Federal troops.

The Convention met in session and passed an ordinance deposing Jackson as Governor, and elected Hamilton R. Gamble in his place. This gentleman at once assumed his duties. From that time on conflicts occurred between Federal and State troops and battles were fought. Sterling Price was appointed by Jackson to command the "State troops," the companies theretofore organized under the direction of Jackson. These troops retreated toward the southwestern part of the State, and being reinforced by companies from Arkansas and the Indian Territory made a stand a few miles south of Springfield, Missouri, giving battle to the Federal troops under command of Lyon, who had been promoted from Captain to that of Brigadier-General by President Lincoln.

The battle was a hard-fought one, the hardest that had taken place in the State. General Lyon was killed while leading a charge upon the enemy and his