NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
June 1861
From The Missouri Democrat, Thursday, June 13, 1861.
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED IN MISSOURI.
Important Movement of United States Troops.
FORCES PROCEED OVER THE PACIFIC AND SOUTHWEST BRANCH RAILROADS.
THREE REGIMENTS SENT UP THE MISSOURI RIVER.
ALL THE PARTICULARS.
Our readers are already apprised of the result of the late conference between Governor Jackson and General Price, on the one hand, and General Lyon and Colonel Blair, on the other, wherein the first party graciously offered to promise to desist from the monstrous and causeless crime of treason, if the second party would surrender the absolute and invaluable right of the United States government to have and move troops in the State, in self defence. The reader is further aware that in consequence of the refusal of such surrender on such terms, Jackson has issued his gubernatorial declaration of war against the government of the American people. Also that, the surer and deeper to strike terror into the heart of the American eagle, said Jackson has caused the railroad bridges at the Gasconade and Osage rivers to be subjected to conflagration.
These interesting incidents came by telegraph to the knowledge of the authorities at the Arsenal, early on Wednesday. Preparations, already well advanced, were at once hastened to put the regiments in motion. The first battalion of Col. Sigel’s Regiment, the Third of the Missouri Volunteers, was ordered to get ready for instant march; and the second battalion to prepare for an early movement on the morrow. The object was to protect the property and peace of the State from the wanton malice of the incendiary and demented Jackson. The camp was speedily broken up, and the companies in excellent marching order. The requisite steps were taken to secure an abundance of cars on the Pacific road, and at 11 P. M., the first battalion, Lieut. Col. Hassendeubel commanding, arrived at the Fourteenth street depot and entered the train of some seven cars. A heavy amount of freight and several field pieces were laden on the freight cars. The train moved quietly off at about the hour named, the fact being known to very few people in the city. Col. Hassendeubel had instructions to take possession of and protect from injury the line of the Southwest Branch road, and he will doubtless affect that laudable purpose.
At nine o’clock last evening, the second battalion of the same regiment moved, with baggage and artillery, from the arsenal, and marched on Seventh street, Chouteau avenue and Fourteenth street to the depot. Thence they proceeded prosperously by rail, to take possession of and protect the road to the Gasconade river.
The battalion which left at nine o’clock last evening, commanded by Col. Sigel in person, consisted of the remainder of his regiment, five companies of infantry and two of riflemen. They had with them a siege howitzer and a battery of six guns, in charge of Major Bischoff, with a company of cavalry, sixty horses, and fifty men. Rifle companies A and B were commanded by Captains Albert and Conrad, and the infantry companies by Captains Leis, Dunklel, Neumann, Mannott and Indert.
EMBARKATION OF TROOPS.
There was a movement of federal troops from the arsenal, yesterday, on the steamers Iatan and J. C. Swon, the destination of which is not certainly known, but is supposed to be Jefferson City. At 11 o’clock A. M., the left wing of the First Regiment Missouri Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Andrews, and one section of Capt. Totten’s light battery, and two companies of regulars, commanded by Captain Larthrop [sic], embarked on board the Iatan, and started up the river. The right wing of the First under command of Col. Blair, and the other section of Capt. Totten’s battery, and a detachment of pioneers, and General Lyon and staff, left on board the J. C. Swon, at two o’clock P. M. Horses, wagons, and all the necessary camp equipage, ammunition and provisions for a long march accompanied the expedition, and the troops and officers, to the number of fifteen hundred, got off in good spirits and fine style, amid the wildest cheering and enthusiasm of the expedition and the garrison. This is the most important expedition which has started from here since the war, and upon its success depends in a great measure the destiny of Missouri. The failure to effect a satisfactory arrangement between Gen. Lyon and Gov. Jackson, at their conference last Tuesday, has given rise to these stirring movements. The duplicity of the Governor and Gen. Price was made apparent at the conference, and the burning of the bridges on the Pacific Railroad by order of the governor, and his proclamation, shows unmistakably the designs of his rebel Excellency to bring about a conflict of State and national authority, and further, that this expedition, designed as it undoubtedly is, to counteract the Governor’s rebellious schemes, was not moved an hour too soon. We shall await with anxiety the result of this important movement, and if we are not mistaken in the metal of the men commanding this expedition, there will be no half way work about it; but at least federal authority in Missouri will be sustained to the extent of the power that is confided to our gallant leaders, Lyon and Blair.
GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION.
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI:—A series of unprovoked and unparalleled outrages have been inflicted upon the peace and dignity of this Commonwealth, and upon the rights and liberties of its people, by wicked and unprincipled men professing to act under the authority of the United States government; the solemn enactments of your Legislature have been nullified; your commerce with your sister States has been suspended; your trade with your own fellow-citizens has been, and is, subjected to the harassing control of an armed soldiery; peaceful citizens have been imprisoned without warrant of law; unoffending and defenceless men, women and children have been ruthlessly shot down and murdered; and other unbearable indignities have been heaped upon your State and yourselves.
To all these outrages and indignities you have submitted with a patriotic forbearance, which has only encouraged the perpetrators of these grievous wrongs to attempt still bolder and more daring usurpations.
It has been my earnest endeavor, under all these embarrassing circumstances, to maintain the peace of the State, and to avert, if possible, from our borders the desolating effects of a civil war. With that object in view, I authorized Major General Price, several weeks ago, to arrange with General Harney, commanding the federal forces in this State, the terms of an agreement by which the peace of the State might be preserved. They came, on the 21st of May, to an understanding, which was made public. The State authorities have faithfully labored to carry out the terms of that agreement.
The federal government, on the other hand, only manifested its strong disapprobation of it, the instant dismissal of the distinguished officer, who, on his part, entered into it; but it at once began, and has unintermittingly carried out a system of hostile operations, in utter contempt of that agreement, and the reckless disregard of its own plighted faith. These acts have latterly portended revolution and civil war, so unmistakably, that I resolved to make one further effort to avert these dangers from you. I, therefore, solicited an interview with Brigadier General Lyon, commanding the federal army in Missouri. It was granted, and on the 10th inst., waiving all questions of personal and official dignity, I went to St. Louis, accompanied by Major General Price.
We had an interview on the 11th inst., with General Lyon and Col. F. P. Blair, Jr., at which I submitted to them this proposition: That I would disband the State Guard, and break up its organization; that I would disarm all the companies which had been armed by the State; that I would pledge myself not to attempt to organize the militia under the military bill; that no arms or munitions of war should be brought into the State; that I would protect all citizens equally in all their rights, regardless of their political opinions; that I would repress all insurrectionary movements within the State; that I would repel all attempts to invade it, from whatever quarter, and by whomsoever made; and that I would thus maintain a strict neutrality in the present unhappy contest, and preserve the peace of the State.
And I further proposed that I would , if necessary, invoke the assistance of the United States troops to carry out these pledges. All this I proposed to do upon condition that the federal government would undertake to disarm the Home Guards, which it has illegally organized and armed throughout the State, and pledge itself not to occupy with its troops any localities in the State not occupied by them at this time.
Nothing but the most earnest desire to avert the horrors of civil war from our beloved State, could have tempted me to propose these humiliating terms. They were rejected by the federal officers.
They demanded not only the disorganization and disarming of the State militia, and the nullification of the military bill, but they refused to disarm their own Home Guards, and insisted that the federal government should enjoy an unrestricted right to move and station its troops throughout the State, whenever and wherever that might, in the opinion of its officers, be necessary either for the protection of the “loyal subjects” of the federal government, or for the repelling of invasion, and they plainly announced that it was the intention of the Administration to take military occupation, under those pretexts, of the whole State, and to reduce it, as avowed by Gen. Lyon himself, to the “exact condition of Maryland.”
The acceptance by me of these degrading terms would not only have sullied the honor of Missouri, but would have aroused the indignation of every brave citizen, and precipitated the very conflict which it has been my aim to prevent. We refused to accede to them, and the conference was broken up.
Fellow-citizens: All our efforts toward conciliation have failed. We can hope nothing from the justice or moderation of the agents of the federal government in this State. They are energetically hastening the execution of their bloody and revolutionary schemes for the inauguration of civil war in our midst; for the military occupation of your State by armed bands of lawless invaders, for the overthrow of your State government; and for the subversion of those liberties which that government has always sought to protect; and they intend to exert their whole power to subjugate you, if possible, to the military despotism which has usurped the powers of the federal government.
Now, therefore, I, C. F. Jackson, Governor of the State of Missouri, do, in view of the foregoing facts, and by virtue of the powers vested in me, by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth, issue this, my Proclamation, calling the militia of the State, to the number of fifty thousand, into the active service of the State, for the purpose of repelling said invasion, and for the protection of the lives, liberty, and property of the citizens of this State. And I earnestly exhort all good citizens of Missouri to rally under the flag of their State for the protection of their endangered homes and fire-sides, and for the defense of their most sacred rights and dearest liberties.
In issuing this Proclamation, I hold it to be my solemn duty to remind you that Missouri is still one of the United States; that the Executive Department of the State government does not arrogate to itself the power to disturb that relation that that power has been wisely vested in a Convention which will, at the proper time, express your sovereign will; and that, meanwhile, it is your duty to obey all the constitutional requirements of the federal government.
But it is equally my duty to advise you that your first allegiance is due to your own State, and that you are under no obligation whatever to obey the unconstitutional edicts of the military despotism which has enthroned itself at Washington, nor to submit to the infamous and degrading sway of its wicked minions in this State. No brave and true-hearted Missourian will obey the one or submit to the other. Rise, then, and drive out ignominiously the invaders who have dared to desecrate the soil which your labors have made fruitful, and which is consecrated by your homes.
Given under my hand, as Governor, and under the great seal of the State of Missouri, at Jefferson City, this twelfth day of June, 1861.
By the Governor:
CLAIBORNE F. JACKSON.
B. F. MASSEY, Secretary of State.
