|
SPECIAL ORDERS, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 74. Washington, March 13, 1861. I. Captain N. Lyon, Second Infantry, the senior officer of the line present and on duty at Saint Louis Arsenal, Mo., is assigned to the command of the troops and defenses at that post. * * * * * * * By order of the Secretary of War: L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General.
Captain Numbers LYON, Second Infantry, Commanding Troops at Saint Louis Arsenal, Mo.: SIR: I am directed by the commanding general to address our as follows respecting the interpretation to be put upon paragraph 1 of Special Orders, Numbers 74, of the 13th instant, from the Adjutant-General's Office, assigning you to the command of the troops and defenses at the Saint Louis Arsenal, with a copy of which you have been furnished: It is not supposed that in issuing that order the Secretary of war designed you should exercise any control over the operations of the Ordnance Department, and you will not, therefore, regard the officers and men of that branch of the service stationed at the arsenal as forming a portion of your command. The arrangements heretofore made for the accommodation of the troops at the arsenal and for the defense of the place will not be disturbed without the sanction of the commanding general, to whom you ill present any considerations touching those subjects you may think worthy of adoption. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS U. S. TROOPS, General D. M. FROST, Commanding Camp Jackson. SIR: Your command is regarded as evidently hostile toward the Government of the United States. It is, for the most part, made up of those secessionists who have openly avowed their hostility to the General Government and have been plotting at the seizure of is property and the overthrow of its authority. You are openly in communication with the so-called Southern Confederacy, which is now at war with the United States; and you are orders you are acting, and whose purposes, recently communicated to the Legislature, have just been responded to by that body in the most unparalleled legislation, having in direct view hostilities to the General Government and co-operation with its enemies. In view of these considerations, and of your failure to disperse in obedience to the proclamation of the President, and of the eminent necessities of State policy and welfare, and the obligations imposed upon me by instructions from Washington, it is my duty to demand, and I do hereby demand, of you an immediate surrender of your command, with no other conditions than that all persons surrendering under this demand shall be humanely and kindly treated. Believing myself prepared to enforce this demand one-half hour's time before doing so will be allowed for your compliance therewith. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding Troops.
SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 11, 1861. Colonel L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army. 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 miliary 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 a state 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 the felt able to sustain it. It was therefore necessary to meet this embaation 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 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, as far as understood, there were found three 32-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," "I. 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 U. S. 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 Sweeney, 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. You 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 were 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. Colonel 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, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding.
MAY 11, 1861.-Riot in Saint Louis, Mo. Report of Captain Nathaniel Lyon, Second U. S. Infantry. SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 12, 1861. SIR: On yesterday I left to Captain Callender and Lieutenant Saxton the duty of receiving and arming about 1,200 men from the northern portion of the city, who on returning to their station were fired upon by a mob, which fire was returned by the troops, from which, all told on both sides, about twelve persons were killed, two of whom, so far as I am informed, were of the United States troops; further particulars of which may be hereafter transmitted. General Harney having arrived has assumed command of the department, and has ordered into the city all the troops of the regular service now hearer (except my own company) and four pieces of artillery. It is with great delicacy and hesitancy I take the liberty to observe that the energetic and necessary measures of day before yesterday, and reported in my communication of yesterday, require persevering and consistent exertion to effect the object in view of anticipating combinations and measures of hostility against the General Government, and that the authority of General Harney under these circumstances embarrasses, in the most painful manner, the execution of the plans I had contemplated, and upon which the safety and welfare of the Government, as I conceive, so much depend, and which must be decided in a very short period. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding. Colonel L. THOMAS, Adjt. General U. S. Army, Washington.
SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 12, 1861. Colonel L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington. SIR: * * * * * It is with great delicacy and hesitancy I take the liberty to observe that the energetic and necessary measures of day before yesterday, and reported in my communication of yesterday, require persevering and consistent exertion to effect the object in view of anticipating combinations and measures of hostility against the General Government, and that the authority of General Harney under these circumstances embarrasses, in the most painful manner, the execution of the plans I had contemplated, and upon which the safety and welfare of the Government as I conceive so much depend, and which must be decided in a very short period. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding.
MAY 15, 1861.-Expedition from Saint Louis to Potosi, Mo. REPORTS.
SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 16, 1861. SIR: In consequence of the frequent arrivals at this place of persons from Potosi, complaining of revolting outrages, and being given from their homes because of their loyalty to the General Government, I caused a party to proceed to that place, to apprehend offending parties and give consolation and relief to the sufferers. The object seems to have been very judiciously accomplished by Captain Cole, of the Fifth Missouri Volunteers, whose report is herewith inclosed. It will be seen that at De Soto a large secession meeting was defeated and their flag taken by the timely arrival of Captain Cole. A list of the prisoners detained, and against whom most palpable evidence is understood to exist of persevering and systematic cruelty towards the friends of the Government, is herewith inclosed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE WEST, Captain N. LYON, Second Infantry, Commanding Troops, Saint Louis Arsenal, Mo. SIR: The commanding general desires that you will furnish him by the bearer with a certified copy of the parole given by the members of the brigade of Missouri Volunteers captured at Camp Jackson the 10th instant by the forces of the United States under your command. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 17, 1861. Captain S. WILLIAMS, Headquarters Department of the West, Saint Louis, Mo. SIR: The parole given by the officers taken at Camp Jackson was kept by Lieutenant Schofield, who is not at present in the arsenal. The men of the ranks took the following oath: You do solemnly swear that you will not serve in any capacity against the Government of the United States during the civil war now existing. The parole of the officers, pretty much to the same effect, will be sent as soon as I can get it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding. SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 17, 1861. Captain S. WILLIAMS. DEAR SIR: The following is a verbatim copy of parole taken by staff and regimental officers: We, the undersigned, do pledge our words as gentlemen that we will not take up arms or serve in any military capacity against the United States during the present civil war. This parole to be returned upon our surrendering ourselves at any time as prisoners of war. While we sign this parole with a full intention of observing it, we nevertheless protest against the justice of its exactions. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding.
|
