se lovers and brothers were in Camp
Jackson, and who, with that inconsequence which is so charming in the
young feminine mind, were breathlessly expectant of their young heroes
each surrounding himself with a group of "Dutch myrmidons," slain by his
red right hand.

So admirably had Lyon planned that the heads of all his columns appeared
at their designated places almost simultaneously, and Gen. Frost found
his camp entirely surrounded in the most soldierly way. The six light
pieces galloped into position to entirely command the camp. With a
glance of satisfaction at the success of his arrangements, Gen. Lyon
rode up to Sweeny, his second in command, and said:

"Sweeny, if their batteries open on you, deploy your leading company as
skirmishers, charge on the nearest battery, and take it."

Sweeny turned to the next two companies to him, and ordered them to move
their cartridge-boxes to the front, to prepare for action. Lyon then
sent Maj. B. G. Farrar with the following letter to Gen. Frost:

76

Headquarters United States Troops,

St. Louis, Mo., May 10, 1861. Gen. D. M. Frost, Commanding
Camp Jackson.

Sir: Your command is regarded as evidently hostile to 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 its
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
receiving at your camp, from said Confederacy and under its
flag, large supplies of the material of war, most of which
is known to be the property of the United States. These
extraordinary preparations plainly indicate none other than
the well-known purpose of the Governor of this State, under
whose orders you are acting, and whose purpose, recently
communicated to the Legislature, has just been responded to
in the most unparalleled legislation, having in direct view
hostilities to the General Government and cooperation 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 Instructi