BATTLE OF DRANESVILLE.

289

well prepared for the work in hand, and also to repel an assault, should the foe venture to make one. The vicinity of Dranesville was reached about noon, when, upon a neighboring hill, a large number of rebels were discovered, and other work than gathering hay and grain appeared now quite evidently at hand, and for which immediate preparation was made, by the formation of the line of battle.

The enemy soon opened fire from a battery of six pieces, posted nearly a mile distant, and sheltered by a wood, from which shells were vigorously discharged, passing entirely over the Union forces, and, upon the alteration of the range, falling short of it. But Gen. Ord's brigade had two twenty-four and two twelve pounders, commanded by Captain Easton, who promptly responded. The speedy slackening of the enemy's fire, indicated a retreat, or some new movement. They were soon discovered, attempting to turn the right flank. Col. Kane's regiment occupied that part of the line. Near him was a brick house, in which he posted twenty men, and, sheltered by its walls, they inflicted severe chastisement upon the advancing rebel columns, which here consisted of three regiments. The boldness of the rebel advance, subjected them to a very destructive fire from the Federal line, before which they soon recoiled, and fell back to the protection of their battery.. They were vigorously pursued, and a charge of the battery ordered. But while the order was being executed, the enemy had fled, removing his guns.

The attacking party consisted of four regiments of infantry, a battery of flying artillery, and two squadrons of cavalry, which were also out on a foraging expedition. The rebel loss was seventy-five killed, one hundred and fifty wounded, and thirty prisoners. Federal loss, seven killed, and sixty-one wounded.

1 CHAPTER IX.

OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH-WEST-WAR IN

MISSOURI.

Fortifications at Cairo-Camps of Instruction—Treason of Governor Jackson— Its Terrible Effects - Meeting of the Legislature-Its Disloyal ActsEnergy of the St. Louis Loyalists-Capture of the Rebel Camp JacksonEncounters in the City-State Convention Loyal-Arbitrary Acts of the Rebel Legislature-Gen. Harney Assumes Command-His Proclamations and Peace Compact-Gen. Lyon in Command-Gov. Jackson's DuplicityBattle of Booneville-Military Preparations-Gen. Pope's Command-Reorganization of the State Government - Battle of Carthage-Gen. Fremont in Command-Gen. Lyon at Springfield-Battle of Wilson's Creek - Details, Casualties, and Results-Military Movements - Defense of Lexington -Battle of Fredericktown-Recapture of Springfield-Fremont and Blair -Fremont's Dismissal.

Cairo, at the junction of the Ohio with the Mississippi river, in the extreme south part of the State of Illinois, was the first point occupied by our forces in the west; and it, with Bird's Point, on the opposite side of the Mississippi, effectually commands those two rivers.

Several camps of instruction were established at Cairo, early in May, and on the last of that month, a force of 6,000 men was stationed there, under command of Brigadier Gen. B. M. Prentiss; and other camps, embracing nearly forty thousand men, were formed in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, the troops in which could reach Cairo within twentyfour hours. The place was strongly fortified, and heavy guns were put in position, by which a strict blockade of the Ohio and of the Mississippi was maintained. The enemy, however, never made serious demonstrations upon the place,

TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF SECESSION.

291

and it interposed an effectual barrier to the raids which the rebels had contemplated, into Illinois, Kentucky, and adjoining States.

In Missouri, a rebellious spirit was early manifested, on the part of the Governor, and other officials. The former had contemptuously refused to comply with the requisition of the President, to furnish her quota of troops; and in doing so, used the following insulting language: "Your requisition, in my judgment, is illegal, unconstitutional, and revolutionary, in its objects; inhuman, and diabolical. Not one man will Missouri furnish to carry on the unholy crusade !"

The terrible consequences to the people of Missouri, which followed, from this rash and reckless decision of its Governor, were beyond description. From a high condition of prosperity and happiness, her people were suddenly plunged into the worst horrors of civil war,-members of the same family were arrayed against each other in deadly strife,-neighbor against neighbor; murder, arson, robbery, — every conceivable form of atrocity, for many long months, were universally prevalent. Thousands upon thousands were reduced from affluence to beggary; pleasant homes, fruitful fields, thriving towns, were made deserts; and countless widows and orphans mourn the sad desolation caused by a few mad and unprincipled leaders. How can such men ever atone for the horrid crimes which they have committed; what punishment can be a sufficient retribution for the awful offense !

Governor Jackson, on the second day of May, called the Legislature together, and, in his message, took strong grounds against the action of the President. He expressed warm sympathy with the rebellious States, and recommended appropriations to arm the State. The Legislature were in sympathy with the Governor, and were proceeding with measures for raising means for military purposes, when they were alarmed by the active movements of the loyalists in St. Louis. The

292

THE PAROLE PLEDGE SURRENDERED.

regulars there were under the command of Capt. Lyon, whose loyalty has been attested by his blood. Col's Blair, Sigel, and others, had raised four regiments of volunteers, armed and equipped, and mustered them into service, in one week, and they were in camp when the Legislature convened. Captain Lyon was directed by the Government to raise and equip ten thousand men. Enrollments proceeded rapidly. The rebels were also organizing forces, under the specious guise of "State troops," and had established a camp of eight hundred men, near St. Louis, which, in honor of the traitor Governor, they called camp Jackson. It was under the command of the rebel Gen. Frost. Captain Lyon deemed it his duty to break up this camp, and on the 15th of May, at the head of a body of regulars, and five thousand volunteers, he surrounded it, and demanded its surrender. The demand was complied with, and the eight hundred secession troops there collected, were surrounded, without resistance, and marched to the arsenal. Here, the following pledge was made by them, and they were discharged:

during the present civil war. our surrendering ourselves, While we make this pledge,

"We, the undersigned, do pledge our words as gentlemen, that we will not take up arms, nor serve in any military capacity against the United States, This parole to be returned, upon at any time, as prisoners of war. with the full intention of observing it, we hereby protest against the justice of its exaction."

This singular pledge, made under protest, was not kept. The wisdom of the extreme leniency of the Government, in this, and in most other cases where prisoners were taken in the early events of the war, has been much criticised. Simply taking an oath, under constraint and protest, was regarded generally, by those who took it, as of no binding force, and was certainly a very easy mode of atonement for active treason.

All the guns, ammunition, and war material of every de

LOYAL CONVENTION.

293

scription, in the camp, fell into our hands. When the soldiers were returning to the city, they were attacked by a mob, with stones and fire arms. The soldiers fired upon the rioters, and several of them were killed and wounded, when they dispersed.

The soldiers then returned to their quarters, without further molestation. The excitement in the city was intense, and various conflicts occurred during the following night, between the loyalists and rebels, in some cases with fatal results.

Gov. Jackson had been inaugurated on the 4th of January preceding. In his message, he had recommended the calling of a State Convention, to ascertain the will of the people on the great questions of the times. In accordance with his suggestions, a Convention was called, to meet at Jefferson City, on the 28th of February, following. It was provided that no act, ordinance, or resolution, of such Convention, should be valid, unless first submitted to, and approved by, the people.

At this time, a very large majority of the people were in favor of peace and the Union, and the Convention was composed principally of their Representatives. It assembled at the time and place designated, but subsequently adjourned to St. Louis. The most strenuous efforts were made, by the few secession members, to secure secret sessions, to favor the secession of the State, and to oppose coercion of the revolted States; but they signally failed. Resolutions were adopted, by overwhelming majorities, declaring that there was no cause for the separation of Missouri from the Union; that she desired only an amicable and fair adjustment of the pending difficulties; approving of the Crittenden resolutions; desiring to avoid civil war, and recommending the withdrawal of the Federal forces from those forts, where collisions were likely to ensue. Unlike the Convention, the Governor and the Legislature were disloyal, and they desired to secure the secession of the State.