Camp-Fire and Cotton-Field | Page 8

for deliberation. At the end of that time General Frost
concluded to capitulate. The prisoners, less than a thousand in number,
were marched to the arsenal and safely secured.
This achievement destroyed Camp Jackson, and established the United
States authority in full force over St. Louis. An unfortunate collision
occurred between the soldiers and the crowd outside. Provoked by
insults terminating in an assault with fire-arms, a portion of the German
troops fired upon the multitude. Upward of thirty persons were killed or

wounded in the affair. With the exception of this unhappy collision, the
capture was bloodless.
General Harney arrived at St. Louis soon after this event, and assumed
command in Missouri. The agreement known as "the Price-Harney
truce" was immediately made. Under an assurance from Governor
Jackson that the State troops should be disbanded, General Harney
promised that no hostilities should be undertaken, and attempted to
cause the dispersal of the Union volunteers. The status of the latter had
been so fixed that General Harney was not empowered to disarm them,
and he so informed, the State authorities. His message announcing this
read nearly as follows:--
"I have ascertained that I have no control over the Home Guards. "W. S.
HARNEY, _Brig.-Gen_."
This message was received at the Police Head-Quarters in St. Louis, on
the morning of Sunday, May 15th. It was misunderstood by the parties
who read it. They inferred, from the tenor of the dispatch, that General
Harney was unable to restrain the Union volunteers.
The most frightful stories had been circulated concerning the
blood-thirsty character of these soldiers, particularly the German
portion. Visions of murder, pillage, house-burning, and all the
accompanying outrages committed by an unrestrained army, flitted
through the minds of the Secessionists. The story spread, and gained
intensity with each repetition. "The Dutch are rising; we shall all be
slain in cold blood!" was the cry, echoed from house to house. Not less
than five thousand people fled from the city on that day, and as many
more within the succeeding twenty-four hours. Carriages, wagons,
drays, every thing that could transport persons or valuables,
commanded exorbitant prices. Steamboats were chartered as ferries to
the Illinois shore or to go to points of safety, either up or down the river.
Many persons abandoned their houses, taking with them only a few
articles of value or necessity, while others carried away nothing, in
their haste to escape.
In a few days the excitement subsided and nearly all the refugees

returned, but there are some who have never been in St. Louis since
their remarkable hegira. In their determination to obtain their "rights,"
they entered the Rebel army and followed its checkered fortunes. Less
than half of these persons are now alive.
For a time after the appearance of General Harney's proclamation, there
were no hostile demonstrations on either side. Governor Jackson had
promised to disband the small force of militia at Jefferson City, but he
failed to do so. The Rebel flag was flying in Jefferson City, from a staff
in front of the Governor's mansion, and over the head-quarters of the
Missouri State Guard. Missouri, through her State officers, was in favor
of an armed neutrality, which really meant nothing less than armed
secession.
The Secessionists were quietly but earnestly at work to effect their
object. They did not heed their promise to remain inactive. The Union
authorities observed theirs to the letter. The Camp Jackson prisoners
were paroled and restored to liberty. A portion of them observed the
parole, but many did not. General Frost remained on his farm and took
no part in the Rebellion until relieved from his parole, several months
later. It is proper to add, that he was of very little account to the Rebels
when he finally entered the field.
While watching the progress of affairs in St. Louis, I determined upon a
visit to Jefferson City. Though the Rebel flag was flying over the State
Capitol, and the nucleus of the Missouri State Guard (Rebel) had its
camp in the suburbs, the communication by railroad had not been
interrupted. Taking the morning train from St. Louis, on the 27th of
May, I found myself, at three o'clock of the afternoon, under the
secession banner. The searching of the train for articles contraband of
war was then a new feature.
In the early days only the outside of a package was examined. If the
"marks" indicated nothing suspicious, the goods were allowed to pass.
Under this regulation, a large number of boxes marked "soap" were
shipped on a steamboat for Lexington. So much soap going into
Missouri was decidedly suspicious, as the people of the interior do not
make extensive use of the article. An examination disclosed canisters of

powder instead of bars of soap. The discovery was followed by the