o the firing upon Fort Sumter, and the
mustering of solid battalions in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas, immediately
around the Missouri borders, had a repressing effect upon those who had
at first thought of going with a light heart into Secession. It began to
look as if there were going to be something more serious than a Fourth
of July barbecue about this work of breaking up the Union.

69

Certainly, recruits had not come to Camp Jackson, which Frost had so
named in honor of the Governor of the State, as they had flocked into
similar camps farther South. Nor had they come in the numbers which were
assembled around Lyon and Blair, appealing for arms. Still, the men
in Camp Jackson had a resolute purpose, under all the frivolity and
merry-making of the gay camp, and presently Capts. Colton Greene
and Basil Duke returned with the cheering news that their mission to
Jefferson Davis had been entirely successful. Heavy artillery would be
furnished with which to batter down the walls of the Arsenal, and
force the Home Guards to fight or surrender. They brought with them
the following encouraging letter from the President of the Southern
Confederacy:

Montgomery, Ala., April 23, 1861. His Excellency C. F.
Jackson, Governor of Missouri.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge yours of the 17th
Instant, borne by Capts. Greene and Duke, and have most
cordially welcomed the fraternal assurances it brings.

A misplaced but generous confidence has, for years past,
prevented the Southern States from making the preparation
required by the present emergency, and our power to supply
you with ordnance is far short of the will to serve you.
After learning as well as I could from the gentlemen
accredited to me what was most needful for the attack on the
Arsenal, I have directed that Capts. Greene and Duke should
be furnished with two 12-pounder howitzers and two 32-
pounder guns, with the proper ammunition for each. These,
from the commanding hills, will be effective, both against
the garrison and to breach the inclosing walls of the place.
I concur with you as to the great importance of capturing
the Arsenal and securing its supplies, rendered doubly
important by the means taken to obstruct your commerce and
render you unarmed victims of a hostile invasion.

70

We look anxiously and hopefully for the day when the star of