of
the camp equipage left and a considerable number of
prisoners, most of them young and of immature age, who
represent that they have been misled by frauds ingeniously
devised and industriously circulated by designing leaders,
who seek to devolve upon unreflecting and deluded followers
the task of securing the object of their own false ambition.
Out of compassion for these misguided youths, and to correct
impressions created by unscrupulous calumniators, I have
liberated them, upon condition that they will not serve in
the impending hostilities against the United States
Government. I have done this in spite of the known facts
that the leaders in the present rebellion, having long
experienced the mildness of the General Government, still
feel confident that this mildness cannot be overtaxed even
by factious hostilities having In view its overthrow; but
if, as in the case of the late Camp Jackson affair, this
clemency than still be misconstrued, it is proper to give
warning that the Government cannot be always expected to
indulge it to the compromise of its evident welfare.

126

Having learned that those plotting against the Government
have falsely represented that the Government troops intended
a forcible and violent invasion of Missouri for the purposes
of military despotism and tyranny, I hereby give notice to
the people of this State that I shall scrupulously avoid all
interferences with the business, rights, and property of
every description recognized by the laws of this State, and
belonging to law-abiding citizens; but that it is equally my
duty to maintain the paramount authority of the United Sates
with such force as I have at my command, which will be
retained only so long as opposition shall make it necessary;
and that it is my wish, and shall be my purpose, to devolve
any unavoidable rigor arising in this issue upon those only
who provoke it.

All persons who, under the misapprehensions above mentioned,
have taken up arms, or who are now preparing to do so, are
invited to return to their homes, and relinquish their
hostile attitude to the General Government, and are assured
that they may do so without being molested for past
occurrences.

N. LYON,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Vols., Commanding.