Several thousand of Jackson's Militia had already assembled at
Lexington, nearly midway between Boonville and Kansas City. When they
heard of the affair at Boonville they realized that they were in danger
of being caught between the column advancing from that direction and
the one under Maj. Sturgis, which Gen. Lyon had ordered forward from
Leavenworth through Kansas City, while a third, under Col. Curtis, was
approaching from the Iowa line. They dispersed at once, to fall back
behind the Osage River, at Gen. Price's direction. Thus Lyon gained
complete control of the Missouri River in its course through the State,
enabling him to cut off the Confederates in the northern from those in
the southern part of the State.

127

Another success which came to him was the seizure of the office of
the St. Louis Bulletin, and the discovery there of a letter from Gov,
Jackson to the publisher, which completely proved all the allegations
that had been made as to the Governor's action, decisively contradicted
the material assertions in his proclamations and vindicated Gen. Lyon
from the charges against him of undue precipitancy. The letter was long,
personal and confidential. In it he said:

I do not think Missouri should secede today or tomorrow, but
I do not think it good policy that I should so disclose. I
want a little time to arm the State, and I am assuming every
responsibility to do it with all possible dispatch. Missouri
should act in concert with Tennessee and Kentucky. They are
all bound to go out, and should go together, if possible. My
judgment is that North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas will
all be out in a few days, and when they go Missouri should
follow. Let us, then, prepare to make our exit. We should
keep our own counsels. Every man in the State is in favor of
arming the State. Then let it be done. All are opposed to
furnishing Mr. Lincoln with soldiers. Time will settle the
balance.

Nothing should be said about the time or the manner in which
Missouri should go out. That she ought to go, and will go at
the proper time, I have no doubt. She ought to have gone out
last Winter, when she could have seized the public arms and
public property, and defended herself. That she has failed
to do, and must wait a little while. Paschall is a base
submissionist, and desires to remain with the North, if
every Sl