May, 1861. |
 |
| W. S. Harney |
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ordered the firing to cease, and at twilight the.prisoners in hand were conveyed to the Arsenal.
Many had escaped.
The night of the 10th
was a fearful one in St. Louis.
The secessionists were determined on revenge.
They gathered in excited throngs in the streets, and were alternately inflamed by incendiary speeches, and quieted by judicious harangues by distinguished citizens.
They marched in procession with significant banners; broke open a gun-store, and seized some of the arms in it; and all night long the air was resonant with the shouts of an excited multitude.
Toward dawn, through the exertion of the Mayor and police, the populace dispersed to their homes, with hearts filled with deep-seated hatred of the Union troops, especially of the Germans, who formed a greater portion of the “Home-Guard.”
This hatred was violently exhibited toward the evening of the 11th, when some of these troops were entering the town from the Arsenal.
A great crowd had gathered on Fifth Street and showered insults upon them; and at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, a boy in the crowd fired a pistol at the soldiers.
Their rear line turned and fired, and immediately the whole column was broken, and bullets from their guns flew thick among the people on the sidewalk and in the streets.
Several were killed and wounded, and a number of the soldiers themselves suffered from the wild firing of their exasperated comrades.
Mayor Taylor and a heavy police force soon appeared, and quiet was restored.
General William S. Harney, of the National Army, had arrived at St. Louis from the East during the excitement, and on the 12th, he resumed the command of the Department of the West, of which he was the head.
The hot indignation of the populace was smothered, and, with one or two exceptions,1 the city of St. Louis (which remained under Union control) was spared from other scenes of bloodshed during the war.2 When all the facts became known, the conduct of Captain Lyon was approved by his Government, and by the loyal people of the country.
By his promptness and skill, and with the assistance of hosts of loyal and zealous men, he
saved the Arsenal and the city of St. Louis from the grasp of the conspirators, and so consolidated and encouraged the Union sentiment of the Commonwealth, that Missouri was saved from the disgrace of being rightfully called a “seceded State.”
1 On the 18th of June the city was violently agitated by a fearful occurrence on Seventh Street, between Olive and Pine Streets. As some troops were passing, a pistol-shot was fired among them from a fire enginehouse. They were alarmed and confused, and commenced firing upon the people in the street, in all directions. Several persons were killed and others were wounded. Quiet was soon afterward restored.
2 Statements made to the author by Colonel F. A. Dick, John Coleman, Jr., and other eye-witnesses: Oration, by Charles D. Drake, on the Anniversary of the capture of Camp Jackson, May 11, 1868. Proclamation of General W. S. Harney, May 14, 1861. Life of General Lyon: by Ashbel Woodward, M. D.
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