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the very few troops constituting its guard, the service of myself and all my command, and, if necessary, the whole power of the
State to protect the
United States in the full possession of all her property.
Upon
Gen. Harney's taking command of this department, I made the same proffer of services to him, and authorized his
Adjutant-General,
Capt. Williams, to communicate the fact that such had been done to the War Department.
I have had no occasion since to change any of the views I entertained at that time, neither of my own volition nor through orders of my constitutional commander.
I trust that after this explicit statement we may be able, by fully understanding each other, to keep far from our borders the misfortunes which so unhappily afflict our common country.
This communication will be handed to you by
Col. Bowen, my
Chief of Staff, who will be able to explain any thing not fully set forth in the foregoing.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Capt. L. refused to receive the above communication.
He forwarded
Gen. Frost the following about the time, if we are not mistaken, of the surrounding of his camp:
Sir: Your command is regarded as evidently hostile towards the
Government of the
United States.
It is, for the most part, made up of those secessionists who have openly avowed their hostility to the
General Government, and have been plotting at the seizure of its property and the overthrow of its authority.
You are openly in communication with the so-called Southern Confederacy, which is now at war with the
United States, and you are receiving at your camp, from the said Confederacy and under its flag, large supplies of the material of war, most of which is known to be the property of the
United States.
These extraordinary preparations plainly indicate none other than the well-known purpose of the
Governor of this State, under whose orders you are acting, and whose purpose recently communicated to the Legislature, has just been responded to by that body in the most unparalleled legislation, having in direct view hostilities to the
General Government and co-operation with its enemies.
In view of these considerations, and of your failure to disperse in obedience to the proclamation of the
President, and of the eminent necessities of State policy and welfare, and the obligations imposed upon me by instructions from
Washington, it is my duty to demand, and I do hereby demand of you an immediate surrender of your command, with no other conditions than that all persons surrendering under this demand shall be humanely and kindly treated.
Believing myself prepared to enforce this demand, one-half hour's time, before doing so, will be allowed for your compliance therewith.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. Lyon,
Captain, 2d Infantry, Commanding Troops.
Immediately on the receipt of the foregoing,
Gen. Frost called a hasty consultation of the officers of his staff.
The conclusion arrived at was that the brigade was in no condition to make resistance to a force so numerically superior, and that only one course could be pursued — a surrender.
The demand of
Capt. Lyon was accordingly agreed to. The State troops were therefore made prisoners of war, but an offer was made to release them on condition that they would take an oath to support the
Constitution of the United States and would swear not to take up arms against the
Government.
These terms were made known to the several commands, and the opportunity given to all who might feel disposed to accede to them to do so. Some eight or ten men signified their willingness; but the remainder, about eight hundred, preferred, under the circumstances, to become prisoners.
(A number of the troops were absent from the camp in the city on leave.) Those who declined to take the prescribed oath said that they had already sworn allegiance to the
United States and to defend the
Government, and to repeat it now would be to admit that they had been in rebellion, which they would not concede.
The preparations for the surrender and for marching, as prisoners, under the escort of the Arsenal troops, occupied an hour or two.
About half-past 5 the prisoners left the grove and entered the road, the
United States soldiers enclosing them by a single file stretched along each side of the line.
A halt was ordered and the troops remained standing in the position they had deployed into the road.
The head of the column at the time rested opposite a small hill on the left as you approach the city, and the rear was on a line with the entrance to the grove.
Vast crowds of people covered the surrounding grounds and every fence and housetop in the vicinity.
Suddenly the sharp reports of several firearms were heard from the front of the column, and the spectators that lined the adjacent hill were seen fleeing in the greatest dismay and terror.
It appeared that several members of one of the German companies, on being pressed by the crowd and receiving some blows from them, turned and discharged their pieces.
Fortunately no one was injured, and the soldiers who had done the act were at once placed under arrest.
Hardly, however, had tranquillity been restored when volley after volley of rifle reports were suddenly heard from the extreme rear ranks, and men, women, and children were beheld running wildly and frantically away from the scene.
Many, while running, were suddenly struck to the sod, and the
