"Sweeny, if their batteries open on you, deploy your leading company as skirmishers, charge on the nearest battery, and take it."
Sweeny turned to the next two companies to him, and ordered them to move their cartridge-boxes to the front, to prepare for action. Lyon then sent Maj. B. G. Farrar with the following letter to Gen. Frost:
Headquarters United States Troops,
St. Louis, Mo., May 10, 1861. Gen. D. M. Frost, Commanding
Camp Jackson.
Sir: Your command is regarded as evidently hostile to 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 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
in the most unparalleled legislation, having in direct view
hostilities to the General Government and cooperation 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 United States Infantry,
Commanding Troops.
There were a few anxious minutes following this, but it must be said to Frost's credit as a soldier that he promptly recognized the situation and acted upon it. Soon a horseman rode out from the camp, and approaching Lyon handed him the following note:
Camp Jackson, Mo., May 10, 1861. Capt. N. Lyon, Commanding
U. S. Troops.
Sir: I, never for a moment having conceived the Idea that so
illegal and unconstitutional a demand as I have just
received from you would be made by an officer of the United
States Army, am wholly unprepared to defend my command from
this unwarranted attack, and shall therefore be forced to
comply with your demand.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. M. FROST, Brigadier-General, Commanding Camp Jackson,
Missouri Volunteer Militia.
Lyon read it, turned to his second in command and remarked: "Sweeny, they surrender."
Sweeny turned to his men with the order to replace their cartridge-boxes, which they did with an air of disappointment. There had been so much talk during the weeks and months of preparation about fighting and such irritating threatenings, that the Union troops were anxious to "take a fall" out of their opponents, and see what would be the result. Lyon dismounted, and unfortunately the fractious horse of one of his Aids at that instant kicked him in the stomach, knocking him senseless. While in this condition, Wm. D. Wood, Frost's Adjutant-General, rode up and inquired for Gen. Lyon. Gen. Sweeny, desiring to conceal Lyon's condition from the enemy, replied that he would receive any message intended for the General. Col. Wood then said:
"Gen. Frost sends his compliments to Gen. Lyon, and wishes
to know if the officers will be allowed to retain their
side-arms, what disposition shall be made of Government
property, and if a guard will be sent to relieve his men now
on post, and take possession of everything when the camp
shall be evacuated?"