Each Brigadier-General soon raised in his Division several regiments and battalions of infantry, troops of cavalry, and batteries of artillery, composed of very excellent material, for the young men of the Middle Class were persuaded that it was their duty to respond to the State's call to defend her. The strongest political, social and local influences were brought to bear to bring them into the ranks, and the Missouri State Guard was formed, which was to fight valorously against the Government on many bitterly contested fields.
The White Trash, always impatient of the restrains of law and organization, did not enter so largely into these forces, but remained outside, to form bands of bushwhackers and guerrillas, to harry Union men and curse the State with their depredations, in which the Secessionists were scarcely more favored than the Union men.
The influence of Gen. Scott and Attorney-General Bates, added to the passionate representations of the Gamble-Yeatman delegation, and the frantic telegrams from Missouri, had restored Harney to full power, with Lyon, who had been commissioned a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, as his subordinate.
Harney was exerting himself to the utmost to restore peace and confidence in Missouri, and when free from the social influence of the Secessionists who surrounded him his soldierly instincts made him perceive that the emergency was greater than he had calculated upon. In one of these better moods he telegraphed to the Adjutant-General, May 17, that he ought to have 10,000 stand of arms placed at his disposal to arm the Union men of Missouri; that Iowa be called upon to send him 6,000, and Minnesota 3,000 men. Then the Secessionists would get hold of him again, and induce another mood, such as brought about a conference between him and Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price, leading to an agreement which Gen. Harney published in a proclamation. The agreement was as follows:
Saint Louis, May 21, 1861.
The undersigned, officers of the United States Government
and of the Government of the State of Missouri, for the
purpose of removing misapprehensions and allaying public
excitement, deem it proper to declare publicly that they
have this day had a personal interview in this city, in
which it has been mutually understood, without the semblance
of dissent on either part, that each of them has no other
than a common object equally interesting and important to
every citizen of Missouri—that of restoring peace and good
order to the people of the State in subordination to the
laws of the General and State Governments. It being thus
understood, there seems no reason why every citizen should
not confide in the proper officers of the General and State
Governments to restore quiet, and, as among the best means
of offering no counter-influences, we mutually recommend to
all persons to respect each other's rights throughout the
State, making no attempt to exercise unauthorized powers, as
it is the determination of the proper authorities to
suppress all unlawful proceedings, which can only disturb
the public peace.
Gen. Price, having by commission full authority over the
Militia of the State of Missouri, undertakes, with the
sanction of the Governor of the State, already declared, to
direct the whole power of the State officers to maintain
order within the State among the people thereof, and Gen.
Harney publicly declares that, this object being thus
assured, he can have no other occasion, as he has no wish,
to make military movements, which might otherwise create
excitements and jealousies which he most earnestly desires
to avoid.
We, the undersigned, do mutually enjoin upon the people of
the State to attend to their civil business of whatever sort
it may be, and it is to be hoped that the unquiet elements
which have threatened so seriously to disturb the public
peace may soon subside and be remembered only to be
deplored.
STERLING PRICE, Major-General Missouri State Guard.
WILLIAM S. HARNEY, Brigadier-General Commanding.
Harney was convinced of the sincerity of Jackson and Price in carrying out this agreement, which he submitted for approval to the War Department.