Charles Ewing and Hunter were there, and insisted on going out to the camp to see "the fun." I tried to dissuade them, saying that in case of conflict the bystanders were more likely to be killed than the men engaged, but they would go.

I felt as much interest as anybody else, but staid at home, took my little son Willie, who was about seven years old, and walked up and down the pavement in front of our house, listening for the sound of musketry or cannon in the direction of Camp Jackson.

While so engaged Miss Eliza Dean, who lived opposite us, called me across the street, told me that her brother-in-law, Dr.Scott, was a surgeon in Frost's camp, and she was dreadfully afraid he would be killed.

I reasoned with her that General Lyon was a regular officer; that if he had gone out, as reported, to Camp Jackson, he would take with him such a force as would make resistance impossible; but she would not be comforted, saying that the camp was made up of the young men from the first and best families of St.Louis, and that they were proud, and would fight.

I explained that young men of the best families did not like to be killed better than ordinary people.