There is but little doubt that it was the design of Governor Claiborn Jackson to have these troops ready to seize the United States arsenal and the city of St.Louis.

Why they did not do so I do not know.

There was but a small garrison, two companies I think, under Captain N.Lyon at the arsenal, and but for the timely services of the Hon.

F.P.Blair, I have little doubt that St.
Louis would have gone into rebel hands, and with it the arsenal with all its arms and ammunition.
Blair was a leader among the Union men of St.Louis in 1861.

There was no State government in Missouri at the time that would sanction the raising of troops or commissioned officers to protect United States property, but Blair had probably procured some form of authority from the President to raise troops in Missouri and to muster them into the service of the United States.