Head Quarters Department of the West,
St. Louis Arsenal, June 12th 1861′
To Col S. R. Curtis Keokuk, Iowa
A terrible secession movement, headed by Gov. Jackson, has commenced.
I want you to come at once, with all the force you can command, to Hannibal, Mo. and move over the road from there to St. Josephs and put down the traitors every where on both sides of the road, and if possible, strike down upon Lexington
N. Lyon
Brig Gen U.S. Vols
Commanding
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1. General Lyon was on the point of setting out on an expedition up the Missouri River to drive Price and the Southern forces out of the northern portion of the State.