I admit I not an expert in CW era Mo history. However if Lyon had reasonable cause to believe and it seems that there was such evidence that CSA military units were being recruited and trained near St. Louis did not Lyon have a duty has a US Army Officer to strike quickly with all available forces against the Mo CSA units has quickly as possible? I find it interesting that the immigrant Germans had the foresight to form para military milita units pre CW and has far has I know the pro Sesch Missourians did not have any formal para military orginizations pre Ft. Sumter. Some historical questions may not have clear cut black and white answers because it just depends on one religious or political view point and politics and religon were not unimportant to what motivated folks on both sides of the divide.

Leonard Unger