Hi John,
Thanks for the link. and good points has always. I have a bunch of books that I bought to read but the early history of Mo post Ft Sumter is indeed interesting. From what I gathered the original sin of Union policy in Mo was allowing Jenession and Montgomerys men into western Mo and not punishing them afterwards like Gen Halleck wanted. On the other hand when the CW broke out the Kansas troops were close by and both men were politicaly popular and powerfull and the Union needed has many willing volunters has they could and they got a pass on their destructive activities. the CW was not based like all wars on hard political realities and justice was not always done.

Leonard