Bob as always good questions. The one question I've always harbored but haven't found the answer to is what legal authority the MSM had to operate as a military unit in Illinois? As I understand it the organizing charter/statutes made the MSM a state militia eventually federalized to operate within the state to support martial law and regular federal troops. This was distinctly different than organizations such as the Ohio Volunteer Infantry which were raised to operate distinctly as federal troops deployable anywhere. Any thoughts?

John R