Thanks. I did some searching in the Perryville Weekly Union newspapers for early 1865.
Dr. James R. McCormick was serving as State Senator and also as a Brigadier General in the Missouri Militia.
Residents of the counties in his Senate District petitioned for his removal because he had moved to Arcadia in Iron County which was not in that district.
On January 13, 1865, the paper reported that the was a movement to oust McCormick from the position of Brigadier General of the Militia and supported Leeper as his replacement.
On February 3, the paper reported that "Colonel Maupin has been appointed Brigadier General for this District, and Jas. R. McCormick has been removed."