(Flunkies? why insert an inflamatory word?)

Yes, but remember Gamble was a conservative Republican and NOT a radical abolitionist. In itself a kind of schizophrenic appointment that ran counter to the stated aims of Blair and company. Gamble effectively confused Union sentiment and reduced effectiveness of Union intervention in outstate Missouri. All the while Davis and the more "proper" Confederates were deploring the use of irregular warfare. So what we end up with is a number of confused combatants fighting a confused battle with little to no strategic value to either side but the local impact was as bad as anywhere in the war east or west.

John R.

PS (Yankee Flunkies? why insert an inflamatory phrase into an otherwise civil disscussion? How about Lincoln and his political advisors, or hacks even, to be more forceful. Nuf said.)