On arriving in St.Louis I found the city far from quiet, though there was nothing to lead a stranger to consider his personal safety in danger.

I had ample material for entering at once upon my professional duties, in chronicling the disordered and threatening state of affairs.
On the day of my arrival, I met a gentleman I had known in the Rocky Mountains, six months before.

I knew his courage was beyond question, having seen him in several disturbances incident to the Gold Regions; but I was not aware which side of the great cause he had espoused.
After our first greetings, I ventured to ask how he stood.
"I am a Union man," was his emphatic response.
"What kind of a Union man are you ?" "I am this kind of a Union man," and he threw open his coat, and showed me a huge revolver, strapped to his waist.
There were many loyal men in St.Louis, whose sympathies were evinced in a similar manner.

Revolvers were at a premium.
Some of the Secessionists ordered a quantity of revolvers from New York, to be forwarded by express.

To prevent interference by the Union authorities, they caused the case to be directed to "Colonel Francis P.Blair, Jr., care of -- --." They thought Colonel Blair's name would secure the property from seizure.