Just as he was in the midst of a very earnest profession of loyalty the flag was discovered.
"Somebody must have put that there to ruin me," was his exclamation.
"Gentlemen, I hope you won't harm me; and, if you want me to do so, I will take the oath of allegiance this minute." Soon after the occupation of Booneville, General Lyon sent a small expedition to Syracuse, twenty-five miles in the interior.

This force returned in a few days, and then preparations were begun for a march to Springfield.

Colonel Blair left Booneville for St.Louis and Washington, while General Lyon attended to the preliminaries for his contemplated movement.

The First Iowa Infantry joined him, and formed a part of his expeditionary force.

The Rebels gathered at Lexington, and thence moved southward to reach the Arkansas line, to form a junction with the then famous Ben McCulloch.
The prospect was good that Central Missouri would soon be clear of Rebels.