Our general success in the State depended upon occupying and holding the Southwest.

General Lyon was to move thither from Booneville.

General Sweeney had already gone there by way of Rolla, while another force, under Major Sturgis, was moving from Leavenworth in a southeasterly direction.

All were to unite at Springfield and form an army of occupation.
Preparations went on slowly, as the transportation was to be gathered from the surrounding country.

Foreseeing that the expedition would be slow to reach Springfield, I returned to St.Louis.There I made preparations to join the army, when its march should be completed, by a more expeditious route than the one General Lyon would follow.
At Booneville, General Lyon established a temporary blockade of the Missouri River, by stopping all boats moving in either direction.