The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 198

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

his decision to withdraw into Arkansas, leaving Sterling Price and
his state troops to carry on the pursuit alone. Price advanced as far
north as Lexington where he won a victory, but he was soon back
in southwestern Missouri.
On August 5, 1861, Governor Jackson, at New Madrid, issued
a declaration that Missouri was a sovereign independent repub-
lic, a declaration designed to encourage Confederate assistance.
Although neither side recognized the validity of the declaration,
the Confederate Congress on August 6, 1861, in recognition of the
struggle going on in Missouri, appropriated $1,ooo,ooo for the aid
of the people of Missouri and for the support of the Missouri
troops cooperating with the Confederate States Army. On the last
day of October, 1861, a rump session of the general assembly,
called by Governor Jackson at Neosho, Missouri, approved an act
of secession, ratified the Confederate Constitution, and elected
senators and representatives to the Confederate Congress. It seems
doubtful that a quorum was present for those meetings, but on
November 28, 1861, an Act of the Confederate Congress admit-
ting Missouri to the Confederacy was approved, and thus the
fugitive government vindicated its legality, at least in Confed-
erate eyes.
That winter Sterling Price withdrew into Arkansas, and Gov-
ernor Jackson went south, where he died in Little Rock in De-
cember, 1862.
After Jackson's death the office of governor was assumed by
Lieutenant Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, who from the begin-
ning had shown active secessionist sentiments. In appearance,
Reynolds was described by an acquaintance as
a man of medium height and compact mould, with regular features,
that were at once refined and strong-a rather handsome man. His
jet black hair and beard were always closely cut, and his dark eyes
always shaded by gold-rimmed glasses. ...
He had graduated from the University of Virginia in 1842 and
had studied for a time at the University of Heidelberg in Ger-
many. He had been Secretary of Legation and United States Charge
d'Affaires at Madrid and according to all accounts spoke French,
Spanish, and German fluently. He was undoubtedly a more cul-
4Ibid., 0o.

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