The Southern states, one after another, withdrew from the Union and on April the 11th, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederates. This was the bugle call to arms, and President Lincoln’s proclamation for 75,000 men to serve for ninety days followed. Frank P. Blair, afterwards Major General, received authority from the general government to organize and muster into service troops for the prosecution of the war for the preservation of the Union.
The muster of troops for the state was very irregular and was the cause afterwards of considerable confusion. Some men were enlisted for the war, some for one year, then for three years; some to serve in the state only, while others were enlisted for service in the northern part of the state and others for the southern part. The army thus organized was one of questionable authority. The Governor maintained that the general government had no right to invade the state, and the latter hesitated in regard to sending troops into a state not in open revolt against the government.
During this period of hesitation and confusion Col. D. Moore was commissioned Colonel and received authority to enlist and organize the 1st North Missouri Volunteers; and Col. H. M. Woodyard was given like authority to organize the 2d North Missouri Volunteers. In the summer and fall of 1861 these troops, acting separately, held North Missouri against the Confederates under Cols. Porter and Green. The anomalous conditions then existing in the state are explained by the position of the Confederates, who claimed that they were resisting armed invasion of the State by the Federal Government.
About May 30, 1861, Col. Moore received authority from Gen. Lyons to raise a regiment for the Federal service, taking the field at the head of ten men. Clear and ringing as a bugle blast he sounded the following challenge, which was posted in hand bills over Northeast Missouri and Southern Iowa:
The undersigned is authorized to raise a company of volunteers in the county, for the Union service. All who are willing to fight for their homes, their country and the flag of the glorious Union, are invited to join him, bringing with them their arms and ammunition. Until the Government can aid us we must take care of ourselves. Secessionists and rebel traitors desiring a fight can be accommodated on demand.