Mr. LOAN. Mr. Chairman, owing to the peculiar condition of the State of Missouriat the outbreak of the rebellion, there has been great difficulty in understanding how the troops were brought into the service in that State, and if the committee will indulge me for a few moments I will undertake to make a statement in regard to that matter that I trust will enable every gentleman who gives me his attention to fully understand and comprehend this subject. At the outbreak of the rebellion the government of the State of Missouriwas disloyal and endeavored to draw the State into the rebellion. A convention of the people was held which appointed a provisional government and authorized it to administer the laws in the State. Prior to this time, however, it is proper to state that while the disloyal government was at Jefferson City, the capital of the State, they called out the militia and established a camp near StLouis, known as Camp Jackson. The purpose of this movement was to seize the city and arsenal and appropriate the public arms that were there. General Lyon, then ca tain, had but one company of regulars for the protection of the public property. Francis P. Blair, afterwards genera, was enabled by his personal influence to bringto the Federal standard 10,000 men, and place them in that arsenal for its defense. They were armed, not under the sanction of any law, but from the necessity of the case. The State government being disloyal these men could not be or nized or mustered into the Federal (ervice. but notwithstanding that they came to the relief of the U.S. flag when called by a Federal Officer. As soon as they were armed they marched and captured Camp Jackson and the rebel soldiers there. Afterward additional forces were organized in the same manner, until about 35 regiments were formed, some of whom served for more than 3 years. T hcse troops were known as the home guards of Missouri. They were not organized under any Federal authority that was known to the law, but they were organized at the instance of the Federal officers from the necessity of the case to defend the flag.GenlFremont and others furnished them with commissions, and continued them in the service. They fought at Wilsons Creek where General Lyon fell. They fought in Arkansas, and many of the regiments were continued in the service until 1863. On the 25th of March, 1862, there was an act of Congress passed authorizing payment to those men. On the 14th of May the sum of $100,000 was appropriated for that nrpose. At the 1stse ssion of the T hirty Eighth ongress an additional sum of 700 and odd 1,000 dollars was appropriated. This money was all for the home uards, an organization entirely independent ot the militia of Missouri, for whom we are now asking ay. After this disastrous battle of Wilsons Creek, under authority derived from the State convention, the provisional governor called into active service in the State, 42 regiments of militia, known as 6 months troops.