Bruce, that helps a lot. I have an original copy, somewhere, of a book of the laws passed by the Missouri General Assembly for that time period. I last remember seeing it about a year ago. Not sure whether it is for the 1864 or 1865 session. Certainly 1864 was a very pivotal year in regard to the Missouri Unionist Conservative/Radical civil war within a Civil War (not hyperbole--shots were fired and men did die in it), and was the pivotal turning point for that issue. Question is, did the special order target Radicals dismissed as a last gasp by Conservatives, or Conservatives dismissed as a first roar of Radicals. I'll start digging for my copy of the book of statutes. Maybe it will answer more than one line of questions.... If I can't find it, one of the Missouri historical repositories will have it somewhere, gathering dust....