As the secession crisis deepened, Missouri attempted to follow a policy of armed neutrality, in which the state would not support either side in the war but remain in the Union.
This resulted in a confrontation with the aggressive Union commander Nathaniel Lyon, who forced the surrender of the militia, in what was called the Camp Jackson Affair.
General William Harney reached an agreement with the new Missouri State Guard commander Sterling Price, known as the Price-Harney Truce.
Jackson called a rump session of the exiled General Assembly in Neosho, Missouri, and in late October with a dubious quorum passed an ordinance of secession.
Governor Gamble convinced President Lincoln that local units composed of Missourian, controlled by the (Provisional) State Government, would be the least disruptive way to deal with Missouri Guerrillas and would free out-state Federal regiments for other combat roles.
However, the Provisional Government managed to keep the majority of Missourians from embracing secessionism, and played a vital role in holding the state for the Union.