nevertheless, by early 1861, both pro- and anti-secession factions in missouri were organizing military and paramilitary forces. secessionists organized as "minutemen", often assisted by state officials. on february 13, brigadier general daniel m. frost enrolled five companies of st. louis-area minutemen as the new 2nd regiment of the missouri volunteer militia. that same month, a new law banned militia activity outside the framework of the state-regulated , forcing pro-union activists to organize in secret.