Finally, the National Guard made an appearance last night in Ferguson after the city was on fire and plagued with violence following the announcement of the grand jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson.

Demonstrators returned Tuesday to the riot-scarred streets. But with hundreds of additional troops standing watch over neighborhoods and businesses, the protests had far less destructive power than the previous night.

Officers still had to use pepper spray and tear gas when protestors set a police car on fire and vandalized City Hall.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) ordered the number of troops increased on Tuesday night from 700 to 2200. "Lives and property must be protected," Nixon said. "This community deserves to have peace."

Forty-five people were arrested last night, mostly for failure to disperse. One woman was arrested after a group of people threw smoke bombs and frozen water bottles at officers.

Protesters threw rocks, tent poles, and bottles - some containing urine - at officers. As the crowd dispersed early Wednesday, some threw rocks through the windows of a muffler shop and a used-car dealership near a painted mural that read "Peace for Ferguson."