Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-23
Cen. Lyon-why We, he nos nsin-

Gen Lyon begged 10 vain for reinforcements:.
The night before his death he said, 'Aias'
they do not come!" Since his death, seven reg
iments have been forwarded 70 sustain the
troops which he commanded d.-Lonisuitls Dsn''
Gen. LYON sent messengers to FarMorT for
reiniorcements several times, but they were not
seat until after he was killed. Gen. FREAoNr
must explain this matter. PMLoW's maneuvre
was no doubt intended to catch FaEMosT' and
he did It well. Gen. LION said on the battle
field: a
"I begin to believe our term Of soldering
Ia about completed. have tried earnestly TO
discharge INV whole duty to the Government.
and annealed to them for achievements ana
supplies: but, alas! they did not come, and the
enemy is getting the advantage OF u.s."
The correspondent Of the NewsYork Herald
in his account Of the battle says:
"For two or three days before the battle,
General Lyon changed much in appearance
Since il became apparent to him that ne must
abandon the Southwest or have his army cut 10
pieces, he had lost much Of his former energy
aud decision. To one Of his stan he remark
ed, the day before the battle, Il am man oe-
lieving in presentments, and ever since lois
night surprise was planned, have had ieelnR
cannot get rid Of, that it would result uiSas.
trously. Through the refusal Of Government
properly to reinforce me, l am obliged to aban'
don the country. II l leave 1t without engag
ing the enemy, the public will call me COW,
ard. II engage him, may be defeated and
INV command cut to pieces. am too weak tc
hold Springfield, and yet the people will demand
that bring about battle with the very enemy
| cannot keep town against. How can this
result otherwise than against usP
"On the way to the field frequently rode
near him. He seemed like one bewildered, and
often, when addressed, failed to give any recog,
milton, and seemed totally unaware that ne was
spoken to- On the battle field ne gave Dis or
ders promptly, and seemed solicitous Tor tne
welfare of his men, but utterly regardless Of
his own safety. While he was standing where
bullets few thickest, just after bis favorite morse
was shot from under him, some Of his officers
interposed and begged that he would retire
from the spot and seek one less exposed :
Scarcely raising bis eyes from the enemy he
said
at is well enough that l stand here. am
satisfied"
While the line was forming for the charge
against the rebels in which he lost his LIE, Gen.
Lyon turned to Major Sturgis, who stood near
him, and remarked;
II fear that the day Is lost; If Colonel sigei
had been successful he would have Joined rs be-
fore this. Think will lead this charge"
He had been wounded in the leg In an early
part of the engagements flesh wound merely
from which the blood flowed profusely. Ma.
ior Sturgis, during the conversation. noticed
blood on General Lyons hat, and at hrst sup
posed he had been touching 1t with his hand,
which was wet with blood from his leg. A mo-
ment after, perceiving that IL was fresh, he re:
moved the Generals hat and asked the cause Of
its appearance. at is nothing, Major, nothing
but q wound in the bead" said General Lyon,
turning away and mounting his horse: With
out taking the hat held out to him BY Major
Sturgis, he addressed the Iowans he was to
command with
"Forward, men! will lead you"
: Two minutes Afterwards he lay dead on the
field, killed by rife ball through the breast
just above the heart. 10 death bis features
wore the same troubled and puzzled expression
that had been fixed upon them for the past week.
His body was brought to town in the afternoon,
and will be forwarded TO bic friends Ia Connec'
ticut for interment ai"