The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-10-10
"Reminiscences of Lyon.


FRIEND BAILEY:-As these are days when
war and its "reminiscences are interesting
let me relate little sketch of Mexican SER
vice, for the purpose of doing justice to the
good, generous and soldiory qualities of
Capt. (then- Lieut.) Nathaniel Lyon, whose
name appears III so much honor at the pres
ent time of need of such men as he proves
to be. May 9th, 1876, your correspondent
left the home of his childhood in what is
now the remnant of the little town of Mil
tonville, situated on the Maumce river, sew
Ell miles above Perrysburg, impatient of
home restraint, and taken by the war spirit,
finds himself duly enlisted and practic.ng
as drummer under the tutelage of drum
major Andrew Castle of I'd regiment u. s.
Infantry, the staff and company + of which
were stationed at Detroit at that time The
last week in July orders came from Wash
ngton to repair to Newport Barracks, where
we lay during the first armsticc of the
two months after the taking of Matamoras
Four companies of the regiment and staff,
were ordered from this point (Newport) to
Camargo, at which place we arrived the day
the battle of Monterey began, di stance 20
miles. AS we received no orders until
after the battle, we lay encamped during
the ID armistice of weeks ut that place
during which time company A, b, L, q and
| came on from Governors Island, \. Y,
and joined us. AS a vacancy occurs in Co.
|, Jas. Penrose, Captain and Nathaniel Lyon,
lst Lieutenant for drummer it was filled.
and after laying under camp service two
months and 16 days, we were ordered to
Montmoras to Join Gen. Taylor, who was
to march south from Monterey Now comes
the hardest part of the service forced
al L.,
fires the men would talk of reading, of cam
paigns and not regarding anything but the
battles, but here the marching reality was
felt in full. 1t was here that the officers, if
they were disposed, could favor their men
by rides in the wagons and Oh their horses,
and Lieut.. Lyon dit give up the use of his
horse the greater part of each day alternate
ly to his drummer and fiter, both boys in
their tcens-the ifer in his fourteenth and
the drummer in his fifteenth year. The ffcr
VIM. Mccormick of n. Y. on the march
between Villa Grandc and Victoria, one day
left the command and went to the rear to
try the speed of the little cream in a race
but found the race rather dear one, as
Lieut.. Lyon cut short his rides from that
time and left him to gain respite from hard
marching by trying the teamsters of the
baggage wagons. The drummer was favor
ed from that time forth with ride part
of every day. One instance is especially
remembered: after marching for about five
hours rather fast, he (the drummer) was
obliged to lay down under chapparel bush
and rest, and await the uncertainty of get
ting a ride in the baggage wagons. Lieut.
Lyon rode up and says, Can you go no fur.
ther ?" Upon receiving reply in the neg.
ative, he said, "Well, must let you have
the mare, although my feet are very sore
this morning :" whereupon he got down and
gave the drummer his mare and walked or
limping by the side of his company, leaving
the drummer to ride on refreshed, and to
live to record from memory this generosity
of his friend and benefactor. Another
time is remembered with interest. On the
march between Monterey and Montmoras
upon coming to a stream through which to
wade, the men were obliged to take off their
belts and haversacks and hang them upon
bayonet points to prevent their getting wet
| The drummer was about to violate general
orders and get into baggage wagon, wher
Brig. Gen. Twiggs, in his usual rough and
ready way, greeted him with Get out ot
that wagon" and as he was taking off his
shoes to try the current, Lieut.. Lyon rode
up and generously offered a seat behind
| himself on the little cream who bore us il
safety through the stream. These are facts
Mr.. Editor, and they are respectfully sub
mitted for publication, to encourage, if pos
sible, like acts of kindness from officers tc
men in this and other campaigns which may
follow. ~ J.F.
The above letter reached us last week
nearly fire months after date-having trav
eled over sir miles.