Litchfield enquirer., 1861-08-22
DEATH OF GEN. LYON.

1 hV 1SiCSIdTu us INe news or a OrlII ! lant engagement in Missouri between the Union forces under Gen. Lyon and a rebel force ot three times their number, in which they sustain . ed themselves nobly and drove the enemy from the field. But the feeling of satisfaction and graduation at the bravery of our troops is check cd and saddened by the mournful fact that their noble leader Tell while cheering his men on to the charge. Such were his qual. .fications and position that We have never admitted ta Our- selves the possibility of his loss. and the an- nouncenent falls heavily upon us
 Connecticut especially monrns over the fall of one ot her sons- few weeks ago she received to the last embrace of her soil the first naval commander who fell martyr of liberty in th1s holy struggle. aid now she has been called upon to sacrifice the first general commander who has fallen upon the field of strife. She has embalnled the memory of Capt Ward with her tears and to-day. with the deepest sorrow. she adds the na!ne of Lyon to the nobl.st martyrs uf her history But Connecticut wiII not f,lter Hundreds of her sons will take the place of the one brave man who has fallen. The state which gave.him birth and now waits to receive his remains. will bring continually new lrgions to the field till the for which he fell is victo- rlous in every state of the Union. and t!.is ac- cursed rebellion is crushed forever
 r General Nathaniel Lyon was the son of Am . ed from families noted for intelligence and pa- triotlsm- His mother was of the knowlton family, which furnished two officers of the revo- lutlon-col Thomas Knowlton, who command ! ed inc Connecticut troops at the battle of Bun ker Hill. and was afterwards killed at the battle of Harlem Heights, and Daniel knowton, who figured with credit in the old French wars, and afterwards in the revolution.
 Gen. Lyon inherited the feelings of military ardor and patriotism which distinguished his ancestors, and at ain early age exhibited math- ematical talent and power of combining means and developing plans, as we'll as an iron will and unconquerable perseverance,. Having strong predispositien to military life. he was entered and graduated in ls4l, With high distinction He at once entered the army as lieutenant and has remained in service almost constantly to the time of his death Immediately after receiving his first commission, he was ordered to join the army in Florida, then operating against the In- dians. After passing through that most disa- greeabie campaign among the everglades of Flor ida, he was stationed for some years at various posts ou our Western frontier
 : Soon after the commenc ement of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, he was ordered to join Gen. Taylor. and after reaching Monterey, accompanied the expedition against Vera Cruz. In the bombardment and capture of Vera Cruz, and the severely contested battles of Contreras, CherubuscO and others which oc- cured between that place and the City of Mexico. his activity and military skill found full play. lie took an active part i'll each and all of them, and while fighting in the streets in the City of Mexico, near the Belen gate, on Sept 13, 1S47, received a wound from a musket ball, i After the conclusion of the Mexican war; he was ordered to California, where he spent a long time in operations against the Indians, enduring the greatest fatigue and privations in that then unknown country. Upon being re called from California, he was again stationed on the western frontier, serving mostly in Kan history of the kansas troubles, and although he had always previously acted with the democrats, his sympathies were enlisted in behalf of the in consequence of what he there saw, he threw up his commission, and retired for short time to private life.
 At the commencement of the present war, Lyon, then captain, was stationed in Missou- ri. For his signal service in the capture of the rebel forces at Camp Jackson, at St. Louis, he was made brigadier general of the Missouri volunteers, since which time his movements are familiar to the public. He was noted for his accuracy of conception and prcmptness of ac- tion; for the highest personal bravery combined with the best military skill and the daring traits which made him the irresistible leader, cost him his life. His men worshipped him with filial reverence, and his superiors at Wash ington had the utmost confidence in him. He falls in the prime of life and usefulness, at the age of forty-two.