The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-11-19
LYON AND MULLIaAN.


Report to the Secretary Of War, on the stat
Of the Department Of the West prepared
detailed statement Of the facts attending III
failure of tho Commanding General TO rein
force Lyon at Springfield at the very outse
, Of the campaign, and subsequently like, but
if possible, more culpable failure to reliv
Mulligan at Lexington. Our points witt
unimportant particulars correspond so nearl
with those contained in tie official document
the substantial correctness and authority o
which admit Of no dispute, that we may, a
that document has uready been presented
to our readers, speod little timo on hi
most important matter. 1t is, however, true
that Gen. Lyon, on the l9lh day Of July
nearly month before the battle Of Spriag
fisld-sent dispatch to Col. +. p. Blair
Jr, then in Washington, stating that he wa
threatened with force of 10000 men,
Col. Blair sent this .dispsth to Gen. Fremont
then in New York. with an urgent request
for him 10 repair to st. Louis. The General
left New York, and arrived At st. Louis on
the 26 b. Here he was met by Captain
Cave nder, Of the lst Missouri regiment and
Major Forrer, Aid to Gen. Lyon, who made
n statement similar to that Coz tanned in tn g
dispatch TO Blair, and delivered to him Gen
Lyons earnest demand for men. But he did
not act. After few days, Major Miller, OF
Omaha, Nebraska, brought him soon after,
a second request from Gen. Lyon Of tho same
purporf as the first. John S. Phelps, a
Member of Congress from Springfield, n
thoroughly loyal and upright man, arrived in
St. Louis with a third message more urgent
than the thes. 1t was unheeded. Col.
Richardson, formerly Secretary Of State for
Missouri, then arrived 10 St. Louis on a sim. &.
liar erranJ; but he dssced attendance in the
aute.room Of the General three davs, but
could not get into the august presence
In Il 9 meanti ne, reports purposely put af1oat
by the enemy, came to st. Louis that Cair,
and Birds Point were threatened with at
tack. Although these places were well for.
titled aud defended by heavy guns, and
out against any force that could have been
Brought against them until reinforced from
Indiana, Illinois, and, if necessary. the other
State Of the Northwest, Gen. Fremont al
lowed himself to he deluded By the transpar.
ent policy Of the enemy, and believed the re.
ports were as really threatening a. they
sounded. At that time, be had nine regi.
ments under Pope in North Missouri two
regiments at Rolla, l Is miles from Spring.
field, besides almost any number Of Home
Guards in st. Louis. He took four regi.
mcnts from Popes command TO reinforce
Cairo and Birds Point, but made no effort to
send forward the two regiments at Rolla, the
commanders Of which, Coils. Wyman and
-, ho al 81
such transportation as they couli command +,
and, if necessary, half ratons for their men.-
They were imperativsly forbidden; and the
gullant Lyon-the noblsst spirit of the war
protesting that he Was peedlessly sacrificed
by a superior power, was forced into that fa-
tai fight, aud fell. His army retreated uow-
ards Rclla. In the opinion of the best mill
tary men, all was not lost even then. The
two Roa regiments, burning to get into the
fray and avenge the death of their compan.
ions in arms, might have been sent forward;
and thus reinforced, the column under Siegel
could have again struck the enemy, crippled
and paralyzed by the late battle, cut him up
aud driven him out Of the State. We have
the word Of brave aud truthful man, who
was with General Lyon on Friday, before the
fight (the battle was Oh Saturday, that, With
high indignation, in the presence Of most of
the members of his staff, he delared bis be.
lief that there WAS deliberate purpose to cut
hin. off aud destroy bis force! We urge no
charge against General Fremont that he had
such purpose; but there we're those about
him and now controlling him, who are not
exempt rom great suspicion Of this crime
1t is certain that he and they might have
succored that gallant soldier and aided
him in destroying the army by which he was
eucompas.ed; they had the means and
men; but lacked only that military discretion
which could comprehend the situation. He
sleeps; but his fate is perpetual reproach TO
those who might have aid d him but did not.
ABOUT COL. MULLIGAN,
And now in relation to Colonel Muligap,
we need say little. The indignation which
his fall evoked here has not cooled by the
lapse Of time and more perfect ledge
Of the facts. His surrender was so cruel, 80
unnecessary, and so shameful to our arms.
that we touch tie matter lightly, fearing that
We shall say too much. The Adjutsnt Gen.
eral has detailed the facts-how at Boonvie
we had 5000, at Jefferson City 10000, at
Otterville 500, at Rolls 5000, at st. Louis
1000 to 1000, at Kansas City 1000 troops,
not one Of whom, save the forlorn hope Of
Slurgis, and the few who started by ste mer
and hurried back, being too poor in number
to do aught but share his fate, went to his
aid! We have only to add, on the authority
Of Hon. John A Gurley, Member of Con.
gress from Cincinnati, at that time mem
Der Of Gen. Fremont's staff, that messenger
from Col. Mulligan, with his loud cry for re-
Inducements cooled his heels two days among
the thisves in Fremont's ante room, unable
to put down the court etiquette tbcrs enfoyc-
ed by the sharp sbres Of the body guard,
and at last by the aid Of Lieutenant Cover
nor Hall, got in ouly to hear that the Gen.
eral "would see about it," Next day here
was rain, aud the advertised Inauguration Of
Benton Barracks was nee, ssarily postponed
Finally the ceremony was enacted and the
body guard exhibited for the delectstion Of
the public, but the gallant Colonel and his
band Of 200 men w,re destroyed. These
are the plain facts. How can we praise
that strategy or applaud such conrnan-
deri