New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-20
THE WAR FOR the UNION.
FROM MISSOURI.
Cen. Lyons Observation-Disclosures OF the
Man-Tho Manner Of Has Death
Bravery Of His Men-Why he was not
EIc-enfOrred,

From Our Own Correspondent
HEADQUARTERS wxsTHRN DRPARrSEST,}
ST.. LOUIS Thur.day, Aug Is, 1861
A metallic coffin has been sent to R"lla Tor the
remains of Gen. Lyon, which are expected TO
arrive here Tomorrow night. Funeral services
wiz be performed in ST. Louis before they are
forwarded 10 his relatives in Connecticut. lie
kayes neither wife nor children to mourn us
TOO early lOss be was single man up 70 'no
time OF his death.
Gen. LYON was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan
sas, during the early troubles in that Territory
asd was well knOEn as an ardent free-o'a"
man. He possessed great moral courage No.'
wnhstandlBg his personal bravery aDa his NH
tsarv education, he was consclenuOu'y opposed
q, SueHno and no provocatOn could ever drive
k,m NTH a recognition of the code. On one
eceas on lie WAS even struck In the face; OF
course. It then required much more courage to
,elroin from challenging bis adversary than to
s,ht him; but be adhered iDAexibly To his Con.
yietions. For a time this subjected him to mis-
spprebensi n, aud even to contempt, among mil
kary men; but, long before his death, his fellow
officers understood and respected his position
Rpon that subject.
During the months of May and Jure, | met
him frequently botb in this city aud at Boone
vile, aud had some peculiarly good facilities for
forming an estimate of bis character. lie did
not impress me as man of great aud Organ'z-
ing mind; but | have encountered no General
since the commencement Of the war who seemed
~ pure and disuserested, 50 utterly free from
aemagoguery, 30 Indifferent to personal fame,
aud 20 earnestly aud steadfastly devoted to the
honor and success Of bis countrys arms
Now that the smoke begins to CHAR away
FROM the battle of Springfield, it is apparent that
his death was worthy of his hfe. lie attacked
the enemy, with full comprehension that the
ODDS were fearfully against him, and that little
abort of miracle could enable him to come OIL
victorious; but he felt that the Cause demanded
i., that Tor b m to abandon Springfield without
n battle. would demOrazo and dlsbearten the
lI,,on men IF Southwest Missouri. and pain
every loyal breast in the nation. The Rebels
would soon cut of his communication, and sur
sosnd hin; the position was not susceptible OF
defense against their overwhelming numbers, and
he had no alternative but to fall back TO Rella,
or 10 attack the enemy. He Obeyed the voice
death ON that Summer morning, "as q man
e.s 70 his bridal" Twice wounded, be was
,till uudauuted, aud refused TO obey the requests
nj h,s friends. that be should seek less exposed
po.,tiop. Even after be believed the day lost,
he sprang eagerly from his dead horse into
fresh saddle; at the head Of forlOrn hope
dashed into the thick Of the fight, and died like
/, q true solder. May his memory long be green
~ the nations heart, and his name high in the
q roll Of honor, aUOng
- 1.-THE b,s,e who sink rest,
by all tn,iT oounty's wishes blest "
An bonor, too, to his little army-tbe gallant
AT, two hundred-whose berOi,m is unsurpassed
ln American history For FIVE hours they fought
against four times their own number, repulsng
column after column of fresh meD driving back
the enemy 10 every instance, and stil bvd. ny
their own position, aud remaining masters of the
field t, the close Of that bloody day. Their sub
sequent retreat was rendered a strategic neces.
atty, by Intelligence that aUO.her column of the
enemy (ebtiFely distinct from the 22,C00 they
fought sgaIst) was marching on TO Eolla, Ia
cut off their communication with st. LOUIS; but
their victory on the field was clear, unmisakabe,
and glorious.
This much is due both to the living and the
dead. AL that answering aud even reckless
bravery could do they accomplished. But was
the sacrifice Of Lyon and 80 many of his meD
necessary His position had been considered
perilOss for the last three weeks For still
longer period he had been earnestly asking for
endorsements, but no Te-enOrcemeDis came.
TOree or four regiments even, would have en-
abled him u utterly rOut the enemy, and drive
them out of the State; but no found it impOssI.
bic to obtain them. Within four days after the
morning when be gave battle, the expiration Of
the time Of bis three months men would have
cut his force down to $500. He keenly felt the
neglect; aud went into the engagement disap-
pointed, desperate, almost hopeless. What the
result the country knows. The reasons
gwen here for his not being REINFORCED are that
tie Government has failed 10 supply this De-
partnent with money, and that without money
it was found utterly impossible 10 provide the
necessary facilities for the transportation of
troops and munitions. II is further stated that
as the enemy were threatening Cairo, Birds
Point, and Cape Girardea1 at the same time, il
was necessary TO place re-enlOrcements Ut oil
these points; and NO men could be spared for
Gen. Lyon.
Further Details OF the springfield Battle
Disposition of she Weunded-a;en. sigeI's
Evacuation of springfeid-A Gair, In st.
Louis--The Eject OF Martini I.uw-Gen.
johnson 10 Command the Missouri Rebels.