Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-08-28
Gen. Lyon.
II. B. PAYNE, Esq, Cleveland, o.

We find the following brief sketch i
the Cincinnati Commercial:
Born in 1918, in Connecticut, he enter
cd the Military Academy in 1887, an,
was appointed Second Lieutenant in tn
army, July 1st, 1871. In lS47, his mer
its promoted him to the rank of First Lieu
tenant. He accompanied his regiment t,
Mexico, and shared all the dangers anC
trials of that memorable campaign. Al
Cerro GOrdO, his company was in the ad
vance of the squadron which mounted tht
crest of the hill, and captured the enemy
batteries, afterwards pursuing him until
defeat was converted into a rout.
At Contreras, the regiment being threat
ened by large masses of the enemy's caval
ry, on the right, left and rear, it was form.
ed into hollow square, with an interior
reserve under the command of Lieutenant
Lyon. On the following day he signalized
himself in assisting in the capture Of some
of the guns of the enemy, which were
turned upon them in their retreat, as well
as in taking part with Captains Casey and
Vessels, in securing two hundred prison
ers.
At Churubusco, he was under heavy
and destructive fire from the enemy, and
behaved with marked GOODNESS and cour-
age.
In the assault on the De Belen gate o.
the City of Mexico, September 18th, he
was wounded. For gallant and meritori.
Gus conduct in the battles of Contreras and
Churubusco, he received the well earned
breyet of Captain; and June lth, 1851,
he was promoted to the rank of Captain Of
his regiment.
Since the Mexican War, he has been
principally engaged with his regiment IN
arluous frontier service, which tasks Sc
verely try the qualities of the true soldier
without paving the way to the golden gates
of honor or fame. He was ordered to the
city of St. Louis early in the present con-
fict and bore highly useful part in or
ganizing and drilling the large forces OF
Union volunteers VINO rallied to the stand
ard of the Government
The late brilliant and overpowering sue
cesses achieved under the command of Gen.
Lyon. in Missouri, are too recent and too
notorious to require additional notice hero.
Suffice it to say, that the breaking up OF
the rebel encampment at Camp jackson,
and the pursuit and utter rout of the Sc
cession army at BOOnville, are military ex-
ploits evincing the highest qualities OF
promptness, vigor and discretion.
To his military energy and skill were
added intellectual attainments Of a high Or
der. The various prOclamatiOns to the
people of Missouri, emanating from his
pen, evince remarkable facility and power
in composition, and would do honor to the
mind of statesman.
The character of Gen. Lyon was that
of a simple-minded and noble man, who
scorned a meanness, and was ever ready to
recognize merit wherever he found it He
was the very soul of honor. A rigid dis
ciplinarian in the service, he was yet uni
versally beloved by the thousands of troops
under his command, in whom Gen. Lyon
inspired a confidence and an enthusiasm
which was the earnest of victory. His last
breath was spent in rallying his brave fol
lowers to the charge. His horse having
been killed under him, he Immediately
another, and waving his hat a.
bove his head, was in the act of leading
his columns into the midst Of the enemy,
when he was struck by the fatal bullet
which instantly deprived him of life.