New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-07-25
Brlga.licr General Nathaniel Lyon.

Brfgaslfer General Nathaniel Lyon.
The New York Herald, among its sketches Of
Lincoln Generals, has the following of the noto-
rious Missouri butcher. We copy it, supposing
our readers would like to know the anteeedents of
30 Infamous a character. sThe reader will easily
understand why he is 50 commended and bepraised
by the Herald.
General Nathaniel Lyon ID the son of Amass
Lyon, of Ashford, Windham county, Connecticut,
and is the descendant, paternally and materially,
Of families who were distinguished for intellect and
integrity OF character His mother was of the
Knowlton family, which produced two of the Dig
tingnished officers Of the Revolution; one, the
famous Col. Thos. knnwlton, Who, a. Major, COM
nanded the Connecticut beys at the old rail- fence
on the left wing OF the American army at Bunker
Hill and was afterwards killed at the battle Of
Harlem Heights, New York. The TWO brothers,,
Thomas and Daniel knowlton, had both dstin-s
guished themselves in the war between the COLO
nsts and English against the French from 1855 to
1850. At the commencement of the Revolution
We find these two brothers among the first to take
the field in defence of tleir country, and at Bun
ker Hill both the historian and she artist have
tributed to place the name OF Colonel Knowlton
among the most prominent of those whom CRATE
fal country will ever delight to honor. The oft.y
rec1ted deeds. Of daring and patriotism among his
ancestors thus falling upon the ears of young
Nathaniel Lyon, from q mothers lips, may have
fred his youthful heart and had rnuch to do with
his choice of the profession Of arms. AT an early
age, while under the tHion OF an experienced
teacher, he showed great mathematical talent, and
power Of com bination and plan in the deyelope-
1Hent of schemes, which, added to an IRON will and
an ndomitabe perseverance, thus early and nn-
rnistakabfy marked him as one :. burn to com
rnand.n Nathaniel Lyon was educated at the
United States Military Academy at West Point,
where he graduated with distinction in 1871 and
has remained in the army ever since, having risen
to the rank of Captain in the Second Infantry, and
by the recent choice Of the Missouri Volunteers
has become their Brigadier General.
He is now in the prime Of life as military COM
mander being forty-t#o years of age. As will be
seen he has had great experience in his profession,
especially in the rougher duties, which ft him so
especially for his present position. His service
has been principally upon the frontiers--in the
Florida, Texas, California, Oregon Kansas and
other Indian and border wars. He entered the
Military Academy cadet in June, 1887 and grad
uated in 1871. On graduating from the Military
Academy he received his military commission as
Lieutenant in the army, and was at once ordered
to join the army in Florida then operating against
the Indians. After plainihgy passing through
that most disagreeable campaign among the ever
gades of Florida he was stationed for some years
at various posts cur Western frontier. soon
after the commencement of hostiities between the
United States and Mexico, he was ordered to join
the Northern line of operations under Gen. fayIor,
and after reaching Monterey was soon ordered to
join the expedition against Vera Cruz In the
lombard duent and capture OF Vera CRUZ, and the
severely contested battles OF Contreras, Gheru-
busco, and others which occurred between that
place and the city of Mexico. his activity and mi-
tarY Skill fDund fnl pray ffS HDuk ACTIVE PaEb
in each and all of them, and while fighting in the
streets in the city of Mexico, near the Been gate,
on September l3, 1877, received wound from
muskct ball. After the conclusion Of peace with
HeXico he was ordered to Jefferson Barracks. Mis-
souri,, preparatory to a contemplated march over
land to California. BY a change of orders from the
War Department his regiment was dispatched BY
| ship via Cape Horn, and reached California soon
| after its acquisition by the United States.
His stay in California was prolonged beyond
that of most Of his fellow officers, and his time un-
| eeasingly employed in operating among the In
| dians subjected to long and tedious marches,
| constant alarms and frequent skirmshes, living
large portion of the time in tents, and subject to
the fatigues and privatiOns incident to campaign
in that new and hitherto unknown country, so far
removed from the comforts Of civilization. After
being relieved from his long service in California,
| be was again stationed on our Western frontier,
| serving most Of the time in Kansas and Nebraska.
| He consequently became familiar with the men
and the measures which have agitated the eoun-
try for the last few years in that section OF the
country and iEnhbed no special love for tue spirit
| of slavery propagandism. Although he had BE-
fore acted with the Democratic party, the acts Of
fraud and violence which he Witnessed in Kansas
so disgusted him with the organization under
| whose sanction they were perpetrated, that he
| threw up his commission and retired to private
/ life. GEN Lyon is the right man in the right
place. He has a strang physical constitution, q
high order of intellect, and an energy which
knows no bounds. The Government has only to
give him the means and the liberty to act He was
in command of the Missouri volunteers at the re-
cent capture of Camp Jackson, and for his we'll
proven bravery and eminent military ability, has
received his promotion. Of his services in the bat
tie of Boonville gave full detail in the Herald
yesterday (Snnday) morning, from the pen of our
special correspondent at that place.