Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-20
GEN. LYON.


George Alfred Townsend in Tribune.
A well-known man in New York is Col
onel Thomas Snead, a native of Richmond
Virginia, but long q citizen of Missouri
who was a member of the Confederate
Congress, and at the same time a colonel
in the field, commanding regiment or or
staff duty. l found him at the Gilsey
house on Good Friday eve. ..
Said I: "Mr. Snead, whom do you re.
gard as the greatest man you ever saw in
all the war periOd?'
"Csptain Nathaniel Lyon" said Snead,
"He was the greatest man ever saw in
my life. Imet him on three occasions /; at
the conference between the Missouri state
authorities and himself, on the battlefield
Of Wilson's Greek, and when laid him in
the grave. All that happened in the space
of about three months. I buried him by
instructions from General Price, and said
to myself when put him in the ground
That is the greatest enthusiast ever saw
and the greatest man."
I asked Mr.. Snead for an estimate OF
Lyons character.
II can't give it," he said. ''The i'm.
preston he made on me was derived from
being present at the Planters House, St.
Louis, when Lyon, Frank Blair and Ly.
on's officer, Conant. met by appointment
with Governor Claib. jackson, General
Sterling Price and myself. am the only
survivor and living witness OF that scene
in June, 1861.
"Lyon was little red-headed captain
of infantry, stiff, precise, unbendin.g.
General Price was an old and high officer
of the Mexican war, had been governor of
the state, and was one of the best politi
claus we had. Claib. Jackson was one Ol
the best politicians in the country. Frank
Blair, though rather narrower in qualities
than these. was very expert manipulation
of men. Price had been Union man in
the constitutional convention, but after the
capture of Camp Jackson went the
other way and joined the cover.
nor at jefferson City. Harney had
just been removed, and Lyon re
Gently substituted in his place. Rising
in stiff, stern way, Lyon said a.: 'Gover-
nor, Mr.. Blair on this occasion will repre-
sent my government, whose confidence he
possesses in an eminent degree, and oi
whose intentions he is informed Frank
Blair then stood in to urge the Union
cause, but before he had gone any consid
cradle distance, Lyon, seeing that he was
playing the politician and not the man, in
terfered. He took the conversation up,
and never saw in my life such au exhibi.
tion of pluck, honesty, GOODNESS and
craftsmanship. Those old politicians were
turned right about and confounded he
never lost his temper, and was grave and
cold as death. The others wanted no in
vasion of Missouri by the Union troops
and sort of neutrality. At the last, ris
| ing up stiffly, Lyon said Before l will
consent, sir, that my government shal
| agree not to maintain her authority in
Missouri, or shall pay the least considera
| tion to the authorities of Missouri in thei,
present rebellious and disloyal attitude, OF
will agree that my government shall moi
march into your state, fight in your state,
and be in every respect the government in
your state, l will see you, sir, he put
his forefinger against JacksOn's breast
'and you, touching old General Price, -
'and you, TO Blair and you, and
you. turning to myself and Conant, - OF
myself said he, without particle of bra
vado, but with the measured GOODNESS
and honesty which carried the deadliest
meaniDg-I will see us ALL finished Lyon,
under the sod. This means war, Cover.
nor Jackson He then took his watch
out of his pocket, aud said You will be
allowed time to cat your dinner, which
have ordered for you. There will then be
a carriage at this door of the hotel to take
you to the train. You will be allowed
time to eat your dinner and reach the
train Without bowling himself out he
left the room his spurs ringing on the
floor. And, finished Mr.. Snead, ''if we
had not hastened out of town and burnt
the bringes behind us. he would have
caught us that night. He was right after
us, race,l us out of jefferson City, kept to
us till he saw he was overpowered, and
then he died like man,