The new North-west., 1881-07-08
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
General Armstrong; "reminiscences OF Stirring
Events in the Early Part Of the War.
81. Louis Globe d DeHocrdf.

now stands, / Witnessed very exciting
s.epe on this street. Some German compa-
nies were marching out Walnut street to-
ward Turner Hall, when young man stand
ing on the steps of the church fired shot.
There was stampede among the Germans.
and some of the advance, supposing they
were attack, turned and fired, killing two OF
three of their comrades. The men In the
rear, imagining they were attacked In front,
and killed one or two In the advance, and
the men broke ranks, and some Of them ran
into the houses near by, while others pushed
at a double quick rate In the direction Of
Turner Hall"
The speaker was sitting in group OF -four
or five men on the Walnut street side OF the
Southern Hotel, enjoying the moonlight and
the cool breeze that swept through the spa
cious rotunda Of the finest hotel In America. |
He was a splendid specimen Of physical
manhood, in the prime of life, and spoke |
with the ease and fuency Of cultivated
man of the world.
On a closer view he was recognized as
General Armstrong, formerly Of the United
States army, and afterward distinguished
general of the Lost Cause. At the time OF
which he was speaking the General was q
dashing young Lieutenant Of the stan OF the
veteran, General VIM. S. Harney, then In
command of the Union forces at this place.
| Gen. A. was in reminiscent humor, and
seemed to retain perfect recollection of the
events of those terrible days Of June, 1861.
Camp Jackson had been captured by Lyon
month before, and on the memorable 10Th OF
MAY the whole city was in state OF the
widest excitement. Gen. Armstrong contin-
ued:
"When / heard the shooting was sitting
on the porch of a friends house, some dis
tance from the scene. hurried down .own,
wearing the uniform Of a United States OIL
Ger. Many of the German soldiers who met
me anxiously inquired of Inc what they
ought to do. told them to 60 indoors and
keep quiet, and most Of them proceeded to
Turner Hall and did not show themselves in
the street.
"The news of the firing on Walnut and
Fifth streets spread throughout the city In a
few moments, and all sorts of wild reports
were circulated. Some said the German SOL
diers had fired into crowd of people on the
J street, and others declared that mob had
attacked the Germans on their way TO Turn.
, er Hall. never saw so much excitement
occasoned by so trifIng cause. An npri'
sing OF the Secessionists was anticipated
: and many families hurried out of the city
without stopping to pack their trunks. ONE
T finely furnished residence was deserted bI
e the entire family, including the dog and thu
cat, and the doors were left open. place.
a soldier on guard to take care of the prop
erty.
"Gen. Harney's residence was over Their
on Fourth street, where you hear the musi
. from Gregory's Winter Garden. He place.
. four companies of regulars in Thornton
stable, and assured the citizens that b
would protect them and prevent any furthe
: disturbance He sent me to the Arsenal 70
. Totten's Battery, which was socn In positio
y near the headquarters, and in this way th
q excitement was partially allayed. CAPITAL
, Nathaniel Lyon was In command Of the reg
~ ular troops at the Arsenal, and Col. Fran
- r. Blair was also there with some Of the me
= Of his regiment. ] regarded Lyon Is one
D. the bravest and best officers Of the arm!
y Had he lived he would no doubt have bee
10 commander-in-c He understood tb
situation better than anybody else and wi
m anxious to distinguish himself He was OF
'e Of the first to look upon the rebellion as
u war for slavery, and, being an enthusiast
III abolitionist, his whole soul was In the COZ
mt test. think he was the first man to adv
ID cate the arming of the negroes. did n
ct like Lyon. / had served with him Oh u
en plains, and knew him intimately, but Q
* WAYS recognized his ability as soldier ai
his courage as q man. When arrived
the Arsenal told Captain Lyon to send Tc
tens battery to the city at once. He 81
Totten's battery was on duty then and wou
W. send Sigel's battery. i knew II would not
as to send SIeel into the city at that time, b
I'D cause the people we're exasperated NJ :
'as Germans, and there woulc probably be
go other disturbance. Lyon insisted on sen
. Ing Sigel, and was determined he shou
c'' send Totten. The order ! had given W
Is verbal, and to cut short the controversy
~. took pen and wrote an orderto him TO Sc
'nd Totten's battery. knew he would not
im obey written order. Harvey would ha
sed him placed under arrest Immediately.
70 Totten's battery was sent"
oid aGeneral, was 1t not about that time u
Nv. Harvey was removed from his command
Anu Lyon pat In his placer"
I" aYes, shortly afterward. 1t hsppened
per this way. Iwas sitting with General Ii
the ney one evening In his library when the d
oke bell rang and went down to ace what '
wanted. When opened the door la
the yellow envelope without a stamp was pla
OF In my hand by Bernard Farrar,i who sim
nsu remarked, No answer, and retired, an
use had no idea what the envelope contain
gan / took the envelope up stairs and told g
ior Harvey there was q letter for him withou
gn' postmark. He carelessly requested me
'rse see what It was about. opened II
IN found an order from President Lincoln
hs moving Gen. Harvey from his coinms
ms When I told him what the order WAS he :
'ne the document, and putting on his specs
amined It very carefully. Then he said;
, nc "who brought this ?'
W. 81 told him Bernard Farar, an aid
A Frank Blair.
'kea aYes; that accounts for IL. Blair has
'usn It In his pocket for week"
ne aThis was true, for the President had
put the order to Colonel BLAIR, 70 be used at
'ohc pleasure, and Blair thought the time
'rse' come to place Lyon in Harney's place.
nose nav W.. l. mad =. a hornet. but there
ca no help for him. then told him this
ap. no place for me, and asked hsm to send
and back to my regiment at Laramie, and he