Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-08-18
REUNION AT WILSON s lEEEz-

The reunion at Wilson Creek battle ground near Sri1ehe,d, Missouri wac
 we'll attended. The weather WAS favor able throughout, and slonsaud- aocked to the field where tventy-tvo years ago, the noble Lyons fall, and where WAS fought one Of the bloodies. battles 70. the rebellion. It was a reunion 1s ter rible recollecaous, Co those who knew tine inside history of that Lt.le Uni army. We have 1t from the lips of commander of brigade who pa7uc.- pated in that battle and lt is as f5ilowy On the evening before tLe battle. Gen eral Lyon called a council of var. Co consider the situation and get an eZ- pression of the leading officers uuder his command. The meager number of the Umon forces was discussed, as well 1 Co that vf the ooufaderate urms which was much larger, and was con stantly being augmented General Lyon applied to Fremont at St. Louis for re-iaforcements, but was put of with empty promises. He well kueT that he was not prepared 60 give bat,i. and that retreat was outCt the question. . He applied again and again to Fremont for re-iuforcemeuts, who had au arm of 400lO men at St. Louis, with DO foe ] in reach to fight, and no iuuedi-.a ! prospect of one. The flower Of Mi souri Lad rallied under to7erner CIala Jackson, with sucu able Generals a Prlce, MarmaGuke and other, a numb. 2 l of whom had were gradua es from West Point, who had participated In Jhs 1L.1- ! jean war, and to whom tae smell oi pow . der and the roar of araIIerr vas uo aaU ! thing The situation was thoroughly . discussed by the hanG-u. o5 .li-ar- ca..- . ed together by General Lyon, and -hs voices were almost unanimous ll favor of delay. General Lyon listened fa tleutly to the expressions of his a=-.- clates until they were through, when be arose and said: "Geutlemen. your ,z- pressi1n m favor of delay would be @ r- ! rect but for one thing. l have repeated. ! ly applied to General Fremont for rein . forcements and have as ofte been put | of with promises which haze not been 1 fulfilled, and there is now no hope of | endorsements. Retreat, We cannot. ! This first gathering of Union forces in ! the southwest cannot afford to retire ! from the field # it could. tla rnrt l which would necessarily follow would ! be disastrous Co the Union cau-e. and . while I feel that my little army i= in . great danger of beng sacrificed, I can . see but one course To Pursue- we will . advance on the enemy tomorrow morn ! ing. I am sorry that ] cannot agree ! with most Of you, and my heart bleeds . for my little army. Repair to your re- ! spective commands and await orders. !
 The sequel of the battle Of Wilson's . Creek is well known. But it is not gem
 orally known that the brave men who ! attended that council of war believe . that John C. Fremoat hy failing to !. give that aid which it Vae his duty 10 !. give, and for which failure tae-s ras no :. excuse, and for which acs he never Gii l nor never can justify himself, tLal he Is
 crimiullly guilty Of sacrificing the lives . ot tine hundreds of brave men who 5eil 1 lt Wilson's Creek, as well as that os I General Lyon, the truest and most com petent general thatthe Union army pos
 sessed. and one who was loved by the
 people as no other general was.