The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
HOW LYON FELL.
A Survivor OF Wilson's Creek Relates the sa
Story.


Survivor OF Wilson's Greek Relates the Sad
Story.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
WIN you be kind enough to allow me space
fn yoar very worthy paper to correct the fol-
lowing extract from the address OF Colonel
Merritt, delivered On the occasion c. & ne
union az Wilson's Creek, Mo. August, SS3.
and published in your issue Of August %, 1883.
There are also many conflicting and consequently
unrne accounts Of the treatment ana recovery OF ms
iCen. Iy0aisl body t.le ii6-1 I'D afterwards.
This much know: When shot he was supported
till deathly his servant and Major Schofeld, and he
lived but ten ar fifteen minutes after he fell AS soon
he was dead, Major Schoiield placed the body IN
ambulance, with orders 10 tie driver to take 1t
TO Springfield. 1t would seem that IN the excite
ment Of The moment the driver was not informed
that IL was Lyons BODY, Tor soon alter Schohela 5
leaving il 10 JON his command, some stretcier men
finding a dead man IN the ambulance, took the
body ont and filed the vehicle with living wound
ed, who were transported 10 Springfield. We We're
retiring not on the double-quicl1 but in somewhat
of huTTy-in fact retiring very fast. Inquiries for
Lyons body brought out the facts. was sent for,
and went IN the cly before o clock mex tnorning.
am particular III stating these facts because there
has been much adverse newspaper criticism OF Cen
eral Schoaeld's conduct.
] wish to say to Colonel Merritt that among
those who were present and participated on
that memorable occasion there is no question
as 10 the circumstances Immediately attending
the Ge3th Of General Lyon, and Colonel Merritt
should have endeavored, In order to give that
gallant officer all the credit he so justly de-
serves, to tell his audience how it was that he
lLy0B) happened 10 be where his body was
afterwards iound-hOw, when he ordered the
First Iowa tColoael Merits regiment) to
charge the enemy, and being told they had no
leader, told them he would, and did, lead them
himself, which brave action cost him his life.
On the morning of the engagement at Wilson
Greek, August 10, 1861, between the hours OF
10 and Il O'Clock. General Lyon, in the presence
ofAIajor nov General) Schofield. directed me to
order back those Of cur command who had left
the ranks t0fil their canteens the creek. Hay
ing done so, I was returning TO report this fact
to the general when / found his body lying on
the ground, from thirty TO fifty yards, perhaps,
IN advance Of where he stood when l left him.
lie was alone and TO all appearances dying.
called DR.. Comyn, Of the First Missouri an
fantry, to make On examination OF his wounds
and give such medical aid as he considered nee
essary. lie removed the generals clothing, and
after a careful inspection pronounced him dead
from penetrating wound OF the epigastTium.
/ also made an examination, aud, in my opin-
ion, the wound was cansed by an oval pointed
butcher-knife, or a like instrument, and the
opening was about large enough to admit q
silver ten-eent piece edgeWise. / remained
with the body of the general for an hour, OF
/ perhaps longer, awaiting the return of Leii-
man, his servant, who had gone in search of an
ambulance. and when he returned placed the
I body therein. Duty calling me elsewhere,
saw no more OF the body. It was rumored
+ afterwards that while en- route to SPr Eg
+ field, il was removed by order Of Oh b
the surgeons, as the ambulance was
! IN caring FOR the wounded. Should it DC con
F sidered necessary 10 verify the above statement
/ / Woald respectfully refer you or Col MERIT
/ to the records Of the War Department. where
/ you VIII find that for the part taken by myself
4 on this occasion and faithful services TO Gen
/ Lyon on the battlefield at Wilson's Creek, thC
+ Secretary Of War recommended my promotion
1t is not my intention te attempt any defense
OF General Schofield's conduct against the ad
I verse newspaper criticism mentioned by Col
f Merritt. for the general has a national reputa
1 ton as gallant and in every way meritorioui
/ officer, and presuming that Colonel Merritt i
4 qnite as vide OF the mark IN this as In hi
statement concerning the death of Genera
| Lyon, It VIII be seen at glance that an,
defense whatever is uncalled for.
/ an, sir, very respectfully,
Taos HYNEs
Lieutenant, LIST No. Inf, and acting staff Office
10 Gen. Lyon.
1 WAsHINGpoN, d. C.