The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-16

It's kind. and every member Of the Grand Army
who NAV be called on to fulfill similar office
should procure the Springfield Daily Herald of
May 81, 1885, cut out the printed report OF
these proceedings, and initiate MAJ warmers
style and substance.
The singing by the choir and the poetic reci
tations BY Misses Phelps and Malloy were in
good taste aud well selected. Indeed. the
entire exercises on that occasion were admlra-
BILE in substance and in fact and am sure that
all patriotic minds were strengthened and all
doubtful minds were drawn nearer the true
current which is to shape our new National life.
There is a similar cemetery for the Confed-
crate dead Immediately in rear and IN contact
with the National Cemetery. l saw some
ladies strewing those graves with flowers. 1
see no objection to this for with death should
cease all resentment, and we cannot but feel
for those who bravely gave their lives even IN
a wrong cause But the National Government
must draw the clear and broad distinction be-
tween the faithful and the faithless or mis-
taken This Government cannot do too much
to enshrine the memory of those who died to
save its own existence, and should with justice
honor them specially, withont reflection on the
others.
Having fulfilled our duties at the cemetery,
we all returned to our seperate abodes IN
Springfield.
GEN. LYON.
had given notice by letter that as part Of
NV trip to Springfield / desired to visit the
battlefield of Wilson's Creek and the spot
where Gen. Lyon fell / knew Lyon well at
West Point, in Florida, and in California. He
came to West Point in 1887 from Connecticut,
and graduated in 1S4l, one year after me. We
were therefore together three years think,
however he was a year older than me. He
was rather short in stature, with peculiarly
white hair and eyebrows; somewhat careless
in dress and manner but intensely earnest in
all his ways, thoughts and expressions. he
was naturally an Aboitionist, and somewhat
skeptical in religion and ethics; personally
brave to fault, not very social or friendly,
yet honest and fearless. he commanded the re-
epect of his fellows After a somewhat check
cred career the year 1861 found him Captain
of the ID Regular Int. at Fort Riley, Kan, and
as the civil war began to manifest its signs, the
War Department assembled at the arsenal at
St. Louis the few available troops within reach.
By the merest accident therefore, Lyon found
himself the Senior Captain of four companies
of infantry ana of Toiten's battery of artillery
in April, 1861, at the st. Louis Arsenal. -Four
or five regiments of volunteers, mostly German,
had been raised in st. Louis by Frank Blair
and other citizens who were true to the Union,
to assist Lyon to defend this arsenal against
supposed intended attack by men in sympathy
with the Southern cause, which soon became the
Confederate cause. These men, under the name
of the Estate Guard" had camp in Lindell
Grove which was under the command of Gen.
Frost, and were nominally in the State service.
Montgomery Blair at that date was the Post
master General in Mr.. Lincolns Cabinet at
Washington, and to him was conceded the gen.
eral management of affairs in Missouri. He
mistrustcd the object of Gen. Frost's encamp
ment in Lindell Grove, and delegated to his
brother Frank to take the measures necessary
to keep Missouri true to the Union. was
here at the time as the President of the Fifth
Street Railroad, and Frank Blair offered me a
commission of Brigadier- General, with the
command of the Department of Missouri, en-
braeing Lyons command at the arsenal. For
reasons then sufficient l declined, and he then
offered the same terms to Lyon, who accepted.
You all know the result: the capture by Lyon of
Frost's command at Lindell Grove; his move
ment to Boonville and on to Springfield, then,
as now, the keypoint, the strategic" point of
Southwest Missouri. do not intend here to
give q history of these events. which have been
authoritatively recorded. But while Lyon was
at St. Louis aud Boonville home-guard regi-
ment, to the number of 200 Union men, vol
nnteered under that sterling patriot, John s.
Phelps at Springfield, No. These in june
were re-enforced by Gen. Sigel from Rolla,
which was then the end of the railroad after
ward by Gen. Swceny. and it was not till July
13 that all the scattered Union troops under
Sigel. Sweeny, Sturgis and Lyon converged on
Springfield. Meantime Gen. Fremont had been
assigned TO the general command of all the
Union forces west of the Mississippi, with his
headquarters at st. Louis; and meanwhile also
the rebel forces were combining and concen-
srating south and west of Springfield, at or near
Fayetteville and Cassville. Lyon first attempt
ed to prevent this concentration, and small
"affair" occurred at =.
DUG SPRINGS,
about 25 miles southwest of Springfield; but he
afterwards drew back to Springfield, where he
could muster about 5000 men. composed of
"home-guards," raw German volunteers from
st. Louis, and some Regulars. He represented
TO Gen. Fremont the exact state of affairs but
infer that Gen. Fremont at the time believed
Lyons estimate of his enemy to be an exag-
geration. That enemy was made up of Prices
Missourians, about 5000, and McCullough's
Confederate forces (Texas, Louisiana and
Arkansas), 7,0o0-in all about 1000 men.
BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK.
As usual there was considerable contention
as to rank among the Confederates, but Price
and Mccullough agreed to advance and at
tack Lyon at Springfield and recover South
west Missouri. They moved up the main Fay
etteville and Cassyille road to within IL miles
of Springfield, and camped along Wilson's
Greek.
Lyon resolved not to await their attack, but
TO surprise them; and in the evening of Aug.
9, 1861, he marched ont of Springfield, sending
Sigei Ills men) by his left to the east of Will
sons Greek, to get below the enemy and take
advantage of the confusion Of the surprise"
on which he evidently based his hope of success.
Lyon with his best troops e, ,72l mem kept on
the right west of the " break" Of Wilson's
Creek. At daybreak of the morning of Aug.
TO- 1861, he attacked the enemy in camp
complishing perfect surprise. At first all was
confusion in the enemy's camp, especially
among the cavalry, much of which ran into
Sigei's force, then to their rear, and were thus
turned back; but soon the COnfederates real
ized the true situation, turned on Sigel, utterly
defeated and dispersed his force and then
turned OH Lyon. The fighting was desperate,
but the overwhelming superiority of numbers
of the enemy was soon felt, and Lyon,
thrown on the defensive. was killed the Union
forces, under Stnrgis, withdrew to Springfield,
and then retreated in good order to Rola,
whence they had railroad communication with
ST. Louis.
OF course, ! am not going to attempt de-
tailed description of this battle while so many
of the witnesses survive, such as Gems. Scho-
field, Carr. Sweeny, Sturgis etc, but am sure
this battle evinced the courage which animated
both sides in that dreadful war of ours, and was
fairly contested both sides
1t will be chiefly memorable by reason Of the
death of General Lyon, man who is entitled
to our warnest admiration and gratitude.
AS ] remarked, desired to look over the
ground. and the gentlemen and ladies of Spring
field afforded me the best possible opportunity.
Quite large party in carriages and buggies
were ready on SUNDAY morning. Nav 81 and