The Somerset reporter., 1885-04-15
a Story Of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon.


the Second Dragons, sfterward a jgr-
general 10 the Confederate service, gave u
dinner party, at which were present sever
al members " general coUrt-martial, that
was then In ,e-sioD at the post. Captain
Lyon and myself were among the number.
Although Captain Anderson was citi
IN " South Carolina, an his host, Lyon
plunge. a. soon Hs he cyuid get az oppor
tunity, into bafaDgne against the South
and its peculiar Institution, 10 which he
used all the powers Of invectiYe thai he
possessed 10 20 great degree. Among
the guests were General Mansfield, Killed
At Antietam; General Ramsey Chief or
Ordnance during the war; Col. &. +. Smith
who, il he had lived, would certainly have
given good account OF himself on the
side Of the Union, and General Casey, who
SO highly distinguished himself at the Bat
tie OF Far Oaks. All Of these were north
ern men who had no liking Tor slavery, but
they were all dumbfonnded al the violet &c
and virulence Of Lyons attack. As for The
SoutherDers, they looked indignant. Of
course, all but the host, Capt. Anderson,
who sat at the head Of bis liable smiling
serenely at Lyons abuse, and by occasion
ally addressing a word or two to those
nearest TO him, trying to make the occa-
sion pass as pleasantly as possible under
the circumstances. But that evening,
while several Of us, including Captain
Lyon, were sittiLg III Major Merrili's quar-
leT-, Ander on entered the room. He
looked around him, aud his eyes at once
lighted On the man of whom be- was evil
IDENTIFY in search, and whom be bad not
found 10 his own quarters.
"Cap ain Lyon" he sad, approaching
his antagonist, you took occasion to-day.
when from ny position was helpless 10
repel your insults, TO commit an outr &c,
for which am now going TO punish you.
| do not mean to heap personal abuse on
you, for every one uere present knows
what think Of you, and that kind Of re-
talation would do yon very it'll harm;
am going TO thrash you
He took step toward Lyon, who, hear
ing his speech, had re NAMED quietly 10 bis
chair aring at his adversary, and evident
~ worked up to the point of doing mi
chief. As Anderson came nearer, Lyon,
still without moviu. a limb, said, with a.
much composure as he could command
"Captain Anderson, if you come step
nearer, III kill you"
instantly several of Us rushed between
the two, and Anderson, without word
further, withdrew.
About an hour afterward | was used
from bed by some one at the door, and 90
going down stairs found Captain Lyon. !
at once suspected what had happened, but
| was not allowed TO remain long ia uncer-
tainty. Anderson has challenged me, he
said.
~ gu VIII have TO accept, l answered.
mo, | shall not accept; ] have consc-
entious scruples against duelling, and, be-
sides, 1t Is contrary to law, aud l am law
abiding man.
"Ihen you Will be sent to Coventry with
out delay. You have grossly iusulted Au-
derson in his own house, and you must
give him satisfaction, or you viii be run
out OF the army.
Il don't care; l am willing to endure
persecution for the sake Of my convictions.
shall not fight him. If he attacks me,
shall kill him like dog
argued the matter with hlm-l was
many years younger than am noW-anI
the result was that he hually consented To
inset Anderson, provided would act as his
second, and that the duel should take place
with pistols across table
demonstrated with him on this latter
point, aDd told him that was quite sure
Major Sib.ty, Andefson's second, would
peremptoriy refuse TO allow his principal
w bSut hitti sun AATbi'H'
He was firm, however, SO had confer
ence early the following morning with Ma
jor Sibley, and, as had expected, Lyons
terms were regarded by him as altogether
outside the pale OF the laws oil duellln2,
and as being barbarous, murderous, unusu-
al, aud ungentlemauly.
There was nothing left Tor Anderson TO
do but to horsewhip Lyon, or inlet some
other gross iudlshlty Cd him, and this lie
would certainly have attempted Out Tor the
fact that Slbley an i got him and Lyon To
agree that the matter should De referred to
council Of officers who's" decision would
be binding. This BODY, after due delloera-
tion, decided that Captain Lyon had been
guilty OF grave offence, ana that he
should apologize TO Captain Anderson in
the presence OF every officer ni TIE post
This WAS bitter dose for Lyon to swal
low, but there was no escape. lie declared
to me that lie would rather cut ud his right
hand than to 90 what 1t had been decree q
be must do. lie TUNED and fretted over
the matter till he worked himself up to
such state OF excitement as made me-
lear Tor the strength ol MS iDIuu 10 resist
1t, but he finally q o.ed Gown aud began 10
look at the matter phllosophlcally.
Mrs. Hammond aud were to nave re-
ception that evening for the members OF
the couri -inarlial. and they ana all the q Ill
GERS OF the garrison aud tneir wives would
accordingly he L eether a my quarters.