The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-08-13
ToDAYs AHMIVgRsARY.

From Mondays Daily.
TWenIy-tour years ago this morning
battle especially memorable to Kansa
was fought Il was on that OCCASION
{ Saturday, August 10. 1851. that the brav
general, Nathaniel P. Lyon, after whom
this county Is named. fell. The BATH,
: OF Wilson's creek was the first real en-.
gagement OF the war In which Ii,
soldiers from this state had taken a hand
Many Emporia and Lyon county boyl
were there, sad ave or more of them re.
ceived wounds from which they died
Fhis community sent brave men 70 the
Iront and they were among the foremost
In This 1rSt western conflict of the two
iorces' General Lyon, the commander
was determined, impetuous and
brave New Highlander. He hated
slavery with 9 severity that almost nre.
vented 9 smile from eyer covering hls
face while he was IN the vicinity OF the
supporters Of that institution. His one
topic was the rebellion, and he could not
use words sufficient 70 characterize his
idea OF Ils wickedness. By many he was
considered . reckless leader. just be.
fore the crisis which cost him h,s life
he called council Of officers 10 decide
upon retreat or . battle. In the face
OF decision Of the council against a
tight be decided otherwise, He had
followed the rebel forces from Boone
VILE. Reaching Springfield he was nm
able To procure the endorsements he
desired In order to hold southwest Mis-
sour. NeaS him were concentrated
rebels outnumbeFing him four to one.
The nearest union stronghold was Rolls,
lSO miles away. Lyon felt that to at
tempt to retreat TO this point would be
fatal to his entire command of about
$500 men and result in the destruction
or capture of his train OF supplies. etc.
II was question TO him of starvation,
surrender or q fight against great odds.
He chose the latter, aud time has rem
dered the verdict. we believe, that
Lyon was right and did what
was best. HIS forces aud those of SIgel's
numbered lcss than 5000. The enemy
had 1900 regular soldiers and two.
thirds as many more in battle trim, al
though, perhaps. unorganized. The loss
OF the enemy was about 3 600; at the
federals, 1900 To 400. The battle was
really drawn one. Lyon fell mortalIy
wounded while on foot following his
line after two horses had
been shot uodrr him, and
soon expired. His pIaus and action,
however. had 30 routed and paralyzed |
the enemY's forces that over three thou. |
sand OF the Union forces and their train
retreated in safety to Rolla
There were thirty-two Lyon county |
men IN this 1ght, most of whom were in |
company H of the Second Kansas aud
under Captain A. j., OF rather Jack,
Mitchell. who at present lives
at Chanute. OF the thitty-two.
seventeen were wounded, five dying
from the effects. One of these was
Hiram Burt, q devout Methodist. who
was erecting the stone work of our old
M. e. church and left this to go into the
army, expecting to return in q few
months. He was shot in the forehead
and expired within q few hours. Thos.
Miller, an Americas man and color
bearer, was shot in the bowels
and died, We believe in q
few weeks thereafter. Samuel
Hamlll, brother of James Hamill, of
his city, was struck in the right should
sr by shell and died within a few days.
Track, Of whom Mrs. e. Trask,
'f this city, is the widow, was shot in !
he muscle Of the left arm, the ball also
breaking three ribs and causing internal
wounds, from which he died after linger-
ng six weeks In the hospital.
Among the Emporia boys who
we're wounded at this eventful
battle was Fred w. Hirth of this city.
He was severely shot in the LETT side
near the heart about an hour after Lyon
was killed, having been within q few
yards OF the spots at the time the gen.
sEal fell. Mr.. Hirth was able with
slight assistance to walk to Springfield,
Twelve miles distant, and after a few
lays recovered sufficiently TO watch and
tenderly nurse the Lyon county boys
who lay suffering from wounds
which caused the death of
four. Michael Myers who TO-
day lives, we think, on the same farm
he left in 81 to enter the army, was
among the wounded. So was John
CLARK of Americas. Among others who
escaped injury was Charley Paine of the
Kansas Rangers, now an alternate resi-
dent OF Ivy township and this city. Joe
RlckAbaugh, Al Edwards, l. N. Spencer.
David Vangundy, w. v. Phillips
aud others were at Wilson's Greek
IWenty-four years ago, and this day
ID them brings thrilling recollectious.
Among the Lyon county men who were
engaged In this fight, but who are now
elsewhere, is Charley 8. Hills, first
lieutenant, who was last heard
Of as traveller Ia Asia.
Others, too. who haYe belonged
10 this cOunty's representatives at WILL
sons creek. and of whom the writer has
heard, will be most tenderly
by the many In whose
they will always wildly recur
1t each succeeding anniversary of this