The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-28
A STORY OF CEN. NArM. LYON
TDr. Wm. A. Hammond, la MagaxiAe oi
 American History.l

I Upon one 0ccASf00 Gapta4n An0&kSo0, of the second dragoons, afserward ma- lior-generl in the confederate service, gave dinner party, at which were pres ent several of the officers of the garrison as well as the members of . general court-martial that was then in session as the post. Captain Lyon and myself were among the number.
 Although Captain Anderson vas a cit izen oi South Carolina, and his host, Lyon plugged as soon as he could get the opportunity into a harangue against the south and it's peculiar institution, tn which he used aii Ine powers of ihvSItiiv1 that he possessed in so great degree. Among the guests were General Mans field, killed at Antietam; General Ram. sey. chief of ordnance during the war ; tColonel C F. Smith, who, if he had lived, would certainly have gwen a good ac- count of himself on the side of the union, and General Casey, who 90 highly dis- ungnished himself at the battle of Far Oaks. All of these were northern men who had no liking for slavery, but they werh all dumbfounded at the violence and virulence of Lyon's attack. AS for the southerners, they !soked indignant, Oh GQ0ASGb oAA 00t taG 0QSk, &&RkAtn <AA- derson, who sat at the head of hls table smiling serenely at Lyon's abuse. and by occasionally addressing . word or two to those nearest to him, trying to make ;hs occasion pass as pleasantly as was possi bic under the circumstances. But that evening, while several of us, including Captain Lyon were sitting in Major Mer- rill's quarters, Anderson catered the room. He looked around him, and his eyes a, once lighted on the man of whom he was evidently in search, and wt sm he had not found in his own quarters.
 "Captain Lyon," he said, approaching bis antagonist, "you took occasion to-day when from my position was helpless to repel your insults, to commit an outrage for which l am nov going to punish you do not mean to heap personal abuse OF you, for every one here present knows what think of J su, and that kind of re- taliation would do you very little harm i; l am going to thrash you"
 He took step toward Lyon, who hearing this speech, had remained quie'ly in his chair glaring at his adversary, and evidently worked np to the point of do- ing mischief. As Anderson came nearer, !, Lyon, still without moving limb, said with as much composuIe as he could command,
 Captain Anderson, if you come a step nearer, I'll kill you"
 Instantly several of us rushed between the two, and Anderson, without a word further, withdrew.
 About an hour afterward 1 was reused from bed by some one at the door, and | I f.. l at once suspected what had happened but was not allowed to remain long in a state of uncertainty. Anderson has challenged me" he said.
 You will have to accept answered
 "No, shall not accept; l have con. scientious scruples against dueiing, and, besides, 1t IS conuary 10 law, and am a law-abiding man."
 "Then you will be sent to Coventry without delay. You have grossly in- suited Anderson in his own house, and you must give him satisfaction or you will be run out ot the army
 {" don't care; 1 am wiling to endure persecution for the sake of my convic- tons. shall not fight him. If he a,- tacks me, shall kill him as l would a dog.'
 argued the matter with him-l was many years younger than l am now and the result was that be finally con- sented 10 meet Anderson, provided that l would act as his second, and that the duel should ssss place ~i;h p:s:ols acres. able.
 remonstraied with him on this latter point, and told him that was quite sure Major Sibley, Anderson's second, would perenptorily refuse to allow his principal to fight after such a muIdersus fashion. He was fism, however, SO had a confsr- ence early the following morning with Major Sibley, and, as 1 had expected Lyon's terms were regarded by him as altogether outside the pale of the laws of dueling, and as being 2rsarous, mur- derous, unusual, and ungentlem anly.
 There was nothing lst for Anderson to do but 10 horsewhip Lyon or infict some other gross indignity cn him, and this he would certainly have attempted but for the fact that Sis!ey aud l got hina and Lyon to agree that tue m llter should be referred to a council of off CTS whose decision should be binding. This body, after due delIbersiion, decided that Cap tain Lyon had been guilty of a grave offence, and that be should apologize 10 Captain Anderson in the presence of every officer oi the post.
 This was bitter dose for Lyon to swallow but there was no escape. He declared to me that he would rather cut of his right hand than to do what it had been decreed he must do. He fumed and fretted over the matter till he wos ked himself up to such state of excitement as made me fear for the strength of hts mind to resist it, but he finally cooled down and began to look at the matter philosophicaily.
 Mrs. Hammond and were to have reception that evening for the members of the court-martial, and they and all the officers of the garrison and their wives would accordingly be together at my quarters It was decided that at nine o'clock Captain Lyon should tender his apology in their presence Every one was there, and at nine o'clock Captain