Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-10

The full history Of the terrible border
fights in Missouri during the civil war has
never been written; never will be- In those
fights heroes whose names are unsung held
themselves ready at any moment to take
life or lose their own. Any day the inhabi-
tants Of . village knew not what the dark
ness Of that night would bring One day
found them at peace, with only the worlds
ordinary joys and sorrows in their thoughts;
the next day might find their village smok-
ing ruin, their husbands and fathers dead or
prisoners, the women and babes homeless,
hungry wanderers, fleeing for their lives.
Many Of the most desperate and bloody
deeds Of the civil war were done in the Dor
der fight in Missouri That they are not
known to history is because those who
wrought them were literally men Of deeds in
stead Of words They were, on both sides,
men who handled the bowie knife and the
revolver better than the pen History knows
them very little, and only tradition keeps
record Of them and their work
From the beginning Of the war there was
desperate struggle between the Union and
Confederate governments which should hold
the state Of Missouri.
It was saved TO the Union by the heroism
Of one man, Nathaniel Lyon. Early in 1861
he saw what was coming. Governor Clai-
borne Jackson, Of Missouri, was a secession
sympathizer and desired to prevent the re-
cruitng Of United States soldiers in the state.
Lyon, appointed brigadier general of United
States volunteers in May had charge Of the
Union forces in Missouri. In June 1861,
there was final conference between Gen.
Lyon On the one side and Governor Jackson
and Gen. Sterling Price on the other, at the
Ia tuv-uf hot
Jackson insisted that Missouri should
remain neutral until q convention decided
whether she should be in or out of the Union
The conference lasted five hours, and this
was Jackson's ultimatum
Nathaniel Lyon was a deliberate man He
answered Governor jackson slowly and en-
phatically, in these notable words:
Rather than concede to tho state Of Mis-
souri, tho right 70 demand that my govern
ment shall not enlist troops within her
limits, or bring troops into the state when
ever it pleases, or move its troops at its own
will into or out Of or through the state;
rather than concede to the st ,te Of Missouri
for ono single instant the right to dictate to
my government in any matter, however un-
important, would see every man, woman
and child in the state dead and buried
This means war. In an hour one of my
officers will call for you and conduct you
out Of my lines"
And war it was, from that on. Aug. 10,
1861. the battle Of Wilson's Creek, Mo-, was
fought by Gen. Lyon, with a small force,
against the Confederate Gems. Price and Mo
Culloch, with four times as many troops.
Lyon was killed, and his little army re-
treated, but the battle Of Wilson's Creek
saved Missouri to the Union. 1t checked the
advance of Sterling Price and reused up the
Union men Of Missouri to form a new gov
eminent and keep the state loyal. Toward
the close Of 1881 Fremont drove out Prices
army. From that time the Confederate oc-
cupation Of Missouri was limited chiefly to
series Of daring raids, made first by one gen
eral then by another.