The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-12

breathed out his life in the heat of battle
Rrdor.
The soldier fiber was born in Gen. Lytle
and displayed itself early. His GRANDPA
theT and reat-grandfather, of the same
name, fought in the French and Indian
wars, and at the age of 20 he volunteered
with the Ohio men and served in Mexico,
coming home with a captains epaulettes
on his beyish shoulders.
From this time until the opening Of the
civil war he was an active militia officer,
and became major general in the Ohio
forces In the spring Of 1851, while he was
engaged in organizing the troops for Uni
ted States service, he was elected colonel
of the Montgomery regiment CFenth Ohio,
named in honor Of the brave Irish-Ameri-
can patriot who fell in the storming of
Quebec This was Ohio's Irish regiment,
and the members facetiously christened it
the Bloody Tinth, A" afterward making the
record good in downright earnest, for Lytie
proved to be another Montgomery in i'm
petuous zeal, and the Tenth never feared
TO follow his lead. Lytles first brilliant
fight was at the head OF the Tenth, as col
onel, in the engagement on Gauley river,
West Virginia.
In September, 1861, the Confederates in
the Kanawha region were strengthened by
a new brigade under Gen. Floyd, and
while this force was posted, alone, around
Carnifex Ferry, on the Gauley, the Union
commander (Rosecrans), set out from the
Potomac to destroy it. He had three brig
ades, and when the enemy's outposts were
reached Col. Lytle led the column with his
Montgomery boys. Pressing on boldly, a
turn in the route of march brought him
opposite to a fortified battery, which i'm
mediately opened with grape and cannis-
ter. Lytle ordered the cOlors to be planted
on the slope in front as a rallying point
for his men. The brigadier was absent,
getting up re-enforcements; the artillery
fire was whitening and was supported with
musketry; two color bearers of the Tenth
were shot down and many men fell
There were three things TO choose from
in this emergency: retreat, humiliation, or
a charge Without orders he chose the
latter and dashed ahead on horseback, call
ing his men TO follow. He was almost in
stantly shot through the leg, the bullet
wonnding his horse mortally, though he
crossed the breastworks after throwing his
disabled rider in a frantic plunge. Lytle
ordered his men to seek cover, which they
did close to the battery, keeping up a spir-
tied fire on the Confederate gunners. But
endorsements were slow in coming up,
the fall of Lyle spoiled his enterprise, and
night came on without blow being struck
to drive the wedge home. Floyd aban-
doned the field and escaped across Gauley
river, which lay behind him.
Lytle's wound was such as to keep him
out of the field for months, and it was over
. year later, October, 1862, when he went
into action again. This was at Perryville,
KY, during Braggs invasion. Col. Lytle
commanded a brigade in ROusseau's divis-
ion of Buell's army, his own regiment
serving under him and destined to emulate
their leaders heroism in a most striking
manner on this field. Rousseau's division
held the right of McCook's corps, on the
wooded banks of Chaplin river, where the
Confederate divisions Of Cheatham and
Buckner were attempting to cross and de-
stroy McCook before aid could reach him.
The battle was a surprise to the Union
side.
The troops were under orders to concen-
trate, and following out a natural impulse,
pushed on to the stream in front, in search
of water and the Confederates stole unob-
served through the thicket, falling upon
the front and flank of four brigades, only
two of which were within supporting dis
lance of one another. Lytle was on the
right of Rousseau's division, with the
Tenth Ohio at the front as sGirmishers.
As lighting progressed the general instruc-
tions for the right brigade were to hold
the position as long as possible and then
retire. There were no troops on the right
of it and the next brigade on the left was
out of sight. owing to the dense under
growth
Lytle had five regiments and could not
keep more than two of them in sight at
one time. The Union artillery on this part
q the line soon exhausted their ammuni-