The National tribune., 1892-12-29
ARMYOF THE TENNESSEE
Continued from first page.)

| Continued from first page.l
acy in ST. Louis and the adjacent parts OF
Missouri. And it should be remembered by
| all who value heroic action in great emer-
eencies, that Frank P. Blair, jr., fully COIN
cided with aud supported Lyon in this
| vigorous action.
st. Louis and its priceless military stores
having thus heen made secure, Lyon at once
| turned his attention to the interior Of the
| State where the Governor was as rapidly as
| possible assembling and organizing the So
| called State forces to meet the advance OF
the Union army. The defeat and dispersion
of the State troops at Bonneville was q
simple matter; and of necessity the extreme
southwest was chosen by the Secession forces,
both of Missouri and of States farther South,
| as q place of rendezvous.
Lyon still determined to maintain the ini-
toward Springfield, and caused the Regular
troops and Kansas volunteers from Leaven-
worth to join him en- route; and Gen. Sigel,
with his brigade of three-months troops, to
march on the same point by way of Rolla.
At Springfield Lyon found himself in
July with respectable army of about 1000
men, the most of whom, however, were three
months volunteers whose terms would soon
expire. By the 1st of August this force was
reduced to about $500 men. The Southern
forces were assembling in northwestern
Arkansas and southwestern Missouri in
much larger numbers, though they were
generally mperfectly furnished with arms
and ammunition. Both armies were practi-
cally compelled to
FORAGE ON THE COUNTRY FOR THEIR SUB
sIsTENCE
Lyon found himself in a position of
serious embarrassment. If he remained in
active few weeks longer his army would
disappear by expiration of the three months
term Of enlistment. If he fell back without
giving battle, he would abandon rich coun-
try inhabited largely by loyal people who
had already become accustomed to claim the
protection of the Union troops; while, if he
continued the aggressive he must expect
soon to encounter greatly superior force
of the enemy.
In this emergency he received from Gen.
Fremont, who had in the meantime been as
signed to the command of the Department. in
structions, in effect that if he found it impracti
cable to maintain his advance position he
should fall back toward RoIls until reinforce
ments should meet him. To this Lyon replied
that
HE WOULD MAINTAIN HIS POSITION,
though he might, without knowing how far,
hazard the loss of his army, with its valuable
material. Lyon decided to attack the enemy
in his front. on Wilson's Creek, about 10 miles
from Springfield. He divided his forces, though
far inferior in numbers to the enemy, the
smaller portion, under Sigel, attacking the
enemy's right, while Lyon, with the main
body. attacked the left. The attack was made
at dawn of day, and lasted almost continuously
for six hours. The losses the Union side
were fully one-third of all the troops engaged.
1t was therefore one of the most bloody and
obstinately fought battles of the war, and for
inexperienced troops the most remarkable in
the obstinate persstency with which the fight
was maintained. Tactically, it was drawn
battle
BOTH SIDES BEING PRACTICALLY EXHAUSTED
and stripped Of ammunition. But the heroic
Lyon, reckless of personal danger. had been
twice wounded and was finally killed while
leading regiment Of infantry to the attack.
Gen. Sigel's Brigade had been driven from the
SfeId, and several Of the senior field officers Of
volunteers had been wounded, so that the COM
mand on the field devolved upon Maj Sturgis,
of the Regular cavalry. After maintaining the
fight for some time after the death of Gen.
Lyon, and until his resources were well nigh
exhausted. Sturgis decided to withdraw from
the battlefield. which was therefore left in pos
session of the enemy. The fierce battle of
"a . Stara fore he da1
defeat for the Union cause.
Alas! How little was then foreseen Of the
sad fate in store for the poor people of that
region, no matter whether they were Union or
Southern in their sympathies, the tide of
war ebbed and flowed for four long years over
their dosolated honest
LYONS HEART
could not endure the appeals of those who
claimed his pro ectiOn. and he cheerfully gave
his life for the chance of victory.
How fruitess WAS the sacrifice made at Will
sons Creek! Yet what gratitude is due from
every loyal soul to the name of the brave SOL
der who SO willingly gave his life for bis
friends
The army having returned to Springfield
where Gen. Sigel, as the senior officer, assumed
command, the retreat was continued to Rols,
and the troops of the heroic Army of the South
west whose terms of service had not expired
subsequent deeds finally resulted in the
triumph of tho Union cause.
In the meantime. from the great loyal States
Of the Northwest the Union volunteers had
been pressing forward to st. Louis Cairo and
other strategic points in the West. while those
fren the entire North occupied the line
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE ATLANTIC.
Fremont having been assigned to the COM
maBd of the Department of the West, was en-
gagged in organizing his forces for operations in
the Southwest and down the Mississippi. The |
Confederate success at Lexington followed |
Wilson's Creek, but was Offset by the Union |
victory at Frsdericktowu. But it is neither |
necessary nor proper to attempt to give de- |
scrption here of events during the short pc |
riod of Fremonts command. He was soon /
by Maj. Henry w. Halleck,
under whose administration preparation was |
made for the great campaigns in the Western
States.
In July, 1861, the State Convention of Mis-
souri, reassembled and organized Provisional /
Government. Hamilton X. Gamble was chosen /
Provisional Governor. and entrusted with very
largo powers. Gov. Gamble was a sterling |
patriot. man of great ability. and of tho high.
est character in his public and private rela-
lions. He occupied the firm middle ground
bet the extrems factions deveoped bv the