The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-19
WITH LYON IN MISSOURI.
Capture Of Camp Jackson and the Battle OF
Wilson's Creek.


EprTon NATIONAL TRIBUE. Prelimin-
ary to the battle of Wilson's Greek, Mo-,
Aug. 10, and the death Of Gen. Lyon, were
closely connected, Camp Jackson, May 10,
bonneville, June II, and Dug Springs,
Aug. 2, 1861.
The writer, believing in Stewards pro-
phecies that war with the South was in
evitable, enlisted Aug. 2, 1860. at Fort
Leayenworth, in Totten's Battery, +, "a
u. S. Art, and in less than month 1t
was ordered by Floyd, Secretary of War,
South, with view of turning over the com.
mand, Cos. Il and f. Our first matter OF
history was an order in connection with
Sturgis's Cavalry to drive out Free State
settlers from the Cherokee Reserve, in
Southeast Kansas Territory. thence to
Fort Smith, Ark, via Fort Gibson, |. T.,
and thence to the L. ). Arsenal, Little
Rock, Ark, camping Ell route two days,
for rest at NOrristown, on the Arkansas
River. where eur camp was attacked by
rebel cavalry, about Dec. ID, 1860, and
repu!sed by our camp guard; then prepar-
ing for what followed, the attack on the
Arsenal, by 1900 rebels, but being well
intrenched with cannon pointing on the
city, ready to fire hot shot, a compromise
was effected and our company of less than
100 men embarked on steamer. Feb. 8.
1861, nine miles below the Arsenal, for
st. Louis, where we arrived at the U. ).
Arsenal, running the gantlet at Memphis
After short stay at the Arsenal, were
ordered by Gen. Harvey 10 Jefferson Bar
ra cks, and thence to the u. ;. Magazine,
and again in q few days to the Arsenal,
where Lyon, with his company u. I'd lnfD
Joined us from Kansas. Forts were built,
volunteers came in and were armed, equip
ped, drilled aud disciplined by Lyon. The
chief aim of this gallant commander was
to hold up the flag in the face OF all odds.
After a drive through Camp Jackson. in
disguise, he planned his attack simutane-
ously on four sides. surrounding it, and
the surrender of Gen. Frost's army was
the result.
The guns of Bragg's battery, used in the
Mexican War, and ON which we drilled at
Little Rock Arsenal, were captured by us
at Camp Jackson, and recognized as Old
friends. They had been boxed, marked
marble, and shipped to st. Louis, and we
drew them in May, 1861. and they became
the celebrated Totten's Battery, and We're
used in many fierce struggles until so
honeycombed that they were condemned
and replaced by new ordnance.
Some of the survivors of secession pro-
cliyities still contend that Frost's army
of rebels were State Militia in camp under
legal authority of Gov. Claib. Jackson,
who. after Bonneville, fed the State, and
never returned.
LYONS next move was on Bonneville,
with a command on a feet of river boats,
having previously sent Gen. Sigel south
west to Carthage. The attack on Boone
vile became a rout, Lyon having called
to Totten. "There are the rascals; give
them shot"
Then followed the expedition south to
Springfield. Within n few miles of that
place we were joined by Sturgis's and
Steele's commands of Regulars, with two
regiments of Kansas volunteers, and Du
Bots Battery of six guns. The skirmsh
at Dug Spring was principally between
cavalry, the infantry not engaging III
close fighting. The battle that would
have made Lyon commander of the U. ).
Army had he not fallen was an eight
hour struggle. The battle opened at day
light first by SigeFs cannon on the south
side, three miles away, but they were soon
run over and captured by the rebels, and
his command of 1,40O men routed, and
Lyons 3. 100 on Bloody HILL" fought the
combined armies of Price, Raines, Par
sons, Mccullough and Mcbride for eight
consecutive hours.
The writer recalls at the opening of the
fight on the northwest side of the battle
ground, being in charge of 6-pounder gun
of Totten's Battery land before a cannon
SilOC WIS UTfu ITOH1 Neu LYNN SoHi-
mand: the right wheel dropped too low TO
get aim on the rebel flag of a brigade, only
100 yards away; Lyon came up on foot
and said: Hurry, hurry: get shot out of
that 6-pounder." After a brief time he
was hit in the right leg, and later in the
right side of the face-bullet wounds;
both times on foot, an old white hat in
left and sword sheathed in right hand.
After the struggle became more desper-
ate, he mounted the second or third horse
(the others having been disabled, and
while leading a charge of mixed COM
mand of infantry, LIST Iowa, LIST Mo-, LIST
and I'd Kan, and Osterhaus's Battery,
forIorn hope, he fell from his horse, pierre
ed in the breast by rebel bullet. His
last words were to his body servant, "Nie-
man, I'm gone up" dying thus as he
would wish, the bravest of the brave, a
patriot and q commander. Had he lived
the enemy would have been driven from
the State, as they were on the run at the
close of battle, when we were ordered to
withdraw a half mile and await their
movements. This was known to Capt.
Gordon Granger. who had reconnoitered
after the firing ceased, and who had pleaded
with Sturgis not to leave the field. but to
ADVANCE. d. IMMEL, Late Inspector
Artillery, Fourth Corps, $40 Olive ST., st.
Louis, Mo.