The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-29
CRY THAT WON THEM
CAPT. LYsAGHT KNEW MEN HE
COMMANDED.
Not Pleased at the Idea Of Fighting
Fellow countryman, the Emmett
Guard Were There as One Man to
Face the Britich Lion.

A little party were discussing one
day last week the Emmett anniversary.
The conversation led one of them to
relate the following "reminiscences:
"The first military organization I
ever belonged to was the Emmett
Guards" he said. 1t should be ex-
planned that he came from another
state than New York. Every men,
Der was stalwart in physique and we
were all young men.
Our captain was Dan Lysaght, a
merchant of our town. who was one Of
the most popular fellows you ever
saw. He was a patriot true, believe
me, and he came very near believing
IN his soul that when Ireland was
freed the Emmett Guards would be
largely responsible for that blessed
event.
I'VE were the crack organization Of
the town and we always turned out,
no matter what the occasion. We
had just got our new uniforms and
accoutrements when the civil war
broke out in this country.
I'VE were a part of the State
Guard, and our state was strongly
southern and the governor was Sc
cesh, we went into camp with the
other militia of our town and country
when the governor ordered us so to
do.
Things were getting pretty hot,
can tell you, and the word was passed
round that we would soon be called
upon to take the oath of allegiance to
the G. s. A. and to join Pa Price as the
general of the Confederate forces was
called. He was then marching on Lex
ington, where our countryman, Col.
Mulligan, made his first gallant stand
for the Union.
1T was pretty hard, boys, for the
Emmett Guards to think of going
against Col. Mulligan, aud the situa-
ton was discussed at our campfires.
Naturally, there was a suspicion in
camp that the Emmett Guards were not
sound for Secesh. and the Colonel in
command put up a job to test the
Guards mettle. Capt. Lysaght, of
course, did not know it was a job.
"In the middle of the night the word
was passed around that the enemy
was upon us When a courier aroused
Capt. Lysaght he tumbled into his uni
form and went to every tent, and,
shaking the flap Of Cne tent, called out
bravely:
Fall in, fall in, Emmett Guards!
We are attacked
Would you believe me, not a man
fell in! Capt LySaght was enraged.
He was as sensitive as he was plucky,
and the idea that the Emmett Guards
would not turn out to repel an at
tack made him furious and white at
the same time
"'My God, men!' he said, what is
the matter of yeH
"And still the Emmett Guards re-
manned docile. GU might say. Then
Capt. Lysaght used bit of strategy.
Passing along the line of tents he call
Ell out:
Emmett Guards, awake and fall
in! Fall in, for the British lion is
loose amongst vel"
All. as Byron said of the heavy
sound that broke up the revelry in
Brussels by night, then and there was
hurrying to and fro Every Emmet
Guard fell in and stood well to be led
on. The colonel commanding heard of
us, and then the word was passed
that it was false alarm, and the EN-
met Guards went back to their hunks"
did you join Price In the fight on
Mulligan?" asked one.
Some of us joined Price, but not
until after Mulligan had surrendered.
The Emmett Guards would never have
fought Mulligan, depend upon that.
But the Guards were sworn to turn
out on the British lion at all hours.
and it was that oath which established
cur reputation as warriors in the old
Secesh camp."-New York Sun.
Omit i'll