Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-12
Renaissance OF GEN. LYON
Brave and Loyal Soldier Whose Life Went
Cut in First Battle Of War
LEAVES HIS MARK IN THE NORTHWEST
Traditions and Customs Brushed
Aside when They ConaIcteS with
His sense of Right and
Justice.

necticut. He was we'll named for as a
soldier Of lion-hearted resolution and cour-
age he proved himself the peer Of every
other. A graduate Of the United States
Military academy, II happened him to be
stationed in Kansas during the struggle
Tor supremacy between the free and slave
states In that territory. He was an out
spoken abolitionist and was personally un-
popular in the army for that and other
reasons. He wrote and published a book
upon the subject, of which long owned a
copy he sent TO me. but which vas lost
when my home at Seymour park was de-
stroyed by fire in 1892 My first meeting
with him was in the early months OF 1856
With the rank of captain In the old Second
regiment of infantry. he was a part of the
force OF General w s. Harvey, the hero
Of Chapultepec. either during or irnme-
diately after the wanton butchery of peace
able Indians at Ash Hollow in 1883 and
was stationed at Fort Kearny (this name
is properly spelt with one "e'). think he
did not participate In that battle General
Harvey arranged to meet the people OF
the Sioux nation at Fort Pierre n trading
post of the American Fur company, and
in concentrating troops there Ga location
opposite what is now the town Of Pierre
s. D., and he march ! across the barrens
from Fort Kearny with the regiment in
the later months of 1855. 1t was told of
him that under the army regulations of
that time, he was entitled to a horse on
such a march. and that. refusing the lux
ury on the ground that II was the duty of
an officer of his rank TO share the tolls Of
his soldiers he walked at the head of his
company every step Of the way 1t would
have been entirely Characteristic of the
man had he done this, and the story is
probably true, although do not remem-
Der that ever asked him to verify it,
Drafted Into Service.
Other troops were moving up the Missouri
on hotilla Of steamboats, to Join those
that were soon to march from Kearny
and other outposts, under command of Ma
jor II. w. Vessels. father Of the late
Frank Vessels of this city, and one of the
officers made a landing on the Omaha side
of the river and called on Governor Mark
w. lizard to inquire about young physi-
clan from New York, of whom he had
heard at the old Council Bluffs landing
fourteen miles down the river. The troops
had cholera, and the surgeon had not re-
ported in time at Fort Leavenworth to
join the expedition. Governor lizard pointed
my little home out to him. and Captain
p 7. Turnkey, quartermaster. drafted me,
and also Mrs. Miller, whom 1t was i'm
possible for me to leave alone under ex-
istirg conditions, into the medical service
of the army. 1t was one early day in
June, 1855, that we sailed out upon an I'M
known sea into a vast wild and practically
unknown region Of wilderness and saw
agery upon the good ship William Baird
William Chambers, who is still with US,
was Captain Turnley's wagonmaster in
4 hoe 40 thn .l.t
living yet at Highland Park, a fine suburb
of Chicago. The late Captain Billy" Wilcox
was pilot on the William Baird and
there my long acquaintance with him be-
gan. At a later day he became promi-
held the rank of captain by promotion in
after years in the navigation of the most
trescherous and dangerous of all navi-
gable rivers.
General Sweeney In Party.
General Thomas w. Sweeney, who
fought by the side of Lyon at VIII
sons Creek. and who lost an arm at Chur-
ubusco, famous for gaIlantry of conduct
on many desperate battlefields of the civil
war, polished gentleman and every inch
a soldier, was one bright. particular star
on the long and monotonous voyage to FIT.
Pierre His manliness, his quick intelli-
gence, wit and bubbling jollity. often break
ing out into song and story, were most en-
joyable Thomas w Sweeney was one of
the finest specimens of the Irish race
ever met. There were three boats which
kept company on the trip, and 1 was fire.
quently transferred from one to another as
my medical services were required. Six
thousand Indians. men, women and child
rem, had gathered at FIT. Pierre to hold
high council with the representatives. of
General Harvey, and II was In their midst
that l first learned to admire the untu-
tored Indian" No finer specimens of phys
lcal manhood were ever seen on this earth
than those Indians presented, and when il
comes to debate on their rights and wrongs
they we're more than an even match for
our own people. 1t was Red Cloud who
made out such case with Generals Sher-
man and Sanborn that Sherman aban-
doned Fl. Clark In sheer justice to the
compact of the government with the grand
old chieftain. l met him twice only, but
was known to him a fighting friend
OF his race, and for quite a long time l
was in friendly correspondence with him
The Sioux nation contained more than one
Red Cloud.
General Lyon did not arrive at FIT Pierre
untIl after we had left 1t on our return to
civilization, and did not meet him until
1886. This is what happened.
Lucrative Place Lost.
q Fort Randall was TO be built at the
mouth OF the Running Water river. Troops
were sent to guard aud build the garrison,
A seven-company cavalry post, and Lyon
was among them. A post trader was to
be chosen by three ranking officers on duty /
lhere-Major Vessels. Captain Lyon and
another officer Captain Todd, a cousin of
Mrs. Lincoln, had resigned his commission
In the army TO take the place, backed by a
St. Louis firm of Frost & Atkinson. Lyon
hated Todd-he was great hater-and de-
termined to prevent his selection If he
could He had heard OF me, but,
as previously stated, l had never
seen Lyon. Bankrupt for any other
candidate, he nominated me for the
place. There was much discussion. Major
VESSELS was warm friend of mine and
officers generally at Fort Pierre had said
kind things of me. An unwritten law OF
the army was in vogue IN those DAYS that
when an officer of the army resigned 70
accept a post leadership il should be given
him in preference to a civilian. Lyon
didn't care for any unwritten codes but his \
own. The vote OF Major Vessels for Cap
tain Todd lost to me one of the most hIcra-
tive places IN the gift of The army, or m.