Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-24

Tor the administration TO do something
| Not only were soldiers being offered,
but money. The first gun that fired on
Fort Sumter hurled shot which ulti-
mately destroyed the Southern Confed-
eracy.
The south. was not less active than
was the north Only q few days be-
fore May 30 Virginia had definitely
cast in her lot with the gulf states.
and the whole eleven commonwealths
that were to make up the Confeder-
ate States of America had taken their
stand. The peace advocates were
Quieted Both sides realized at last
that the clash must come. The issue
was drawn. the lists made up, and all
that awaited was the trial by force.
The future campaign had begun to
assume nebu1ous form. The cry of
ION to Richmond had been started
by Greeley and others. Fifteen thou
sand Pennsylvania troops were march
ing in the direction of Harpers Ferry,
where a number of Confederates-no-
body then knew just how many-were
massed. General Benjamin F. Butler
had first been put in command at Bal
timOre, through which hotbed he soon
made II eminently safe for Union
troops to pass. and was then in COM
mand at Fortress Monroe Alexan-
dria and Arlington were in the hands
of Federal troops. an expedition had
pushed up the James river, with a
base at Newport News. and another
force had started a bombardment at
Acquia creek.
Just about May 80 news came that
the enemy was esta blishing a base at
Manassas. which was altogether the
most fateful item Of all, but Washing
this. Bull Ron being seven weeks
away.
In the west three regiments had
crossed the Ohio river at Marietta.
Bellaire and Wheeling, had taken
Parkersburg and were then concen-
tratfng on Grafton. General George
B. Mcclellan was in command and
had issued q proclamation advising the
West virginians to break away, as
they subsequently did. There was
also activity In Missouri. where Cap
tain Nathaniel Lyon was temporarily
In charge. Governor Claiborne r.
Jackson and many more officials and
citizens were determined that Nilsson
RI should 60 out OF the Union. Frank
P. Blair. Captain Lyon and others
were 1ust as decided that she should
remain under the stars and stripes.
Shortly before May 80 Lyon had
captured Camp Jackson. In the out
skirts OF 81 Louis. and had been pro-
NOTED 10 brigadier general therefor
Through the vigorous efforts Of these
two men and their coworkers Missouri
was saved to the n0Eth, which meant
that Kentucky would also remain
loyal IL may well be said that this
one victory was a turning point In the
war. With the border states against
the north there might have been q off.
ferent outcome.
HIS friends believed that had Lyon
lived he would have proved one Of the
ablest generals On the Union side.
Even rs II was he rendered q service
to his country that no one now can
fully measure. The service stands.
The promise was ended by his tragic
death nc the battle Of Wilson Greek, In
southwest Missouri, three months
later.
On May 90. 1881, Ulysses S. Grant
was helping the adjutant general OF
Illinois. mastering IN regiments and
making out FERNS In the outer once
Six days earlier he had written to
Washington rendering bis services to
the government and -modestIy suggest,