The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-02

became commissioned officers, and
about thirty of them brigadiers and
major-generals before the war was
over.
The writer will not attempt to de-
scribe the battle of Wilson's creek or
Oak Grove" as the confederates call
ed 1t. 1t was in point of disparity of
numbers engaged, casualties suffer
ed, and general effect upon the coun-
try, one of the great battles of the
war. The union forces on duty num-
bered only 1890. The enemy number
cred over 10000, thus In actual fig
ures reversing the oft repeated Mum
chausen claim, of one confederate
whipping five Yankees.
Our total loss, killed, wounded, and
missing, numbered 1,225. The battle
was success to the union army in
that 1t did all General Lyon expected.
The enemy was punished and driven
from the field and our troops withdrew
unmolested. Had Sigels detachment
been handled as we'll as Lyons, or
had Fremont furnished two or three
regiments of fresh troops, the confed-
crate army in southwest Missouri
would have been whipped and driven
from the field. The courage and valor
of the volunteer troops side by side
with regulars, won the praise of all
The government at Washington took
official recognition of this event as a
victory, in the following proceedings:
Thanks OF the U. s. Congress to Gen.
eral Lyons Command.
General Orders I'LL.
Headquarters of the Army.
Adjutant-General's Office.
Washington. Dec. 80, 1861.
The following acts Of congress are
published for the information o. the
army:
Joint resolution expressive of the
recognition of the gallant and pat
riotic services of the late Brigadier-
General Nathaniel Lyon, and the Of
fcers and soldiers under his command,
at the battle of Springfield Mo-
Resolved by the senate and house
of representatives of the U. S. OF
America In congress assembled.
LIST. That congress deems 1T just
and proper to enter upon the records
their recognition Of the eminent and
patriotic services of the late Brigadier-
General Nathaniel Lyon. The country
to whose services he devoted his life,
will guard and preserve his fame as
/ part of Its glory.
End. That the thanks of congress
are hereby given to the brave officers
and soldiers who, under the command
1 of the late General Lyon, sustained the
flag and achieved victory against the
overwhelming numbers at the battle
/ of Springfield, Mo. And that in order
to commemorate an event so honor
able to the country, and to themselves
1t Is ordered that each regiment shall
be authorized to bear upon Its colors
the word Springfield" embroidered II
letters Of gold, and the president of the
United States Is hereby requested to
cause these resolutions to be read al
the head of every regiment In the
army of the United States.
4 Approved Dec. "a, 1861.
3rd. The president of the U. S
directs that the foregoing Joint reso
luton be read at the head Of ever.
regiment in the army of the U. S.
: BY command of Maior-General Nc
Clellan.
L. THOMAS,
Acknowledgement
And In further recognition Of thu
character and services of our hero
the United States donated plat o
ground 1892 acres on South Broadway
st. Louis, for Lyon park in the cente
of which was erected an obelisk t
his memory.
Judged by what he did, and by wha
his rare talents promised, it may b.
affirmed that this nation has rarely, i
ever, produced a greater militar.
genius, or more unselfish patriot
Public recognition of his services AM
his great qualities has been slight
cut will surely come; for his fame |
permanent and it will increase: it !
Of the sort that the people take t
heart long after the flags are folde
and the drums are silent Less thai
i've years ago, the state of Connect
cut unveiled statue OF Col. Thoma
Knowlton, the granduncle and prote
type of Lyon. who fell under VAST
I ington more than century befor
the monument was erected.
Il Lyon fought on that tenth day 9
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