The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-02
GENERAL LYON
IN MISSOURI
Continued from page 81

In vain they applied at the portals
OF the Brant mansion, where the com.
handing general kept his state sur.
rounded by foreign adventurers and
flnnkies, and military dalgettys from
every cline. Chiefs-of-staff. adlatus
to the chief-of-staff. and aide.de-camp.
barred the way"
And time with rapid flight, was
making Lyon weaker and weaker and
the enemy stronger and stronger. He
waited a few days In suspense, ex-
pecting daily and hourly, some as
surance of supplies and troops. Dur
ing these days the enemy was rapidly
increasing In his front.
On the evening of the eighth of
August, 1851, General Lyon called a
council of war composed of the prin.
cipal officers of his command. He
said in the presence of the council:
Gentlemen, there is no prospect of
our being reinforced at this point;
our supply Of provisions Is running
short; there is a superior force in
Is marching with 5000 men to cut our
line Of communication. 1t is evident
that we must retreat The question
arises, what Is the best method OF
doing 1t? Shall we try to retreat with
out giving the enemy battle before
hand, and run the >risk of having to
fight every inch along the line of our
retreat; or shall we attack him in his
position, and endeavor to hurt him so
that he cannot follow us? am de-
cidedly in favor of the latter plan.
propose to march this evening with
all our available force, leaving only
small guard to protect the property
which will be left behind and, march
ing by the Fayetteville road, throw our
whole force on him at once and en-
deavor to rout him before he can re-
cover from his surprise
This bold, well-planned maneuver,
was carried ont the following night,
| August ninth
Lyons military sagacity was uner-
ring as instinct. He was quick to
comprehend danger, swift to form
1 and execute plan to meet 1t.
The little army of men that march
ed out of Springfield that dark night,
the ninth of August, in silence, with
army blankets wrapped around their
cannon Wheels to prevent noise, and
gunnysacks on the horses feet, were
weak and hungry and almost naked.
But it may be said, without offense,
that there never we're In like num-
Der of troops going into battle more
men of high order of military tai
ent and ability: more men of general
intelligence, of education, of learning
in all departments of knowledge.
President Lincoln, in message July
4, 1861, said: so large an army as
the government has now on foot was
never known without a soldier in II
but who has taken his place there OF
his own free choice. But more than
this, there are many single regiments
whose members, one and another
possess full practical knowledge of all
the arts, sciences, professions, and
whatever else, whether useful or ele.
CANT, is known in the whole world
and there Is scarcely one from which
could not be selected a president, a
cabinet, congress, and perhaps a
court, abundantly competent to adj
minister the government itself"
Each regiment in Lyons command
was a conspicuous example of Mr.
Lincoln's statement. In the ranks
with muskets in their hands, were
scholars classical students, men Of
high standing in all the learned pro
LESSONS. The rush to get into these
regiments was so great that In many
instances social and family influence
was used to obtain admission, ever
as a private soldier. Secretary Sew
ard said the job would last only ninety
! days and the boys all wanted to ge
into the service, fearing 1t would bt
the only chance; and they worked thu
wires as many do who want to bt
made delegates to state or nationa
{ conventions, or get into congress o.
some other Office. The companies
were full to overlooking, and there
fore many were rejected. and the ruiz
of the survival Of the fittest apple
until the companies were made up o
picked men of superior physical ant
] mental excellence.
AS to military talent in that littl
t army. there was first and foremost
3 Brigadier General Lyon, only jus
] promoted from the rank Of captain
5 scholarly, strategic, matchless.
s Gen. Franz Sigel, then colonel Q
!. the Third Missouri infantry.
9 Gen. Geo. l., Andrews, then lieuter
ant-colonel of the First Missouri II
g fantry.
9 Gen. ]. NJ. schofield, then major Q
e the First Missori infantry
g Gen. S. P. sturgis, then major G
d the First U. S. cavalry.
|. Gen. E. A. Carr, then major of tn
e First U. S. cavalry.
< Gen. James Totten, then captain c
the Second u. S. artillery.
Gen. j. B. Plummer, then capital
of the First U. S. infantry.
Il