Putnam patriot., 1913-02-28
NO 9
General Lyon Memorial

Fifty-one years ago last summer, sa little ineonspieuous graveyard in this town, two miles or more from our central village, there was buried with considerable pomp and display, in which the State of Connecticut par ticipated by military escort, etc. the body of General Nathaniel Lyon. the first general officer of the Federal Army killed in the great Civil War. The funeral services were held in the Congregational church of the village. at the close of which a number of Windham county men enlisted on the spot tor the war.
 Over and around the grave of Gen eral Lyon mound of dirt and field stones was erected by authority of the state surmounted by an inexpensive monument or shaft. Three small cannon, one on said mound and one at each of two corners facing thelhigh- way distant about enc hundred yards. are the only objects to tell passing traveller that soldier lies buried there, save the little flag which few old soldiers now nearing the end cf lite keep floating over the spot
 The whole aspect is one of neglect. II not of decay and Of appreciation wholly disproportionate to the charac- ter of the man, the services he render ed his country and the honor and re noun he reflected upon the State of Connecticut.
 General Nathaniel Lyon was a na- tive oi this state and of this town of Eastford, and in this town, in it's cen tral village, on a conspicuous site there should be erected suitable and permanent memorial of this hero and martyr in the cause of his country and of humanity. The federal gov ernment will doubtless erect a monu ment to this distinguished officer, if the bill now before tue Congress is enacted, for the purpose of the scheme to beautify the National Capitol.
 This is altogether appropriate for the nation to do, and Congress can we'll afford to pass such measure, for General Lyon bequeathed his entire possesslons--about $50. .ooo. Co the national government for the purposes of the war. And the several states, including the noble state of connecti- cut, have frequently recognized their obligations to and shown their grate- ful appreciation of the gifted and heroic men who have created them and added to their honor and glory, by placing here and there within their own domains suitable menu ments or other memorials.
 In the opinion of many in this part of the state, including the surviving veterans of the Grand Army, Connec- ticut owes something to herself in inanifesting grateful appreciation of this Son, who graduated at West Point in IS4I, served through the Mexican and Florida wars, later took an active and conspicuous part in the border troubles in Kansas and on the frontier, dispersed the rebels collected by the govercor of Missouri in the early days of 1861, saved the state of Missouri to the Union by several mil itary successes and laid down his life on the battle field of Wilson's Greek in August of the same year.
 It Is suggested as suitable aud permanent memorial for this purpose the erection by the state within the village of Eastford, building of moderate size and cost, but substau- tial and fire-proof in material and con struction to be known as The General Nathaniel Lyon Memorial Hall, to be under control of the public officers of the town of Eastford and the comp troller of the state, for the purposes of the public library in said town and for other appropriate uses. These purposes would insure the perpetual care and proper use of the building.
 It is furthermore suggested that when such building shall have been erected, the remains of General Lyon be removed from the present incon- spicuous location and suitably inter red on the grounds occupied in part by the memorial building.
 A bill has now been introduced in the Legislature of the state providing for the erection of such memorial at a moderate cost, the enactment of which, it is believed. will greatly gratify all our patriotic citizens.
 (REv ) J. B. KING.
 Eastford, Conn, Feb. II. 1913.