The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-11-20


the spring and summer followed thu
field until planting time in Septem
Der.
They did not know that it was mo-
the clover which restored the fertility
of the land, but that it was the nitro
gen which the clover coaxed out OF
the atmosphere. The perfect farmer
will be the best educated man. The
good books says: HE that maketh
two blades of grass grow where only
one grew b. fore, is greater than he
who conquers city" What, then
should be the measure of fame OF
one whose genius causes little pat.
emit to expand until it clothes a
world? 5.E
GENERAL NATHANIEL LYON
One of the heroes of the great Civil
war has not received his full need
of praise.
When the rebellion burst upon the
country General Lyon was sent to
Missouri.
He found Missouri filled with men
who were ardent sympathizers with
the cause of the south and determin-
ed to carry the state out of the Union.
He at once proceeded to put that
turbulent house in order.
He arranged his forces and on a
day when it had been determined to
take possession of st. Louis for the
cause of the south, he met and dis
persed the movers of the plan, and
took full possession himself. Then
the struggle moved west and south
General Lyon being everywhere pres
ent and with consummate skill baf-
fling every plan of the enemy. His
work in Missouri was an exact dup
licate of General Grants work in
Kentucky. He had little force OF
federal soldiers and some regiments
of volunteers.
When the call for soldiers came
Iowa filled her quota at once and
other thousands who were denied en-
listment crossed the line and made
up the Missouri contingent. These
were the men under General Lyon
and while brave and patriotic, they
knew nothing of the elementary les.
sons of war and were just such ma,
terial as would be liable to become
confused in battle.
Finally the opposing forces met al
Wilson Creek. A confederate soldier
told the writer of the events of tina,
day. The substance of what he sale
was this:
eve outnumbered Lyons army by
several thousand men. We counted
on an easy victory. We would have
won it early in the day, except fol
Lyon. ! would not have been in hi,
place for thousand dollars minute
for eight hours. He charged upo1
our center with his raw Iowa volun
teers and we beat him back. He re
formed his men and led them in per
son to second assault.
He was riding big gray horse ant
was in plain sight of our lines, ant
we knew that if we could kill hin
the day would be ours in five min
utes. We beat him back a secont
time, but he third time reorganizet
his force, and at their very head
by the magnetism of the man and b,
the magnificent valor he displayed OF
double quick he smote us. l be
lieve he would that time have SILVER
ed our line, for his men came OF
shouting and confident, but at tn
very crisis of the attack he was kill
ed"
No soldier ever did a grander day
work or died more heroic death.
Had he lived through that battl
the chances are that after Shiloh, h
would have been given command O
all the Union armies in the west. A
it was, he left perfect record as
soldier and commander. From tn,
first moment of the war he reckonet
that it was to be fight for life, ant
that the life or death of the republi
was the real issue, so from the YER!
first his thought was to strike thu
enemy wherever he found him, real
izing that only force could ever com
pei peace.
His fame eliminated in gloriou
death at the head Of his command.
But his countrymen never knew
the full measure of his patriotism un
til his will was published.
That in substance was that hi
country had educated him, that al
he was was due to the generosity O.
his country and hence after his ser
vicpa waro ovar aud ba xyo ~ c,, ~, - -, 81