Nathaniel Lyon was an American soldier. He started his military career as a second lieutenant of the 2nd U. S. Infantry and rose to the rank of Brigadier-general of the Union troops.
Background
Nathaniel Lyon, the son of Amasa and Keziah (Knowlton) Lyon, was born on July 14, 1818 at Ashford, Connecticut, United States. His father was a descendant of William Lyon who settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1635. His mother was a niece of Thomas Knowlton.
Education
At Ashford, Lyon received a common-school education and a Puritan upbringing. He entered the United States Military Academy and graduated in June 1841, being commissioned second lieutenant of infantry.
Career
In 1941 Lyon was assigned to the 2nd U. S. Infantry regiment which was already fighting the Seminoles in Florida. He was next ordered to the quiet post of Sacketts Harbor on Lake Ontario. While here he became deeply interested in national politics, and unbosomed himself by writing (1844) that the sending of troops to the Texas frontier bore the earmarks of "madness and folly. " Nevertheless, two years later he was ably doing his bit at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, and Mexico. He was commissioned first lieutenant during this campaign and captain in 1851. For several years he was on frontier duty in California.
Between 1854 and early 1861 he was stationed, most of the time, in "Bleeding Kansas. " Impressed with his experiences in Kansas, and Washington, D. C. , Lyon wrote a series of political articles (1860 - 1861) for the Manhattan (Kansas) Express, wherein he bitterly condemned Douglas, called President Buchanan a "blue-eyed old hypocrite, " and praised Lincoln and the Republican party. He felt that no state could withdraw from the Union short of revolution, and that in case of attempted secession "discreet measures of coercion" should be used. Nevertheless, he was opposed to disturbing slavery where it already existed, and even approved the enforcement, "in good faith, " of the Fugitive-slave Law. After his death some of his papers were gathered into a volume, The Last Political Writings of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon (1861).
The most critical epoch in his career opened when he was assigned on Februaru 6, 1861 to the St. Louis Arsenal. Here he was not only efficiently alert in all military matters, but was in constant conference with Francis Preston Blair, Jr. and other Republican leaders. After Lyon had questioned the zeal of his superior officer, General W. S. Harney, and had threatened to throw the Arsenal ordnance officer into the Mississippi if he weakened toward the Southerners, and after Blair had exerted pressure at Washington, Lyon was made a brigadier-general and placed in supreme command in May 1861 of the Union forces in St. Louis.
Among his important acts immediately thereafter were the seizure of Camp Jackson and the arming of volunteers. On June 12, Sterling Price and Governor Claiborne F. Jackson, in a final effort at compromise, met Blair and Lyon for a conference at the Planters' Hotel. Although it was expected that Blair would lead the discussion for the Union, it was Lyon who took control. Proving himself a master of the issues involved, he dominated the entire four-hour conference. His final conclusion was, "This means war. " The next day he sent Colonel Franz Sigel with a small force directly into southwest Missouri, while he, with some two thousand regulars, pushed up the Missouri River, took Jefferson City June 15, and captured Boonville two days later. The state forces retreated to southwest Missouri and Lyon turned in pursuit, reaching Springfield July 13. After fruitless efforts to obtain reenforcements he decided in August to attack the main forces of the enemy, camped ten miles southwest on Wilson's Creek. The combined effective state and Confederate troops in this battle totaled slightly over ten thousand, while Lyon's regulars and others numbered 5, 400.
At night Lyon sent Sigel with 1, 200 men to attack, early the next morning, the enemy's extreme right wing, while he, with 4, 200 troops, fell upon the rear of their left. Initially successful, Sigel was later surprised and routed, and thus a probable Union victory was turned into defeat. After about five hours of courageous and able fighting Lyon was killed at the head of his troops.
Politics
Lyon supported the Republican Party.
Views
Lyon was a staunch advocate of antislavery but he did not support the radicalism of the abolitionists.
Personality
Lyon was slight of figure with a shabby appearance, his boots were often unpolished, his uniform was often faded, and his insignia were often tarnished. The volunteer private soldiers did not like Lyon because, among other things, "he had no compliments or kind words for anybody, and talked to his soldiers as he did to a mule. " Nevertheless, they had that respect for him which all soldiers feel toward an officer who understands his business.