Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 305, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1910 — STORIES OF CAMP AND WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES OF CAMP AND WAR

KEPT MISSOURI IN jfjNION Efforts to Have Connecticut Do Homage to Her BraVe Son Have Failed. - On the anniversary of the death of the greatest soldier ConheeticutT, ever produced, Brig. Gen. NatbatHeTr Lyon, who was killed at Wilson’s Crepit, so., rnany citizens are consider jHgwglit the state has done or may do to.-.honor his memory. The only rfal today is a monument which cost a few hundred dollars, In his cemetery lot in the town of Eastford. The last legislature granted |st)o. (not to exceed that sum) to be ext>ende<Hn improving the conditions-around, his last resting place. His native county of Windlfcafi,birthplace of men like Israel PutriauS. the KnowltOns, Galusha A. Grow, and others whose names are prominent in history, boasts of Nathaniel Lyon as one cf Its greatest sons, and yet none of Its memorial histories and none of the state histories, possibly barring one, that has to do with the Civil war, gives him more than passing notice. Lieut. Gen. Sherman said of him: “Gen. Lyon was the first man to the country that seized the whole question and took the Initiative and determined to strike a blow and not wait for a blow o be struck. . . His death Imposed on the nation a penalty numbered b 7 thousands and thousands of lives and millions and millions of dollars.” An old portrait of the general hangs in the adjutant general’s, office at the capltol, but If one looks for statue, bust or tablet, he looks In vain.' Year by year citizens have petitioned the legislature to establish a fitting memorial. Commissions have been appointed to consider. The last one, appointed by the governor a few years ago, was composed of Morgan G. Bulkeley (who found himself unable to serve); John E. Carpenter, David A. Baker and Col. Frank W. Cheney. The grave In the old country cemetery, beside those of his parents, is there by the peneral’s own choice, and there could be no thought of removing his remains. The commission having In charge the expenditure of the SSOO Is forming plage to acquire land adjacent to the grave.

The legislative commission of 1905, in its report to Gov. Woodruff, suggested SI,OOO for the care of the Lyon cemetery lot and a permanent memorial to be chosen by the sculpture commission at the capltol. The legislature cut down the appropriation asked for by one-half and Ignored, the suggestion for a memorial at the' canitoL At the outbreak of the Civil war Gen. Lyon was stationed at St. Louis in charge of the arsenal. From there, following his appointment as brigadier general, he conducted the campaign which saved Missouri from complete

secession. He occupied Jefferson City, defeated the troops of the secessionist governor, occupied Bpringfleld, captured the rendezvous of the . Confederates in the state, scattered the border guerrillas and defeated, tbq-- Confederate forces gathering to: oppose him. The Confederates, reinforced by the coming of Sterling Price and his men from the south, moved on Springfield with a force much greater in numbers and armament than that of Lyon. The latter officer, however, risked battle rather than surrender what he had won, and met Price at the widely known battle of Wilson’s creek, where his forces were defeated and the leader killed. Price overran Missouri for a time, but was finally worsted and forced to fight atT'Westport, though be again outnumbered his Union opponents two to one. —■ ■

Old House Where Gen. Lyon Was Born.