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The State Journal
Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri
What is this article about?
Detailed account of Union General Nathaniel Lyon's death during a Civil War battle in the Ozarks. Lyon was wounded multiple times while leading a final charge against Confederate forces, falling mortally wounded. Over 1,200 casualties per side; Union forces retreated after securing their position.
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Price had been compelled to give way before the attack of Lyon; but when Sigel was beaten, McCulloch marched back over the battle-field and turned the tide of events. It was near 9 o'clock, and Lyon, for the first time doubtful, yet brave, led on the last attack, riding his horse in between the 1st Kansas and the 1st Iowa. Herron saw his horse fall, and says it seemed to sink down as it vitally struck, neither plunging or reeling. Lyon then walking on, waving his sword and hallooing, and he fell only about twenty yards distant from Herron, who was marching at the side of his company. Lyon had worn a felt hat and only his old Captain's uniform. As he left his dead horse and limped along—for he had now been wounded in the leg—he looked stunned and white; but, with an impulse of high spirit, he raised his sword and cried, "Come on!" Then he showed blood on the side of his head, from another wound, and was also shot through the body, and he dropped. The butcher, into whose arms he fell, says he gasped: "Lehman, I'm going." He fell about one hundred yards, "in advance of his dead horse. Herron looked into his vivid face, the precious breath still feebly at his lips, the great lion heart striking its own knell. It was but an instant, yet an eventful one in any young man's life. Herron's look was only for an instant; he stepped back beside his company, and the battle went on—surges concluding it. The regiments Lyon led on advanced about four hundred yards beyond his body, and the battle ended before 11 o'clock, the First Iowa, First Missouri and First Kansas regiments firing the last volleys in support of Totten's battery—volleys so murderous that the victorious rebel army was dismayed and the Union retreat secured. More than 1,200 of each side lay on the beaten field, on the high plateau of the Ozark.
"Nothing I ever saw was more impressive than Lyon's death," says Herron. "He was the greatest character ever seen west of the Mississippi. His equal never arose to succeed him."—G. A. Townsend in Philadelphia Times.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
High Plateau Of The Ozark
Key Persons
Outcome
lyon mortally wounded and died; more than 1,200 killed on each side; union retreat secured after final volleys.
Event Details
During a battle, after Sigel's defeat, McCulloch turned the tide. Near 9 o'clock, Lyon led the last attack on horseback between the 1st Kansas and 1st Iowa regiments. His horse was shot, he was wounded in the leg, head, and body, fell into a soldier's arms, gasped his last words, and died. His regiments advanced 400 yards beyond his body, firing last volleys before 11 o'clock to cover the retreat.