Nathaniel Lyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nathaniel Lyon
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Nathaniel Lyon
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| Born | July 14, 1818 Ashford, Connecticut |
| Died | August 10, 1861 (aged 43) Springfield, Missouri |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
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United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1841–1861 |
| Rank |  Brigadier general (USA) |
| Battles/wars | Seminole Wars |
Nathaniel Lyon was an important general during the American Civil War. He was the very first Union general to die in that war. He was killed while leading his soldiers in the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Lyon is remembered for his actions in Missouri in 1861.
Contents
Early Life
Nathaniel Lyon was born on July 14, 1818, in Ashford, Connecticut. He was one of nine children. His father was a farmer and a local judge. Nathaniel grew up on the family farm. He didn't like farming much. He wanted to be a soldier, just like his ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Military Career
Starting as a Soldier
On July 1, 1837, Lyon joined the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a good student and graduated in 1841. He was 11th in his class of 52.
Lyon fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida. He also fought in the Mexican–American War. During the war with Mexico, he showed great bravery. He earned several promotions for his actions in battles like Mexico City, Contreras, and Churubusco.
After the Mexican-American War, he was sent to California. There, he gained a reputation as a fighter against Native American tribes. Later, Lyon was sent to Fort Riley in Kansas. In Kansas, he became a strong supporter of the Union. This was because of the growing disagreements about slavery in the state.
The St. Louis Arsenal
When the Civil War started on April 12, 1861, the state of Missouri was divided. Some people supported the Union, and others supported the Confederacy. Even though he was only a Captain, Lyon was put in charge of the St. Louis arsenal. An arsenal is a place where weapons and ammunition are stored.
Lyon quickly sent almost all the gunpowder and weapons from the arsenal to safety in Illinois. He also received permission from Secretary of War Simon Cameron and President Abraham Lincoln to recruit more Union soldiers. Lyon recruited thousands of volunteers from the German community in St. Louis. Many German immigrants were against slavery. This made them unpopular with some citizens in the city who supported the Confederacy.
Tensions grew between Lyon's Union soldiers and the state's pro-Confederate governor, Claiborne Fox Jackson. Governor Jackson refused to send Missouri volunteers to fight for President Lincoln. Instead, he gathered the state militia outside St. Louis. They began training to join the Confederate forces. The governor knew the federal arsenal in St. Louis was a very important resource.
Lyon realized what the governor was planning. On May 10, 1861, Lyon and his troops surrounded the pro-Confederate Missouri militia. He forced them to surrender. As Lyon marched his captured prisoners through St. Louis, some pro-Confederate citizens started a riot. Lyon's German volunteers fired into the crowd, and 28 people were killed. This event was called the Camp Jackson Affair.
On May 17, Lyon was promoted to brigadier general. He was given command of the Union Army of the West.
Fighting in Missouri
On June 13, 1861, after talks with Governor Jackson failed, Lyon quickly moved his army. He attacked the pro-Confederate forces at Jefferson City, Missouri, the state capital. He moved so fast that he caught them by surprise. On June 15, the Army of the West took control of Jefferson City. Lyon put a pro-Union government in charge. Governor Jackson and most of his militia retreated to the southwest part of Missouri.
Lyon moved his army to follow the rebels. On June 17, both sides fought the Battle of Boonville. This battle lasted only about 30 minutes. The Union forces completely defeated the pro-Confederates. Lyon then led his troops in a series of small fights with the Missouri State Guard and the Confederate Army.
He next moved to Springfield, Missouri, where his army set up camp. On August 10, Lyon's Army of the West was defeated. This happened near Springfield, Missouri, by a combined force of the Missouri Militia and Confederate troops. This battle was called the first Battle of Wilson's Creek. Lyon was killed while trying to encourage his soldiers, who were outnumbered. However, Lyon's efforts helped prevent the state of Missouri from officially joining the Confederacy.
Burial
When the Union army retreated from Wilson's Creek, Lyon's body was accidentally left behind on the battlefield. Confederate soldiers found him and took his body to Springfield. A Confederate surgeon named Dr. Melcher examined Lyon's body. He described Lyon's uniform as a dark blue captain's coat, worn and faded.
Lyon was first buried on a farm outside Springfield. Later, Union forces recovered his body. It was sent home to Connecticut. He was buried in his family's plot in Phoenixville, which is now Eastford, Connecticut. About 15,000 people attended his funeral. As the first general killed in the war, he was seen as a hero.
Images for kids
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A stone chimney with four fireplaces is all that is left of General Nathaniel Lyon's birthplace homestead at Nathaniel Lyon Memorial State Park.
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A monument to Nathaniel Lyon with the St. Louis Arsenal in the background
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General Nathaniel Lyon
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Nathaniel Lyon, lithograph possibly depicting the Battle of Wilson's Creek
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General Nathaniel Lyon's Grave in General Lyon Cemetery in Eastford, Connecticut
