Gen. Nathaniel Lyon : First Union General KIA

[66TH Indiana]

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/nathanial-lyon.html

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/wilson-s-creek.html

 

[Georgia Sixth]

Lyons was the one other Union general who seemed to have the same energy and aggressive drive as US Grant. His loss was, I think, a serious blow to the Federal effort. Imagine Lyons and Grant working in tandem down the big river.

 

[leftyhunter]

The knock that I have read on Lyons was that he felt or knew in his heart of hearts that he was Gods chosen instrument to defeat the evil slave owners. One can argue that Lyons was a little bit to aggressive at Wilsons Creek. I would have to say Gen. Curtis and Gen Herron did a better job since even though they were outnumbered at Elks Tavern and Prairie Grove they still won and won big. On the other hand Lyons was no McCllean and he did save Mo from the CSA.
Leftyhunter

 

[Missouri 1st]

Not much reason to cheer Lyon in Missouri:

"Rather than concede to the state of Missouri the right to demand that my government shall not enlist troops within her limits, or bring troops into the state whenever it pleases, or move its troops at its own will into, or out of, or through the state; rather than to concede to the state of Missouri for one single instant the right to dictate to my government in any matter however unimportant, I would see you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and every man, woman, and child in the state dead and buried. This means war."

 

[BillO]

I hope it hurt.

 

[66TH Indiana]

According to Shelby Foote in his Narrative once Lyon fell it was " Manassas all over again" leaving Lyon dead.
"Gen. McCulloch ( CSA ) forwarded it (Lyon's body) under a flag of truce through the lines, only to recapture it again
when the Unionists fell back from Springfield, abandoning it in its coffin in the courthouse".

Brig. General Benjamin McCulloch : KIA Battle Of Pea Ridge

 

[4th-MSM]

I agree with Missouri 1st as it seems ever since I started researching Lyon and the Wilson Creek Campaign a few years ago, the more I read about Lyon the more I dislike what he had done (both before and during the Civil War).

As a side note however, here's the original marker that was built where General Lyon fell during the Battle of Wilson's Creek, which was later replaced by the monument that is still there today.

And here's a little more information about the current marker:
http://www.thecivilwarmuse.com/index.php?page=lyon-s-death-marker

 

[Georgia Sixth]

the more I read about Lyon the more I dislike what he had done (both before and during the Civil War).

There's no question he was a ruthless SOB who seemed to view people in terms of good or evil, which in his mind seemed to justify any tactic taken against the "evil" people. But, he was smart and energetic. Gotta hand him that.

 

[4th-MSM]

There's no question he was a ruthless SOB who seemed to view people in terms of good or evil, which in his mind seemed to justify any tactic taken against the "evil" people. But, he was smart and energetic. Gotta hand him that.

Yes, he definitely was, as well as a very good tactician early in the campaign. Quickly taking control of the major resources in the State before the Confederacy/State Guard could take advantage of them definitely gave a devastating blow to the Confederacy in Missouri.

It does seem that later his campaign was running out of steam though. Not necessarily due to Lyon himself, but because of the odds starting to stack against him. Such as the denial of reinforcement requests, losing strength due to expiring enlistments, shortages of locally grown food, being unable to cripple the main force of the MSG due to the defeat at Carthage, Price and McCulloch successfully meeting and combining their strength, etc.

It would be interesting to know how different things would have turned out if Lyon had decided to retreat back to the supply line at Rolla to regroup as he originally considered, though I can understand why he didn't want to leave without a fight.

 

[Georgia Sixth]

Y
It would be interesting to know how different things would have turned out if Lyon had decided to retreat back to the supply line at Rolla to regroup as he originally considered, though I can understand why he didn't want to leave without a fight.

That is a great what-if. One thing is for sure, his actions -- of very questionable legality -- earlier in St. Louis probably did more to save the state for the Union than anything else. I wish he got more recognition today for what he accomplished.

 

[Perry Cuskey]

Lyon to me is someone that I doubt I would have liked. Especially when you read about some of the things he did prior to the war. He was very much an absolutist about right and wrong, good and evil, as Georgia Sixth pointed out. But he was also one of those guys that if there was going to be a fight, you'd rather he was on your side than on the other side. Had it not been for him and Frank Blair Jr., Governor Jackson may very well have found a way to get Missouri into the Confederacy, and not just as a star on the flag. That whole story is absolutely fascinating, and pretty much everyone involved was making up the rules as they went along.

It's a great question as to how things might have been different if Lyon had survived Wilson's Creek. What sort of commander he would have proven to be, and what the impact on the war might have been. For the most part though he's a little like Albert Sidney Johnson in that we can never really be sure. But it's probably safe to say that he would have been aggressive and impatient, and controversy would have been a close companion. (This is where everyone says, "You think?!" )

Perry

 

[Missouri 1st]

...it's probably safe to say that he would have been aggressive and impatient, and controversy would have been a close companion. (This is where everyone says, "You think?!" )

Well, there was still Schofield, Jennison, Ewing and Siegel for that...