28 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War

it was a loss that could not be made good. In hisbrief career Lyon had shown extraordinary quali-ties. He was sagacious and dauntless, quick andsure, and always ready to assume responsibility.If his plan of attack at Wilson’s Creek is perhapsLyon’s great liable to the charge of rashness, itqualities. should be borne in mind that after allit achieved a drawn battle against overwhelmingodds. All our best generals on either side — Grantand Lee as well as the rest — had something tolearn from hard experience ; and if Lyon had livedto see the end of the war, he would very likelyhave taken place in the front rank of our greatcommanders. With the vigour and skill whichhad characterized his movements down to the dayof his death, it is instructive to contrast the in-capacity and sloth which ensued thereupon.

On the 9th of July General Fremont had been,as we have seen, appointed to command the West-ern Department, which now comprised the statesof Illinois , Kentucky , Missouri , and Kansas , withthe adjacent territories. Fremont ’s work in con-General Fre- nection with the exploration of themoiit. Rocky Mountains and the conquest of

California had made him a favourite with many ofthe western people ; and moreover, having so latelybeen the first candidate of the Republican partyfor the presidency, he was at that time an impor-