WILSON’S CREEK, AND THE DEATH OF LYON.
293
oppressed with the responsibilityof his situation, with anxiety forthe cause, and with sympathy forthe Union people in that section,when he should retreat and leaveto their fate those who could notforsake their homes. He repeat-edly expressed himself as havingbeen abandoned by his superi-ors. When the troops were putin motion, he went at the headof the column, and when theaction opened he kept his placeat the front, entering the heatof the engagement with the line,near Totten’s battery. He main-tained an imperturbable cool-ness, and his eye shone with theardor of conflict. He directed, en-couraged, and rallied his troopsin person, sending his staff in alldirections, and was frequentlywithout an attendant except oneor two faithful orderlies. Earlyin the attack while on the line to the left of Totten’s battery, rallying a partof the 1st Missouri Infantry, his horse, which he was leading, was killedand he received a slight wound in the leg. Shortly afterward he was woundedin the head. He continued dismounted during the contest above described,and walking a few paces toward the rear with his chief of staff, Major Scho-field , who had also lost his horse, shot under him, Lyon said, “ I fear the dayis lost.” Schofield encouraged him to take a more hopeful view of the case,assuring him that the troops were easily rallied and were gaining confidence,and that the disorder was only temporary, and then proceeded to anotherpart of the line in search of a mount.
About 9 o’clock, during a brief cessation in the firing, Lyon startedtoward the top of the ridge, accompanied by an aide, who was urging him toaccept his horse, when they met Major Sturgis and a few troopers. One ofthese was dismounted, and his horse was given to General Lyon. Lyon alsoexpressed himself despondingly to Sturgis, and was by him encouraged.Sturgis proceeded to another quarter, and Lyon toward DuBois’s battery.
About this time great anxiety began to be felt for the fate of Sigel’s command.Shortly after Lyon’s attack the sound of battle had been heard in the rear ofthe enemy’s line. It continued but a short time, and was renewed shortly after-ward for a very brief period only, when it ceased altogether. Sigel had pro-ceeded to within a mile of the camps, and his cavalry had cut off the enemy’ssmall parties and thus suppressed information of his coming. He then
mm.
wmBL
mm
PM
■q’/vu