ADDRESS OF GENERAL LYON. 279 Lyon's Address. Kansas settlers, to prepare them for fresh | traordinary provisions for the purpose of effecting their cher- State officers to take an oath of allegiance to the "This agreement failed to define specifically the terms of the peace or how far a suspension of the provisions of the military bill should form a part of it, though, from the express declaration of General Harney at the time of the conference, as well as from the foregoing paper, a suspension of any action under the bill until there could be a judicial determination of its character by some competent tribunal, must in good faith be regarded as a fundamental basis of the negotiation. "Prior to the proclamaLyon's Address. tion issued by Governor Jackson, of date of June 12th, it is well known to you that the Governor. and Legislature sympathized with the rebellion movements now in progress in the country, and had adopted every means in their power to effect a separation of this State from the General Government. For this purpose, parties of avowed Secessionists have been organized into military companies throughout the State, with the full knowledge and approval of the Governor. The establishment of encampments in the State at an unusual period of the year, and authorized for an indefinite period, could have had no other object than the concentration of a large military force, to be subjected to the provisions of the military law then in contemplation, and subsequently passed-a bill so offensive to all peaceable inhabitants, and so palpably unconstitutional, that it could be accepted by those only who were willing to conform to its ex-driven from their homes. "Nevertheless, immediately after this arrangement, and up to the time of Governor Jackson's proclamation inaugurating complaints of attempts to execute the provisions of this bill, by which most exasperating hardships have been imposed upon peaceful, loyal citizens, coupled with persecutions and proscriptions of those opposed to its provisions, have been made to me as Commander of the United States forces here, and have been carried to the authorities at Washington, with appeals for relief, from the Union men of all parties of the State who have been abused, insulted, and, in some instances, Lyon's Address. "That relief I conceive it to | ly occur, and unhappy consequences should follow, be the duty of a just Gov- I would hope that all aggravation of those even s ernment to use every exertion in its power to may be avoided, and that they may be diverted give. Upon this point the policy of the Government from the innocent and may fall only on the heads is set forth in the following communication from the of those by whom they have been provoked. department at Washington: "In the discharge of these plain but onerous duties, I shall look for the countenance and active cooperation of all good citizens, and I shall expect them to discountenance all illegal combinations or organizations, and support and uphold, by every lawful means, the Federal Government, upon the maintenance of which depend their liberties and the perfect enjoyment of all their rights. (Signed,) N. LYON, Brigadier-General United States Volunteers, Commanding." 66 The Battle of Booneville. "Commanding Department West, St. Louis: "Sir: The President observes with concern that notwithstanding the pledge of the State authorities to co-operate in preserving the peace in Missouri, loyal citizens in great numbers continue to be driven from their homes. It is immaterial whether these outrages continue from inactivity or indisposition on the part of the State authorities to prevent them. It is enough that they continue, and it will devolve on you the duty of putting a stop to them summarily, by force under your command, to be aided by such troops as you may require from Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. The professions of loyalty to the Union by the State authorities of Missouri are not to be relied upon. They have already falsified their professions too often, and are too far committed to secession to be admitted to your confidence, and you can only be sure of their desisting from their wicked purposes when it is not in their power to prosecute them. You will, therefore, be unceasingly watchful of their movements, and not permit the clamors of their partisans and opponents of the measures already taken, to prevent you from checked the river to seek for the Secessionists, ing every movement against the Government, how ever disguised, under the pretended State anthority. The authority of the United States is paramount, and whenever it is apparent that a movement, whether by order of State authority or not, is hostile, you will not hesitate to put it down. (Signed,) L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General." "It is my design to carry out these instructions in their letter and spirit. Their justice and propriety will be appreciated by whoever takes an enlightened view of the relations of the citizens of Missouri to the General Government. Nor can such policy be construed as at all disparaging to the rights or dignity of the State of Missouri, or as infringing in any sense upon the individual liberty of its citizens. The recent proclamation of Governor Jackson, by which he has set at defiance the authorities of the United States, and urged you to make war upon them, is but a consummation of his treasonable purposes, long indicated by his acts and expressed opinions, and now made manifest. If, in suppressing these treasonable projects, carrying out the policy of the Government and maintaining its dignity as above indicated, hostilities should unfortunate Lyon landed at Jefferson City on the morning of the 15th, where several additional transports soon arrived with troops from St. Louis. Having installed Colonel Boernstein as Military Governor, on the afternoon of the 16th he proceeded up the river in three steamers with his troops, consisting of the regiment of Colonel Frank Blair, one half of Boernstein's men, several companies of regulars and a detachment of regular artillery, under command of Captain Totten. This force reached Rockport on the morning of the 17th, and immediately cross whose encampment was four and a half miles below Booneville, on the Missouri river. Governor Jackson and Price had their head-quarters at Booneville; and, on the morning of the 17th, had about three thousand five hundred half-armed men awaiting their orders. Informed of the rapid approach of Lyon, Jackson and Price resolved not to make a stand, and had (on the 16th) ordered the State Guards to disband; but, the appearance of Lyon on the 17th arrested the unsettled movements of the disconcerted rebels and compelled them to fight or surrender. Price, being sick, retired from all conduct of affairs. Colonel Marmaduke, then in command at the camp, resolved to fight. Hoping to surprise the National troops ere they could land from their transports, the rebel Colonel started for the landing (some two miles below) only to meet Lyon at the head of his force, moving in good order direct for camp. Skirmishing followed, when the State ad ONSLAUGHT AT COLE. 281 vance fell back. Marmaduke placed his force-consisting of two regiments and a strong detachment of cavalry-in good position to receive the attack. Totten opened with his guns, the infantry filed left and right along the road, and opened with musketry. It was but a brief matter, however, for the rebels soon gave way and fled with much precipitation to their partially fortified quarters. Upon that place, a howitzer on board one of the steam transports was made to bear, and planted its shots so cleverly that Marmaduke's men incontinently scattered in disorder, leaving as spoils for the Union army a large amount of camp equip-ranny, I hereby give notice to the people of this age, much stores, considerable clothing, arms, &c., &c. A battery of two guns commanding the river, abandoned by the rebel infantry, was taken, together with its horses, equipments and men. The howitzer on the transport, having a good view of the flying foe, added to their terror by a few shots, which did some havoc. ing long experienced the mildness of the General Government, still feel confident that this mildness cannot be overtaxed even by fac tious hostilities, having in view its overthrow; but lest, as in the case of the late Camp Jackson affair, this clemency shall still be misconstrued, it is proper to give warning that the Government cannot always be expected to indulge in it to the compromise of its evident welfare." He then added: -a Thus ended the "battle of Booneville"mere farce of a fight at best. Jackson viewed the smoke of the battle from afar, and fled to the west with all the haste of a bearer of dispatches. Price "retired" toward Warsaw, whither many of the troops made their way - their design being eventually to form a junction with the advancing forces of McCullough and Rains. The Federal loss was two killed and ten wounded. The enemy's loss was about forty killed and wounded and a large number of prisoners. From Booneville Lyon issued his first Lyon's Proclamation. military proclamation to those in arms and to the citizens. After referring to the treasonable act of Jackson in his late proceedings, the General recurred to his own procedure in suppressing the insurrection sought to be created. His descent on that point had resulted in his seizure of a number of the troops who had gathered to the standard of rebellion, most of whom were “prisoners of immature age" who had been, by their own professions, induced to take up arms against the Government through the calumnies and falsehoods of the rebel leaders. These he had released, saying: "I have done this in spite of the well-known facts that the leaders in the present rebellion. hav "Hearing that those plotting against the Government have falsely represented that the Government troops intended a forcible and violent invasion of Missouri for purposes of military despotism and ty State that I shall scrupulously avoid all interference with the business, right and property of every description recognized by the laws of the State, and belonging to law-abiding citizens. But it is equally my duty to maintain the paramount authority of the United States with such force as I have at my command, which will be retained only so long as opposition makes it necessary, and that it is my wish, and shall be my purpose, to visit any unavoidable rigor arising in this issue upon those only who provoke it. "All persons who, under the misapprehensions above mentioned, have taken up arms, or who are now preparing to do so, are invited to return to their homes and relinquish their hostilities toward the Federal Government, and are assured that they may do so without being molested for past occurrences." Onslaught at Cole. This dispersion of the rebels was followed by their hasty retreat towards the south. A strong detachment of the "State Guard,” retreating towards Warsaw, on the 18th, fell upon a half-organized regiment of Home (Federal) Guards commanded by Captain Cook, at Cole, killing twenty-three of them, wounding twenty and bearing off thirty as prisoners. This savage onslaught by over twelve hundred men upon a surprised and only partially armed foe, mustering, all told, about four hundred muskets, was the revenge the ruffians wreaked for their defeat on the previous day They found the unsuspecting Unionists in a barn, and shot into it at their pleasure, from behind trees and fences, picking off every man who ventured in sight. A gallant sally was made by Captain Cook, by which the remnant of his little force escaped slaughter entire. A concentration of NaLyon's Policy. tional troops followed Lyon's occupation of Jefferson and Booneville. A quick campaign was to be prosecuted, in order, if possible, to crush the Secessionists before they could receive aid from the Confederacy or could effect a thorough organization among themselves. Lyon's policy was characterized by decision. His perceptions were clear, his movements rapid, his enthusiasm inspiring. He was the right man in the right place. Had Government thrown men and means into Missouri to his call, he would have swept the rebels from the State in a few weeks' time. But, Government was so deeply absorbed in affairs around Washington that Lyon's plans were left to be consummated with no further help than the adjoining States could bestow in furnishing a few regiments of partially armed men. The first regiments of Missouri volunteers were armed chiefly through the exertions of General Lyon and Colonel Frank Blair; but the inadequate supply of arms soon restricted the usefulness of the Missouri Unionists, and thus crippled Lyon to a serious degree.* * To show how slowly arms were supplied to the several States, for placing their volunteers in the field, we may give the following table of the deliveries from the Springfield (Massachusetts) Armory from April 1st to July 1st, 1861: Total to each State. Colonel Boernstein issued his proclamation at Jefferson City on the 17th of June, announcing the flight of the Governor and State officers. He declared his purpose to co-operate with the judicial and civil authorities to preserve law and order. Movement of Troops Colonel Siegel arrived at Springfield, in the southwestern section of the State, June 23d, and was quickly followed by the regiments of Colonels Salomon and Brown, On the 24th, five companies of cavalry, six companies of infantry and dragoons, and two companies of volunteers, in all about one thousand five hundred men, with one battery, all under the command of Major S. D. Sturgis, left Kansas City destined for the same point. Lyon's forces at Booneville lacked so much for transportation as to be unable to move southward after Price, and to co-operate with the troops already passed down by way of Rolla, until July 2d, when, with three thousand men, he took up his march tia Smithton for Osceola, there to effect a junction with Sturgis' force. He left the northwestern section of the State in the keeping of three regiments-the Second and Third Iowa and Sixteenth Illinois-all under the general command of Colonel Smith, with head-quarters at Palmyra. This force was deemed amply sufficient to control the secession element and to protect the railway property in that region. Learning that Jackson was coming down through Cedar county, from the north, with his "gathered bands of ragamuffins and cut8,405 throats," Siegel pushed out from Springfield 1.946 to Mount Vernon to prevent his junction with 3,704 Price, who was then near Neosho, with about 1,070 1,000 2.000 32.660 1,850 11.000 10,000 770 300 7,462 590 443 1,730 216 1,500 .2,500 2,500 1,062 750 6.812 Michigan. Indiana... Total.........7,500 14,220 62,952 2,462 1,853 88,987 During the same time there were delivered to the several Government arsenals the following, for Government disposition and use: New York Arsenal, 2,200 muskets, patent of '42; 2,600 rifle muskets, patent of '55; ten Coehorn mortars-total, 4,810. Washington Arsenal, 802 rifle muskets of '55. Alleghany Arsenal, 1,000 rifle muskets of '55. St. Louis Arsenal, 2,500 muskets of '22; 2,500 muskets of '40-total, 5,000. West Point Cadets, 300 rifle muskets of '55. Carlisle Barracks, two, twelve-pound howitzerstotal to the regular army, 11,914. As the Springfield armory was the chief source of reliance, it will be seen how utterly inadequate the supply was to the demand. The deficit was made up by the purchase of all arms manufactured by the several extensive private factories of Colt's arms, the Ames' rifle works, &c. Agents were also dispatched to Europe, and by July 1st large importa tions of Eufield rifles and Belgian arms began to flow in. THE BATTLE OF CARTHAGE. 283 eight hundred "State disposed his forces for Siegel After Price. Guards" and Secessionists attack. The artillery was enlisted in that vicinity. The presence there, at that early day, of the General, proves that his "illness" at Booneville, if it did prevent his sharing the honors of that fight, was not serious enough to retard his rapid transit to the south. Siegel, arriving at Mount Vernon, pressed on to Neosho, June 30th, hoping to engage and destroy Price's command, then to turn and crowd Jackson and his General commanding, Parsons, back upon Lyon's advance. This dashing movement failed-the valiant Price again having taken the alarm and fled toward Maysville. Siegel then turned his face to the north in quest of Jackson. Ere he could reach the vicinity of Carthage, the entire commands of Rains, Parsons, Slack and Jackson had united at Rupes Creek, (July 4th,) eight miles north of Carthage. Brigadier-General Sweeny having, in the meantime, reached Springfield, assumed command of the National forces, awaiting the arrival of General Lyon. He ordered Siegel to attack the foe, which he was quite ready to do,* though fearing for the result owing to the great disparity of numbers. On the morning of July 5th he broke camp near Carthage and started to find the enemy. His force consisted of nine companies of his own (Third) regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hassendeubel, Missouri volunteers; seven companies of the Fifth regiment, Colonel Salomon; and eight field pieces under command of Major Backof. Battle of Carthage At nine o'clock, on a fine prairie, three miles beyond Dry Fork Creek, the rebels were discovered at a halt-they, too, having broke camp early on that morning to "find and wipe out the Dutch hirelings," as one of their leading officers afterwards wrote. The enemy's force comprised State troops and volunteers to the number of fifty-five hundrednearly one half mounted-and a battery of five guns. 66 Approaching to within eight hundred yards" wrote one who was present, "Siegel There is some doubt on this point. By some authorities Siegel is said to have acted on his own responsibility entirely. His official report to General Sweeny would seem to indicate as much. Battle of Carthage. allotted: on our left two six-pounders; centre, two six-pounders and two twelvepounders; two six-pounders on our right. The enemy, occupying the highest ground in the prairie, had in position one six-pounder on the right and left, and in his centre one twelve and two six-pounders. The fight commenced at half-past nine, when large bodies of infantry began to appear. The firing of the enemy was wretched. I have seen much artillery practice, but never saw such bad gunnery before. Their balls and shells went over us, and exploded in the open prairie. At eleven o'clock we had silenced their twelve-pounder and broken their centre so much that disorder was apparent. After the first five shots, the two secession flags which they carried were not shown. They displayed the State flag, which we did not fire at. At about two o'clock the cavalry attempted to outflank us, on both right and left. As we had left our baggage trains three miles in the rear, not anticipating a serious engagement, it was necessary to fall back to prevent their capture. Colonel Siegel then ordered two six pounders to the rear, and changed his front, two six-pounders on the flanks, and the twelve and six-pounders in the rear, and commenced falling back in a steady and orderly manner, firing as we went. We proceeded, with hardly a word to be heard except the orders of the officers, until we reach ed our baggage wagons, which had approached with the two companies left in reserve. They were formed (fifty wagons) into a solid square, and surrounded by the infantry and artillery, as before. The retreat was without serious casualty, until we approached the Dry Fork Creek, where the road passes between bluffs on either side. The cavalry of the enemy, eight hundred strong, had concentrated on the opposite side of the creek, to cut us off. Colonel Siegel ordered two more cannon to the right and left oblique in front, and then by a concentrated cross-fire poured in upon them a brisk fire of canister and shrapnell shell. The confusion which ensued was terrific. Horses, both with and without riders, were |