Nathaniel Lyon
| Nathaniel Lyon | |
|---|---|
Nathaniel Lyon
|
|
| Born |
July 14, 1818 Ashford, Connecticut |
| Died | August 10, 1861 (aged 43) Springfield, Missouri |
| Allegiance |
 United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1841–1861 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier general
|
| Battles/wars | |
Seminole Wars
Mexican-American War
Nathaniel Lyon (July 14, 1818 – August 10, 1861) was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War and is noted for his actions in the state of Missouri at the beginning of the conflict.
He graduated from the Military Academy 11th out of a class of 52 in 1841. He fought in the Second Seminole War and in the Mexican-American War. During the War with Mexico, he received several brevet promotions for gallantry under fire at the battles of Mexico City, Contreras, and Churubusco. He was then sent to posts in California where he participated in the 1850 Bloody Island Massacre against the Pomo Native Americans. He was reassigned to Fort Riley in Kansas, where he began to develop strong support for the Union as a result of the political climate developing in the state.
In February 1861, Lyon was made commander of the Union arsenal in St. Louis, Missouri, where tensions grew between the Union soldiers stationed there and the secessionist governor of the state, Claiborne Jackson. When the Civil War broke out, Jackson refused to send volunteers from the state to fight for Abraham Lincoln. Instead, Jackson had the militia muster outside the city to begin training in preparation to join Confederate forces. On May 10, 1861, Lyon and his troops surrounded the pro-Confederate Missouri militia under General D. M. Frost, and forced its surrender. While marching his captured prisoners through St. Louis, citizens began to riot, leading to the Camp Jackson Affair. Lyon ordered his troops to fire into the rioters. On May 17, Lyon was promoted to brigadier general and was given command of Union troops in Missouri. He then lead his troops into a series of skirmishes with the Missouri State Guard and Confederate Army.
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Wikipedia