Military officer; born in
Ashford, Conn., July 14, 1818; killed in battle, Aug. 10, 1861; graduated at
West Point in 1841.
He served in the war in
Florida and against
Mexico, where he gained honors for gallant conduct;
[
500]
became captain in 1851; and when the
Civil War broke out was placed in command of the arsenal at
St. Louis, where he
outwitted and outgeneralled the
Confederates.
Commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers in May, 1861, the command of the department devolved on him, June 1.
He acted with great vigor against the
Confederates under the governor (
Jackson) of
Missouri; he attacked a large force at
Wilson's Creek, near
Springfield, on Aug. 10, 1861; and was killed in the battle.
Lyon was unmarried, and bequeathed nearly all his property (about $30,000) to the government to assist in preserving the
Union.
