General Nathaniel Lyon Reports from California During the Gold Rush

NATHANIEL LYON, Autograph Letter Signed, November 1, 1850, to George Talcott, Benicia, California. 1 p., 7.75" x 9.875"  Expected folds.

Complete Transcript:

                                                                        Benicia Cala

                                                                        Nov 1st 1850

Sir;

Herewith enclosed I respectfully transmit a Return of Ordnance & Ordnance Stores pertaining to Company “G” 2nd Inf while operating in the field under my command during the months of May, June Jul, August, & Sept 1850.

                                                                        Very respectfully, / your Obedient Servant,

                                                                        N. Lyon

                                                                        B’v’t Capt 2nd Inf’y

Col Geo Talcott / Chief of Ordnance / Washington D.C.

[Docketing:] 1 / Capt N. Lyon / Benicia 1 Nov 1850.

Transmits Ord Return of Co G. 2d Inftry for parts of 2d & 3d qrs 1850. / B21

Received 8 Jan 1851 / Answered 17   "    " 

Historical Background:

After his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in the summer of 1841, 2nd Lieutenant Nathaniel Lyon traveled to Florida, where he served with the 2nd U.S. Infantry in the ongoing Second Seminole War (1835-1842). After the war in Florida, the 2nd U.S. Infantry did frontier service along the Canadian border in Michigan.

Several companies of the 2nd U.S. Infantry left Detroit in mid-July 1846 by steamer for New Orleans and on to Texas for service in the Mexican War (1846-1848). After the war ended, Lyon continued to serve with the 2nd U.S. Infantry in a series of frontier posts in California, Nebraska Territory, and Kansas Territory. In 1849, General Bennet C. Riley, who had led the 2nd U.S. Infantry in Mexico, served as military governor of California, and Lyon filed this ordnance report from Benicia. In the summer of 1850, Lyon commanded an expedition against Native Americans on Clear Lake and Pit River in northern California.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Lyon was in St. Louis, where he took command of the federal arsenal and kept the weapons there from falling into Confederate hands by sending many of them to Illinois and arming Unionist militia. He pursued Missouri governor Claiborne F. Jackson and southern-sympathizing Missourians to Springfield, Missouri. On August 10, at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Lyon became the first general to die in the Civil War and an immediate martyr in the Union cause.

Nathaniel Lyon (1818-1861) was born in Connecticut and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1841. Upon graduation, Lyon received a commission as a second lieutenant and assignment to the 2nd U.S. Infantry in Florida. There, he served in the Second Seminole War. He also served with the 2nd Infantry in the Mexican War and in service in California and the West. Although staunchly antislavery, Lyon did not support the abolitionists. In early 1861, Lyon was placed in command of the federal arsenal at St. Louis, which he protected against southern sympathizers. Promoted to brigadier general in May 1861, he was given command of Union troops in Missouri as commander of the Department of the West. He occupied the state capital in Jefferson City in mid-June 1861, and moved southwest in pursuit of southern-sympathizing Missouri troops. Lyon encamped at Springfield, Missouri, in mid-July with 6,000 soldiers. On August 10, some 12,000 Confederate forces attacked Lyon’s forces. Lyon was killed leading a counter-attack, and the Union forces retreated. Lyon was the first Union general killed in the Civil War, and his actions are credited with saving Missouri for the Union, though the state remained a battleground throughout the war.

George Talcott (1786-1862) was born in Connecticut and entered the army in 1813 as a third lieutenant. After the War of 1812, he remained on Ordnance duty at arsenals for the next two decades. In 1842, he became Assistant Chief of Ordnance. In 1848, he received a promotion to colonel and became the third Chief of Ordnance, following the death of George Bomford. A new Secretary of War in 1851 relieved Talcott of his duties and instituted a court-martial regarding a munitions contract. The court martial resulted in Talbott’s dismissal from the army, a controversial decision that was not overturned despite several attempts to have the case reviewed.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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