Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 175
image_0 image_1 image_2
Gen Nathaniel Lyon Reports from California During the Gold Rush
Gen Nathaniel Lyon Reports from California During the Gold Rush
image_0 image_1 image_2
Description:

Lyon Nathaniel

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.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

February 26, 2020 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000