and irritability. With even less force and proper
disposition, I am confident we can resist any force which
can be brought against us; by which I mean such force as
would not be overcome by our sympathizing friends outside.
These needful dispositions, with proper industry, can be
made in 24 hours. There cannot be, as you know, a more
important occasion nor a better opportunity to strike an
effective blow at this arrogant and domineering infatuation
of Secessionism than here; and must this all be lost, by
either false notions of duty or covert disloyalty? As I have
said, Maj. Hagner has no right to the command, and, under
the 62d Article of War, can only have it by a special
assignment of the President, which I do not believe has been
made; but that the announcement of Gen. Scott that the
command belongs to Maj. Hagner is his own decision, and done
in his usual sordid spirit of partisanship and favoritism to
pets, and personal associates, and toadies; nor can he, even
in the present straits of the country, rise above this, in
earnest devotion to justice and the wants of his country.

Lyon went to Gen. Harney to urge his right to command, from seniority
of commission; but Harney sustained Hagner, who was in some things much
more Harney's style than Lyon. Lyon thereupon appealed to President
Buchanan, which meant to Gen. Scott, who, of course, sustained Hagner.
Lyon was, therefore, forced to submit until Lincoln was inaugurated.

56

There was no vanity or self-seeking in this urgency of Lyon's. In the
Army he was distinguished for his readiness to subordinate himself to
carry out any plans which commended themselves to him. He had repeatedly
offered to subordinate himself to Hagner if the latter would take
what Lyon thought only the most necessary steps at that crisis for the
defense of the position and stores of priceless importance.

What Lyon dreaded above all things was something akin to that which had
freshly occurred at Little Rock, where Capt. Totten had withdrawn from
the Little Rock Arsenal with his company in the face of a large mob of
Secessionists, upon a receipt by the Governor for the arms and stores,
and the promise that he would account for them to the United States
Government. Lyon was determined to bury himself and his men in the
ruins of the Arsenal before it should pass into the hands of the
Secessionists.