{"id":"01KG8AJJNPA1V1ZPAZE4ZC5CEC","cid":"bafkreidicayqo5nyuy3cjxad7se4xqq6tfyefassgzrosym6lanhogamzq","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# Lyon.\n## Overview\nThis segment, titled \"Lyon. Battle of Springfield, Missouri.\", is a poem that was extracted from the file `battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt`. It is part of the larger collection \"Melville Complete Works\" and specifically belongs to the poetry collection \"[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)\". The poem focuses on the Battle of Springfield, Missouri, which occurred in August 1861.\n\n## Context\nThis poem is one of many segments extracted from the text file `battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt`, which is part of the comprehensive \"[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)\" collection. It follows the poem \"[The March into Virginia, Ending in the First Manassas.](arke:01KG8AJJNTE73YES319BF4WAXQ)\" and precedes \"[Ball’s Bluff. A Reverie.](arke:01KG8AJJNTH7KCNG1WAZ53NBEA)\".\n\n## Contents\nThe poem \"Lyon.\" vividly recounts the events and the spirit of General Lyon during the Battle of Springfield, Missouri. It describes the grim determination of the soldiers, Lyon's leadership in the face of overwhelming odds, and his ultimate sacrifice. The text uses evocative imagery, such as \"wizard-heart and heart-of-oak,\" \"a field to die on,\" and the \"slitting of air\" by bullets, to portray the intensity of the battle and Lyon's unwavering resolve. The poem concludes with Lyon's ascent to \"Zion,\" symbolizing his death in service.","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:21.093Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"Lyon.","end_line":383,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:35.910Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Lyon.\nBattle of Springfield, Missouri.","source_file":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","start_line":299,"text":"Lyon.\r\nBattle of Springfield, Missouri.\r\n(August, 1861.)\r\n\r\n\r\nSome hearts there are of deeper sort,\r\n    Prophetic, sad,\r\nWhich yet for cause are trebly clad;\r\n    Known death they fly on:\r\nThis wizard-heart and heart-of-oak had Lyon.\r\n\r\n“They are more than twenty thousand strong,\r\n    We less than five,\r\nToo few with such a host to strive”\r\n    “Such counsel, fie on!\r\n’Tis battle, or ’tis shame;” and firm stood Lyon.\r\n\r\n“For help at need in van we wait--\r\n    Retreat or fight:\r\nRetreat the foe would take for flight,\r\n    And each proud scion\r\nFeel more elate; the end must come,” said Lyon.\r\n\r\nBy candlelight he wrote the will,\r\n    And left his all\r\nTo Her for whom ’twas not enough to fall;\r\n    Loud neighed Orion\r\nWithout the tent; drums beat; we marched with Lyon.\r\n\r\nThe night-tramp done, we spied the Vale\r\n    With guard-fires lit;\r\nDay broke, but trooping clouds made gloom of it:\r\n    “A field to die on”\r\nPresaged in his unfaltering heart, brave Lyon.\r\n\r\nWe fought on the grass, we bled in the corn--\r\n    Fate seemed malign;\r\nHis horse the Leader led along the line--\r\n    Star-browed Orion;\r\nBitterly fearless, he rallied us there, brave Lyon.\r\n\r\nThere came a sound like the slitting of air\r\n    By a swift sharp sword--\r\nA rush of the sound; and the sleek chest broad\r\n    Of black Orion\r\nHeaved, and was fixed; the dead mane waved toward Lyon.\r\n\r\n“General, you’re hurt--this sleet of balls!”\r\n    He seemed half spent;\r\nWith moody and bloody brow, he lowly bent:\r\n    “The field to die on;\r\nBut not--not yet; the day is long,” breathed Lyon.\r\n\r\nFor a time becharmed there fell a lull\r\n    In the heart of the fight;\r\nThe tree-tops nod, the slain sleep light;\r\n    Warm noon-winds sigh on,\r\nAnd thoughts which he never spake had Lyon.\r\n\r\nTexans and Indians trim for a charge:\r\n    “Stand ready, men!\r\nLet them come close, right up, and then\r\n    After the lead, the iron;\r\nFire, and charge back!” So strength returned to Lyon.\r\n\r\nThe Iowa men who held the van,\r\n    Half drilled, were new\r\nTo battle: “Some one lead us, then we’ll do”\r\n    Said Corporal Tryon:\r\n“Men! _I_ will lead,” and a light glared in Lyon.\r\n\r\nOn they came: they yelped, and fired;\r\n    His spirit sped;\r\nWe leveled right in, and the half-breeds fled,\r\n    Nor stayed the iron,\r\nNor captured the crimson corse of Lyon.\r\n\r\nThis seer foresaw his soldier-doom,\r\n    Yet willed the fight.\r\nHe never turned; his only flight\r\n    Was up to Zion,\r\nWhere prophets now and armies greet brave Lyon.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Lyon.\nBattle of Springfield, Missouri."},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9","peer_type":"poetry_collection","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJJNTE73YES319BF4WAXQ","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJJNTH7KCNG1WAZ53NBEA","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:36.118Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:21.368Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}