This Month in St. Louis History

The "Savior of Missouri" and Louis Armstrong

General Nathaniel Lyon was an important focal point in efforts to keep Missouri in the Union during the Civil War. After his decisive military action favoring the North, Lyon was called the "Savior of Missouri."

Lyon was born in Connecticut on July 14, 1818 but his place in history was determined by his actions as a military officer in and around St. Louis.

Other area historical highlights include:

Every month, Young Saint Louis.com and the Missouri History Museum combine to give area kids a look at some of the people, places and events that shaped our area. If you'd like to learn more about the colorful past, visit www.mohistory.org.

 

General Lyon, Savior of Missouri

In the early 1860s, Missouri was very much torn by political debate over slavery. The City of St. Louis was staunchly in favor of the Republican Party's anti-slavery position.

But, outstate Missouri favored the South. Those sentiments came to the fore when Claiborne Fox Jackson was elected Missouri governor. Jackson was a staunch secessionist.

In the election of 1860, two prominent St. Louis Republicans joined President Abraham Lincoln's inner circle in Washington. Former St. Louis mayor Montgomery Blair was named postmaster general and his brother, Frank Blair Jr., was elected to Congress.

Lyon was sent to St. Louis in 1861 to bolster defenses at the St. Louis Arsenal. One of his chief jobs was to make sure the 60,000 muskets and 40 field cannons didn't fall into the hands of southern sympathizers.

He also was to guard the federal sub-treasury in the city. It had over a million dollars in gold and silver on hand.

Lyon immediately aligned himself with Congressman Blair who favored aggressive action to suppress the confederate movement.

On May 10, 1961, Lyon led a force of about 7,000 men to Camp Jackson, a confederate camp within six miles of the arsenal. Lyon's forces surrounded the camp and obtained an unconditional surrender, avoiding a battle at that time.

But, that battle came just two months later when Lyon led Union forces in what is known as the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Although Lyon was fatally wounded, the Union forces prevailed and Missouri was saved for the Union.

Lyon was honored in 1869, when 10 acres of arsenal land was set aside for Lyon Park. There is an obelisk monument in the park, which is open to the public. The park is located at the intersection of South Broadway and Arsenal.

For a bio of Lyon, see www.lyoncamp.org/lyon.htm.

 

Jazz musician Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901 and died on July 6, 1971. In the years between, he became the best-known jazz musician in the world.

And one of his gigs was a more than two-year tour in St. Louis with the Fate Marable band.

Armstrong started his music early. By the time he was 11, he dropped out of school and was playing in an informal band. But, on Dec. 31, 1912, he was arrested for discharging a firearm during a New Year's Eve celebration.

He didn't get out of reform school until 1914. But, famed cornet player Joe "King" Oliver took him under his wing. When Oliver moved to Chicago, Armstrong took his place in the Kid Ory band.

Then, came his years in St. Louis, from the spring of 1919 to the fall of 1921.

When he left St. Louis, it was to join King Oliver's band in Chicago.

For more on Armstrong, visit www.redhotjazz.com/louie.html.

 

St. Louis' place in debate over silver

For people today, the battle over whether to back our money with gold, silver or just the "full faith" of the federal government seems odd.

But, in 1896, both the national Silver Party and the Populists met in St. Louis to urge the nation's currency should be backed by silver. At that time, the backing was gold.

By backing, we're talking about a person's ability to turn in his paper money for a like value of precious metals. That's not possible these days, in gold or silver.

Orator William Jennings Bryan was in favor of a silver backing. Thus, both the National Silver Party and the Populists voted in St. Louis to endorse Bryan for president.

To learn more, visit http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/silverparty.html.

 

St. Louis rail cars on Chicago's El

The City of St. Louis got rapid-transit rail service only in recent years with the opening of Metrolink service.

But, in the 1950s, the St. Louis Car Co. contracted with the City of Chicago for delivery of 700 all-metal, lightweight cars. The cars remained in service in Chicago until 2003.

The delivery of the last car, No. 6719, was made on July 22, 1959.

After 44 years of service, No. 6719, was delivered to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. It is now part of the "America on the Move" exhibit.

One distinction of the St. Louis-built cars was the vibrant exterior colors. They went under such names at Croydon Cream, Swamp Holly Orange and Colorado Spruce Green.

For more, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/themes/story_43_4.html.