Nathaniel Lyon - Namesakes and Honors

Namesakes and Honors

The 24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry was recruited as "The Lyon Legion" in honor of the General, and carried a unique regimental color, depicting a Lion beneath a constellation of six stars. Lyon County, Iowa, Lyon County, Kansas, Lyon County, Minnesota, Lyons Valley, Jamul, California and Lyon County, Nevada, are named in Nathaniel Lyon's honor. Two forts were also named in his honor: Fort Lyon in Colorado and Fort Lyon (Virginia), which defended Washington, D.C., during the American Civil War in Virginia. Lyon Park in St. Louis, Lyon Street in San Francisco and Lyon Lane in Carson City, Nevada are also named for him. General Nathaniel Lyon camped near Windsor Missouri (Souuthwest of Kanssas City) in 1861. the small settlement is almost abandoned now, but had a postmaster until 1901. I livede there from 1997 till 2002 and it is still called fort Lyon. A water well still exists there which was dug by General Lyons men and it reported that on Duck Creek one can still find graffitti carved in the rocks from 1861- Also, Duck Creek was a section of the Chisholm trail, from Texas to the Sedalia Missouri railhead prior to the civil war.