MEMOIR OF NATHANIEL LYON. NATHANIEL LYON was born at Ashford, Wyndham co., Connecticut, on the of July, 1819. He was the son of Amasa Lyon, a well-to-do farmer, for many years a magistrate, and prominent man in Ashford. His mother, whose name was Kezia, belonged to the Knowlton family. Two members of this family, Thomas and Daniel, were distinguished in the Revolution, and possibly before, for they both served in the wars of the Colonists and the English against the French, probably under Putnam, who was appointed to the command of the first troops raised in Connecticut in 1755, and who, by the way, might almost be considered a neighbor of theirs, Pomfret, his residence, being only a few miles distant from Ashford. The former of the brothers, Thomas, is well known to the readers of American History, in connexion with the battle of Bunker's Hill, where, as a Captain, he played an important part, commanding the Connecticut troops at a breastwork of hay, which he extemporized along an old rail-fence, and which formed a valuable defence to the provincials before the battle was over. After the lapse of little more than a year, we hear of him again, as Colonel Knowlton. It was the 16th of September, 1776, and a British force, under Brigadier Leslie, was making its way by M'Gowan's pass to Harlem Plains. "The little garrisons," says Lossing, in his Field Book of the Revolution, "at Mount Morris and Harlem Cove (Manhattanville) confronted them at the mouth of a deep gorge, and kept them in partial check until the arrival of re-enforcements. Washington was at Morris's house, and hearing the firing, rode to his outpost, where the Convent of the Sacred Heart now stands. There he met Colonel Knowlton of the Connecticut Rangers ("Congress's Own,") who had been skirmishing with the advancing foe, and now came for orders. The enemy were about three hundred strong upon the plain, and had a reserve in the woods upon the heights. Knowlton was ordered to hasten with his Rangers, and Major Leitch with three companies of Weedon's Virginia regiment, to gain the rear of the advance, while a feigned attack was to be made in front. Perceiving this, the enemy rushed forward to gain an advantageous position on the plain, when they were attacked by Knowlton and Leitch on the flank. Re-enforcements now came down from the hills, when the enemy changed front, and fell the Americans. A short but severe upon conflict ensued. Three bullets passed through the body of Leitch, and he was |