Boston (MA) Advertiser, “The Coming Man,” June 25, 1861

THE COMING MAN. – The eagerness which is displayed in hunting up a suitable successor for General Scott is a high compliment to the old veteran, since it does not proceed from any impatience with the General, but from the universal sense of the extreme importance of his services and the recollection of his advanced age. The nation does not say that it wishes to replace him, but that it knows not how to do it.

General McClellan has been the favorite in speculations of this sort so far, but we observe that General Lyon, since his brilliant exploits in Missouri, is regarded as the “coming man” at the present moment. It is certain that Lyon shows surpassing rapidity and energy, as well as skill in planning his movements, and promises to show himself a military genius of no ordinary character. It is going very fast, however, to say that he has yet proved himself superior to McClellan, or that either has shown himself fit to succeed Scott, though both have done as much as men could to distinguish themselves in the short time in which they have been in service.