Lewis Merrill was a career officer in the United States Army noted for his work in resisting the early Ku Klux Klan organization in several Southern states. During the American Civil War, he combated guerrillas in Missouri.
Merrill was born at New Berlin, Pennsylvania, the son of Sarah and James Merrill. He studied at the University at Lewisburg , graduated at West Point in 1855, was assigned to duty as second lieutenant with the First Dragoons, and served in Missouri, in Kansas Territory, and with the Utah Expedition. In 1861 he was appointed a first lieutenant with the 2nd Dragoons.
Source: Wikipedia