The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-10-04
Further from Missouri The Attack
on Lexington.--The Account Of
the Enemy! H'

on Lexington.--The Account OF
the Enemy! H'
We have received copy of the st.
Louis evening NcVs of the, 20th inst, fur.
nished by friend. IL gives the follow.
ing accout of the attack make on I.exing-
ton by Gen. Price, and the progress of
the fight up TO ten o'clock on the night
of the 18th inst. The city is now, doubt
less, in possession of our forces, General
Price having, from nll we can learn, tri-
bumphed In the final assault .,.,...'
We have received intelligence from
Lexington down to "Wednesday night at
ten o'clock, through Mr.. King, son of
ex.tiovernor King, of Ray county. ;l !.
~ Mr.. King came to the city by the Ham
nibal and st. Joseph railroad, travelling
In company with Mr.. Wasson, of Ricll-
mond, Ray county, who left the opposite
bank of the river from Lexington, at 10
o'clock "Wednesday night. b1a .,s u
The Confederates, under Price, estina-
ted ut $1,000 to 0,OO in number, opened
fire with artillery on the Federal garris on
early Wednesday morning. The garri son
promptly responded. and the cannonWle
from both sides wns kept up all day long
and until ten o'clock on "Wednesday
night. though ii was much weaker during
the night than in the day.
| The garrison were behind their en-.
.trenchnients around the Masonic College,
! at the outskirts of the city, and about a
were making their main track from the
| Al 4. 4 - 4 l,,t haI L.
taken possession of the city, thus placing
the garrison between two fires. They
had seized three steamboats, that had
been sent up from jefferson City with
ammunition and stores for the garrison,
taking possession of boats and cargoes.
The garrison appeared to be making a
| gallant resistance. and it is the general
belief that if their ammunition held out,
they would be able to maintain their posi-
tion till the arrival OF reinforcements.,
Gen. Sturgis, with 1000 men was at
Knoxville. Ray county, twenty miles
north of Lexington, at noon on Wednes-
day, and could, by forced march, reach
the river opposite the city by l2 o'clock
that night; but as there were no boats. or
skiffs on the north side of the river, it is
difficult to see how he could effect pass.
age of the river in time to take part in
the engagement. ...0.
Besides Gen. Sturgis' force, there was
another force OF 1000 men under Colonel
Smith, and still another under Col Groes-
beck. on their way to Lexington, from
the Hannibal and st. Joseph, iailroad.-
The force under Col. Smith had been sent
from st. Joseph, at first. in pursuit of
the halforganized and rabble army of G000
men under Patton, Boyd and several
other leaders, that left st. Joseph last
week; but Gen. Pope. on learning of the
precarious situation of affairs at Lexing-
ton. dispatched fresh orders to them to
hurry on to that place with all expedi-
ton.
Mr.. Wasson states that there were
thousands Of persons, men, women ano
children, from the neighboring county
gathered or the banks OF the river op
, posite Lexington. all day Wednesday
and up to ten o'clock at night, watching
with intense eagerness the progress o
the battle. They could not get acros
the river, however. to the opposite side
} and were therefore ignorant Of the result
. OF the fighting. Nothing was kown as T.
how many had been killed on either side
nor whether the assailants were gainin
any advantage. r...
l 1t is probable the attack was renewc,
: yesterday morning, unless in the mean
time Gen. Sturyis had arrived and sue
ceeded, in some inconceivable manner
in crossing the river, in the face OF
r hostile army. ....,
I Mr.. King mentions report current j
q the country below the Hannibal and 81
= Joseph railroad, that fight had take
place somewhere in Ray county, betwec
: n portion Of the Federal troops sent
: Lexington and large force Of Secession
q lists; but no particulars could be learned