The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-01
Incidents Of the Fight at Lexington.
- PARkMAN. o.. Oct. "a. 1861.

y
mentof the movements ofsihe Federal
troops at Lexington, Mo-, at the time Of
ils capture BY Price, in September last,
seems well worthy Of being. put upon
record. 1t may be Of value when the
history Of the War comes TO be written
At any rate, it will interest your readers,
as it is from a Geauga boy who "was
there's" Dill
On the 7,h Of September, Col. Peabody,
at the head OF the l3.h Mo. Volunteers,
with the Kansas City Home Gualds and
Lexington Home Guards. and Col
Marshall's Isl Ill. Cavalry, marched from
Lexington toward Warrensburg. In all,
there were 1900 men, having with them
two pieces Of artillery. On The morning
Of the OH, they were about 80 miles from
the last mentioned place, which they en-.
tered about an hour after dark, and went
into camp. About two hours after they
had encamped, word came that Price was
within six miles with 5000 men. A re-
treat. was then commenced for Lexington.
The Federal troops reached there on the
llth late in The afternoon, and took up
their quarters in the Seminary buildings.
AT that time. Col. Mulligan's Irish Brig
ade was posted before the college, with
entrenchments in their front, and on both
sides, and in.the rear OF the college. Col.
Marsba.l's cavalry oamped on The right,
aud about three or four hundred feet in
the rear of the Brigade.
Early in The morning OF the l2th, the
Con federa'e or Cor rOJ6ey .ate vanguard
commenced firing on the Federal pickets.
These were Immediately reinforced by
several companies Of the 18Th Mo. ",
together with one company Of the Brig.
ade, and some Of the Home Guards, who
relieved each other and Kept up s,rag.
Cling fight until about one o'clock in the
afternoon. when the Federal pickets were
driven in, and the Confederate main BODY
approached. When the latter were with
in short distance, the 18th and the
Home Guards were drawn up in line Of
battle, and then, with their baggage.
marched for the intrenchments around
the college. Here they were formed into
a square with their baggage in the centre,
and directly in front of the left wing OF
the Brigade, and outside of the entrench.
ments. Companies A and Z Of the 18th
Mo. Vol, were next marched abont 4
half mile directly in front Of tho Brigade,
and dep!oyed as skirmishers. When
coming out OF cornfeld and graveyard
in that locality, they met a regiment Of
the Coniederaies. which they drove back
about !orty rods into another cornfield;
through which between four and five
thousand more OF the enemy we're nd.
vancing. Companies A and L then fell
back in good order. and entered tile en-
lrenchmeuts, within which the whole of
The Federal forces were now collected ex.
cept Col. Marshalls cavalry. This body
wss still draw up onthe left front of the
Brigade. As Companies A and E came
in, Company L, Of the 18Th and one com.
pany OF the Home Guards went out and
depioyed as skirmishers about 90 rods
from the Brigade. They were soon driven
in, together with the cavalry. as ,- I
| Upon this, the Confe9eraIes advanced
and planted their cannon in front of the
left OF the Brigade, and opened 6rc with
two pieces. which was answered BY one
piece from the 18Th, and one from the
Kansas City Home Guards. About sun
down. one Of ,he enemy's cannon was
dismounted, and one Of their caissons
blown up. when they reliled in great dis
order. This day .hey lost some 600 in
killed. wounded and missing. (Adjutant
DR.. Grail saw nearly seventy OF these
lying dead in the corntield the next morn.
ing.) .... ....... ,..-.a.
After the blowing up of the caisson. the
Confederates retired, and did not, appear
again till the l7ih. They then attacked
the entertainments with 800 men( accord
ing To their own statements on the 2Ist, J
and after nearly three days constau
, lighting, Col. Mulligan surrendered. -
Previous to the surrender.a white Nag w as
displayed; not by The 18Th Mo-, however,
i, but by some OF the Kansas City or Lex,
, ington Home Guards. So far from think
ing OF q surrender, some companies OF
3 the 18th actually imagined, when the
firing ceased, that portion OF the attack
ing forces had surrendered. ...,...
. On the morning OF the Goth the Fed
! eral dead were 81 their wounded, 600.
The Confederate loss in the three days
tight could not have been less than. 1900
: : killed and wounded, Most OF the fight.
: ing Of these three days was done in the
raviIes between the works and the river,
and was sustained on the Federal side by
: few comp panies of the Brigade and Home
Guards, by Co. b Of the I3;b Mo-. and by
, the cavalry, Company B Of the 18Th. re-
! captured the Hospital at the point Of the
bayonet, and was again driven out by the
: enemy's artillery. This company lost ia
, charges on and in the hospital. 80 killed
and wounded Yours truly.
: .- ... ... ]. C,S.
III The Rnrnino wall ..