Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-11
Che 1l)ar Mems.
Gen. Prices Official Report of the
Battle of Lexington.

rug W MS arrival opposite Lexington,
with many of his troops suffering from a
weary march and utterly without pro-
visions, thus compelling him to halt for
the night, proceeds to narrate the sub
sequent events as follows:
about daybreak the next morning a
sharp skirmish took place between our
pickets and the enemy's outposts. This
threatened to become general Being
unwilling, however, to risk doubtful
engagement, when short delay would
make success certain, l fell back two or
three miles and awaited the arrival of M y
infantry and artillery these having come
up, we advanced upon the town, driving
in the enemy's pickets until we came
within q short distance of the city itself.
Here the enemy attempted to mako a
stand, but they were speedily driven
from every position, and forced to take
shelter within their intrenchments. We
took our position within easy range of
the college, which building they had
strongly fortified, and opened upon them
brisk fire from Bledsoe's battery, which
in the absence of Capt Bledsoe, who had
been wounded at Big Dry Wood, was gal
lantly commanded by Capt Emmett Nc
Donald and by Parsons battery, under
the skillful command Of Capt. Guibor.
Finding after sunset that our ammu-
milton, the most of which, had been left
behind on the march from Springfield 4,
was nearly exhausted, and that my men,
thousands of whom had not eaten par
tiele in thirty-six hours, required rest
and food, | withdrew to the Fair Ground
and encamped there. My ammunition
wagons having been at last brought up
and large reinforcements having been ret
ceived, | again moved into town on We'd
nesday, the 18th instant, and began tie
final attack upon the enemy's works.
BRIG. Gen. Rains division occupied a
strong position on the east and northeast
of the Qualifications, from which an sffec-
tive cannonading was kept up on the enc
my by Bledsoe's battery, under command,
except on the last day, by Capt. Emmett
Mcdonald, and another battery 1om-
manded by Capt. Churchill CLARK, ff St.
Louis. Gen. Parsons took pyTition
southwest of the works, whente BIZ bat
terry, under command of Capt. Guibor,
poured steady fire into the eneeay.
Skirmishers and sharpshooters were
also sent forward from both of these d.
visions to harrass and fatigue lle enemy
and to cut them off from the witer on the
north, east and south of the College, and
did incstimable service in the accom-
plishmeut of these purposes
Col. Congrcye Jaekson's division,
and part of Gen. Stems we're posted
near Gen. Rains and Gen. Parsons as a
reserve, but no occasion occurred to call
them into action.
j" Shortly after catering the city on
the 18th, Col. Rivos, who commanded
the fourth division ia the absence of Gen.
Slack, led his regiment and Col. Hughes's
along the river bank, to a point imme-
diately beneath, nd west Of the fortifi-
cations. Gen AcBride's command and
portion of Gcneral Harris's having been
ordered to rciyforct him. Col. Rives,
in order to cut af fhe eEemy's means of
escape, proceeded down the banks of the
river to capture a steamboat which was
lying just urdor their guns. Just at this
moment heayy fire was opened upon
him from Col. Anderson's large dwelling
house, onkhe summit of the bluffs, which
the enemy were occupying as hospital,
and upog which white flag was flying.
Several companies of General Harris
commf6d and the gallant soldiers of the
fourtlldivision, who have won upon so
many battlefelds the proud distinction of
always being among the bravest of the
brave, Immediately rushed upon aud took
the place.
z The important position thus secured
was within l25 yards of the enemy's en-
srenchments. A company from Colonel
regiment then took possession
of the boats, one of which was richly
freightcd with valuable stores. General
McBride's and Gen. Harris's divisions
meanwhile CALAMITY stormed and occu-
pied the bluffs Immediately north Of An
derson's house. The heights
to the left of Anderson's house which had
been taken, as before stated, by Gems.
Mcbride and Harris, and by part of
Gen. Stems command under Col. Boyd
and Major Winston, we're rudcly fortified
by our soldiers, who threw up breastworks
as well as they could with their slender
means. On the morning Of the Goth in.
slant, | caused number Of hemp bales
to be transported to the river heights,
where movable breastworks were speed
lily constructed out of them by Generals
Harris and Mcbride, Col. Rives and
Major Winston and their respective com
mands. Capt Kelly's battery attached
to Gen. Stems diyisiop) was ordered at
the same time to the position occupied by
Gen. Harris force, and quickly opened
very effective fire, under the direction Of
its gallant captain, upon the enemy.
These demonstrations, and particularly
the continued advance Of the hempen
breastworks, which were as efficient as
the cotton bales at New Orleans, quickly
rnn.;.ed the attention and excited the
- ), who made many
on Ja,sr !, hack. They
pulsed IN every ns- ~.
g courage and 6xed ~.
ar men.