The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-09-28
T he seige and Surrender OF Lexington
QUINCY, ILL.,, Sept. %, 1861.
Eight O'clock P. ~


Mr.. EDlroR:-I have just returned from the
river, W. ere have seen about eight hundred Of
the soldiers of Col. Mulligan's command, from
Lexington, and as many more are to arrive to.
night. I conversed with several very intelligent
men and learned the following particulars.
One week ago Thursday, the Rebels first at
tackled Col. Mulligan's command, which consist
ed of the Irish Regiment, Col. Peabody's Regi-
ment Of Mssourians, and about four hundred
cavalry, in ull twenty-seven hundred. They
soon withdrew ard waited for reinforcements,
although they then had fifteen thousand! On
Monday the skirmishing was renewed. and also
on Tuesday was kept up at intervals. On Wed.
nesday they bad received large achievements,
and commenced the fight in good earnest, and
then commenced fight which lasted Fifty nine
hours without any cessation. During all this
time Mnlligans men could get no water to drink
and the only way they could cook, was to dig q
trench and throw up q bank protection, and
then cook some gridle cakes and few at that, as
there was but little water.
A flag of truce was kept on the Hospital
which was just outside Of the camp, but the
enemy shot into and took it, and treated the
wounded brutally. But they were driven away
from it at length, by two companies, who charg
ed upon them at the point of the bayonet.
At about five o'clock on Friday night, Major
Thresher Il think is the nancy of Col. Peabody's
command, run up the flag of truce without con
sulting COL Mulligan. The latter then said !,
was no use of fighting longer. Then these 27,Oo
men surrendered to Mirty-three thousand arm
ed rebels. All the arms, knapsacks, canteens,
and everything but their blankets were taker
from then. They were then all sworn not te
fight against the Confederacy, excepting the of.
ficers. All the officers, including the Lieutenant.
arc kept as prisoners, and at 8 o'clock on Sat.
urday, the poor unted soldiers started to walk
fifty miles, to the Hannibal l. ST. Joseph rail
road, some two hundred fainting on the way,
| until they could get water.
Only about forty of our men were killed, and
from one thousand to fifteen hundred of the re
| bells.
Col. Mulligan was then marched out, and Civ
en- the privilege Of being shot or telling where
| the money was buried with the State Seal He
| told them Of course.
The men all say that when they marched into
Lexington, Union Gags were flying and the Ia.
| dies waved their handkerchief, &C. But when
the enemy were found to be the strongest, the
whole city and country around turned agsinst
them, and shot them from the tops of houses
Aud when they came away, scoffed at them, and
refused them even drink of water
Col. Lane and Major Sturgis were expected to
reinforce them from different directions. The
rebels told them that they sent seven thousand
men to meet Lane, and that they had driven
him back with immense loss. Also that
they had driven Major Sturgis from his position
taking his two cannon, all his tents, &c.
They hold Peabody's Regiment q prisoners,
IS they are Missourians. They declare them TO
be traitors to the State, and having been found
in treason, they should be shot
Yours, In haste,
B. B. JoHsoN.