New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-10-08
The Hat.le cf Lexington.
GEN. rRIcE,s OFFICIAL REroE1

|
une Battle ef Lexington. 's'S
GES. PRICE's oFFrcIAL REPoRT
HEADqCAHTERs MISSOURI STATE Gr4Rp
CArsp Wallace. Lexington, Sept. E3, 1851 s |
% Gose nor of the State of Missouri:
i have the honor to submit to your Exceuency /
the following report of the action which terminated
on the goth inst, with the surrender of the United
States forces and property at this place, to the
army under my command: a<
alter chastising the marauding armies of Lane
ana montgomery and. driving them out Of the
S'ate, and after compelling them to abandon Fort
scout as detailed in my last report, continued
my march towards this point with an army ncreas-
ing hourly in numbers and enthusiasm or 4
On the 10th inst, just we were about to en-
camp for the day, a mile or two west of Rose Hill
/ learned that detachment of Federal troops and
Home Guards were marching from Lexington to
arrensburg to rob the bank in that place and
plumber aud arrest the citizens of johnson county
III accordance with Gen. Fremont's proclamation
and Instructions. Although my men were greatly
fatgued by several days continuous and rapid
marching, determined to press forward so as to
surprise the enemy il possible at Warrensburg.
therefore, after resting few hours, we resumed
the march at sunset, and marched without inter |
mission until o'clockin the morning when it be-
came evident that the infantry, very few of whom
had eaten nouthful in twenty -four hours, could |
march no further. / then halted them, and went
forward with the larger par of my mounted men
till we came, about dayhreak, within view of War
rensburg where I ascertained that the enemy had |
hastily fled about midnight, burning the bridges
behind them. The rain began to fall about the
same time. tG VA. sr.fa IA |
This circumstance, coupled with the fact that my
men had been fasting for more than tw enty -four
hours, constrained me to abandon the idea OF pur
suing the enemy that day; my infantry and artfl-
lery having come up we encamped at Warrens- ]
burg whose citizens We'd with each other in feed
ing my almost famished soldiers. An unusually |
violent storm delayed our march the next morning
yyp than ahpl Fpryv arb
still hoping to overtahe the enemy. Finding it nl-
possible to do this with my infantry, | again or
deFed detachment to move forward, and placing
myself at their head, continued the pursuit to
within two miles and a half of Lexington, when,
having learned that the enemy yd3were already
within town, and it being late and my men tatigued
by forced march, and utterly without provisions,
| halted for The night. Tr
About daybreak next morning q sharp skirmish
took place between our pickets and the enemy's
outposts. This threatened to become general.
Being unwilling, however, to risk a doubtful en-
gagement, when short delay would make success
certain fell back two three miles, and awaited
the arrival of my infantry and artillery; these hay
ing come up, We advanced upon the town, driving
The enemy's pickets until we came within short
distance of the city ITSELF Here the enemy at
tempted to make stand, but they were speedily
driven from every position, and forced to take
shelter within their intrenchments. We then took
position Within easy range OF the college, which
building they had strongly fortified, and opened
upon them, a brisk fire from Biedsoe's battery,
which, in the absence of Capt. Bledsoe, who had
been wounded at Big Dry Wood, was gallantly
commanded by Capt. Emmett Mcdonald, and by
Parsons battery, under the skillful command of
Capt Gubor.
Finding, after sunset, that onr ammunition, the
most of which had been left behind on the march
from Springfield, was nearly exhausted, and that
my men, thousands OF whom had not eaten a par
tcle in thirtysiX hours, required rest and food
| withdrew to the Fair Ground and encamped there.
| My ammunition wagons having been at last
| brought mp, and large reinforcements having been
received again moved into town on Wednesday,
the 18th inst. and began the final attack upon the
| enemys works.
Brig Gen. Rains division occupied strong
position the east and northeast of the fortitica
| tons, from which an effective cannonading was
| kept up on the enemy by Bledsoe's battery, under
command, except on the last day, by Capt. Emmet
Mcdonald, and another battery commanded by.
| Capt. Churchill Clark, Of St. Louis. Both these
gentlemen and the men and officers under their
command are deservedly commended in accom-
| panying report of Brig. Gen. Rains. = g.
| Gen. Parsons took position southwest of the
| works, whence his battery, under command of
Captain Guibor poured a steady fire into the
| enemy.
Skirmshers and sharpshooters were also sent
| forward from both of these divisions to har-
| rass and fatigue the enemy, and to cut them off
from the water the north, east and south of the
college, and did inestmable service in the accom-
pishmcnt OF these purposes.
| Col. Congreve Jacksons division, and part of
Gen. Steen's were posted near Gen. Rains and
Gen. Parsons reserve, but no occasion occur
red to call them into action. They We're, however,
at all times vigiant aud ready to rush upon the
enemy. .-.,-
Shortly after entering the city on the 18th, Col
Rives, who commanded the fourth division in the
absence of Gen. Slack, led his regiment and Col
Hughes along the river bank, to a point imme
dately beneath, and west of the Notifications
Gen. McBride's command, and o portion of Gen
Harris having been ordered to reinforce him. Col
Riyes, in order to cut off the enemy's means o
escape, proceeded down the bank OF the river tt
capture steamboat which was lying just unde
their guns. Just at this moment a heavy fire wa
opened upon him from Col. Anderson's large dwell
ling house. on the summit of the bluffs, which the
enemy were occupying as a hospital, and upot
whcha white flag was flying Several companies
OF Gen. Harris command and the gallant soldiers
of the fourth division, who have won upon sc
many battle fields the proud distinction OF always
being among the bravest of the brave, Immediately
rushed upon and took the place.
! The important position thus secured was within
| 125 wards of the enemy's intrenchments. com
| pany from Col. Hughes regiment then took pos
session of the boats, one OF which was rlchll
) freighted with valuable stores. Gen. McBride'
} and Gen. Harrs' divisions meanwhile gallantly
storncd and occupied the bluffs Immediately mort
t of Andersun's house. The possession OF thes
e heights enabled men to harrass the enemy 81
greatly that resolving to regain them they mad
0 upon the house successful assault and one whic
1 would have been honorable to them had it no
:, been accompanied by an act OF savage barbarity-
the cod-blOoded and cowardiy murder of thre
{, surrendered themselves as prisoners. The position
thus retaken by the enemy was soon regained b.
3, the brave men who had been driven from it, ant
: was thenceforward held by them to the very ent
of the contest. -a-- I'D
2 The heights to the left of Anderson's house
which had rren taken, as before stated, by Gems
Mcbride and Harris, and by part of Gen. Steen'
command under Col. Boyd and Major Winston
were rndely fortified by our soldiers, who threw u
0 breastworks as well as they could with their sler
der means. On the morning OF the 10th inst.
caused number of hemp bales to be transpOrte
y to the river heights, where movable breashwo or
$ were speedily constructed out OF them By Gem
e Harris and Mcbride, Col Riyes and Major Winsto
:, and their respective commands. Capt. kelly's ba
0 tery (a1tlched to Gen. Steen's divsi0n) was o
derel at the same time to the position occupied !
n Gen. Harris force, and quickly opened very
feetlve lire, under the direction of it's gallant ca
/ tain upon the enemy. These demonstrations, al
Ii pnr'.uiarly the continued advance Of the hemp,
II brrns works, which were as efficient as the cott
5 bales at New Orleans, quickly attracted the ate
Il ton and excited tue alarm OF the enemy, W
3 made many daring attempts to drive bac
They were, however, repuised in every instaa
a. by the nnAinching courage and fixed determinati
c Of our nlch
ll In these desperate encounters the veterans
s hrBrilG's aid Stacks divisions fully Sustained tn
a. proud rerd,utjon. while Col. Martin lTrcen and
coalm&nd, aud Col Boyd aud Maj. Winston q