The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-03

Brigade, with squad of twelve men,
on the Steamer Sunshine, to Jefferson
City, 100 miles distant, pressing the
necessity for reinforcements. Forty
miles below, the Sunshine was cap
tured, and Rains and his men brought
back to New Lexington and lodged as
prisoners in the old Fair Ground.
Other messengers were sent off to
guard against the failure of any one.
The enemy were in sufficient force to
throw out parties to intercept the Fed.
eral troops en- route for the relief of
Col. MuIligan. Thus, a detachment.
5000 strong, met and turned back
1900 Iowa troops from Richmond, six
teen miles from the river, they retreat
ed, it is reported, to St. Joseph. Our
informant says heavy cannonading was
heard at distance, several times by
them in various directions from Lex
ington, which they understood to be en-
counters between the enemy and these
relief parties.
The situation of the Federal troops
grew more desperate as day after day
passed. Within their lines were pick
eted about the wagons and trains,
large number of horses and mules,
nearly three thousand in all, now seri-
Gus cause of care and anxiety, for as
shot and shell plunged among them,
many of the animals were killed and
wounded, and from the struggles of
these latter the danger of a general
stampede was imminent. The havoc
In the centre of the entertainments was
immense. Wagons were knocked to
pieces, stores scattered and destroyed,
and the ground strewed with dead
horses and mules.
On Wednesday the 18th, an evil
from the first apprehended fell upon
Col. Mulligan's command. They were
cut off from the river and their water
gave out. Fortunately heavy rain,
at intervals, came greatly to their re-
lief. But to show how severe the
straits of the men, the fact may be
stated of instances occurring where
soldiers held their blankets spread out
until thoroughly wet, and then wrung
them into their camp dishes, carefully
saving the priceless fluid thus obtained.
Rations also began TO grow short. The
fighting at this time, from the 10th to
the 2lst, knew little cessation. The
nights were brilliant moonlight, and all
night long the roar of the guns con-
tinued, with an occasional sharp sortie
and skirmsh without the works.
From the first but one spirit pervad-
ed our troops, and that was no thought
or word of surrender, except among
some of the Home Guards, who had
done the least share of the work and
the fighting. The cavalry behaved
nobly, and could the full details be
written up, some of their sharp, brave
charges on the enemy's guns would
shine with any battle exploits on record.
Gen. Price sent Col. Mulligan a sum-
mons to surrender, to which the gallant
commander sent refusal, saying, If
you want us you must take u.s." But
the detection and disheartenment of
the Home Guards intensified daily, and
on Friday the Dist, while Col. Mulligan
was giving his attention to some mat
tiers in another portion of the camp, the
white flag was raised at his own in
stance by Major Becker Of the Home
Guards, from the portion of the en-
trenchments assigned to him.
Capt. Simpson, of the Earl Rifles,
called Col. Mulligan's attention to Maj
Becker's action instantly, and the Jack
son Guard, Capt. McDermott, of De-
troit, were sent to take down that flag,
which was done. The heaviest part of
the fight of the day followed in charge
upon the nearest battery of the enemy,
the Illinois crvalry suffering severely.
The Home Guards then left the outer
work and retreated within the line of
the inner entertainments, about the COL
lege building, refusing to fight longer,
and here again raised the white flag,
this time from the centre of the FORTH.
cations, when the fire of the enemy
slackened and ceased. Under this
state of affairs, Col. Mulligan, calling
his officers into counsel, decided to ca
pitulatc, aud Capt. McDermott went
out to the enemy's lines, with a hand
kerchief tied to ramrod, and parley
took place. Maj. Moore, of the Brigade,
was sent to Gen. Prices headquarters,
at New Lexington, to know the terms
of capitulation. These were made un-
conditional, the officers to be retained
as prisoners Of war, the men to be al
lowed to depart with their personal
property, surrendering arms and accou-
trements.
Reluctantly this was acceded to, and
the surrender took place. At 4 P. M.
on Saturday the Federal forces having
laid down their arms, were marched
out of the entertainments to the tune
of Dixie" played by the rebel bands.
They left behind them their arms and
accoutrements, reserving only their
clothing. The boys of the brigade
many of them wept to leave behind
their colors, each company in the Bri-
gade having its own standard presented
to it by its friends. At the surrender
the muster rolls of the companies were
taken to Gen. Prices headquarters, the
list of officers made out, and then or
dered to report themselves as prisoners
of war.
The scenes at the capitulation were
extraordinary. Col. Mulligan shed
tears. The men threw themselves upon
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