Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-10-03

wetted as safeguard against rcd-hot
shot, and then were skillfully used TO
mask tho batteries Of the rebels, and
rolled forward as they made their ad-
vance
The fight went on thus for several
days, the enemy bringing more OF
their artillery into action. Following
the skirmsh Of Thursday, Muiligan
ordered portion of the old town on
the east to be burned to prevent the
rebels from gaining thcrcfrom the adj
vantage of shelter. Meanwhile, the
little garrioson already worn by labor
on the entrenchments, began to look
eagerly for the coming Of reinforce
ments.
On the 10th, Col. Mulligan had sent
Lieut.. Rains, of Co. X of the Brigade,
with squad of twelve men, on the
steamer Sunshine, to Jefferson City,
l60 miles distant, pressing the ncccs-
sity for reinforccments. Forty miles
below, the Sunshine was captured, and
Rains and his men brought back to
New Lexington and lodged as prison
erssin the old Fair Ground. Other
wcro sent off to guard
against the failure of any one.
The enemy were in sufficient force
to throw out parties to intercept the
Federal troops en- route for the relief Of
Col. Mulligan. Thus, y detachment
5000 strong met and turned back
1900 Iowa troops from Richmond,
sixteen miles from the river, they re-
treating, it is reported, to st. Joseph.
Our informant says heavy cannonad-
ing was heard at q distance, several
times by them in various directions
from Lexington, which they under
stood to be encounters between tho
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, n
large number of horses and mules,
nearly thrcc thousand in all, now q
serious 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 n general
stampede was imminent. The havoc
in the centre of the cntrenchmcnt was
immense. Wagons were knocked to
pieces, stores scattered and destroyed,
and the ground strewn with dead
horses and mules.
On Wednesday the 11th an evil
from the lirst apprchendcd fell upon
Col. Mnlligan's command. They were
cut oil from the river and their water
gave out. Fortunately a heavy rain,
at intervals, came greatly to their re-
lief. But to show how severe were tho
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 obtain
ed. Rations also began to grow short.
The fighting ut this time, from tho
10th to the 2lst, knew little cessa-
ton. The nights were brilliant moon
light, and all night long the roar Of
the guns continued, with an OCCASION
al sharp sortie and skirmish without
the works.
From the first but one spirit per-
vadcd 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 be-
haved nobly, and could the full details
DC written up, some Of their sharp,
brave charges on the encmy's guns
would shine with any battle exploit
on record.
Gen. Price sent Col. Mulligan q
summons to surrender, to which tho
gallant commander sent refusal,
saying, "lf You want us you must
take us' But the detection and dis
hcartenment of the Home Guards in
tensiiied daily, and on Friday the 2lst,
while Col. MulliSan was giving his
attention to some matters in another
portion of the camp, the white flag
was raised by Major Becker of the
Home Guards, from the portion Of the
cn:renchmcnt assigned to him.
Capt. Simpson of the Earl Rifles.
called Col. Mulligan's attention to
Maj. Becker's action instantly, and the
Jackson Guard, Capt. McDcrmott, Of
flag, which was done. The heaviest
part of the fight of the day followed
in q charge upon the nearest battery
of the enemy, the Illinois Cavalry
suffering severely.
The Homo Guards then left the out
er work and rctrcated within the inner
entrenchmcnts, about the college build
ing, refusing to fight longer, and hero
again raised the white flag, this time
from the centre of the Notifications,
when the fire Of the enemy slackencd
and ceased. Under this state of af-
fairs, Col. Mulligan, calling his officers
into council, decided to capitulatc, and
Capt. McDcrmott went out to the cnc-
my's lines, with handkerchief tied
to a ramrod, and parley took place.
Maj. Moore Of the Brigade, was sent
to Gen. Prices headquarters, at New
Lexington, to know the terms Of
capitnlation. 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 their arms and
accoutrcmcnt5.
Reluctantly these terms were accc-
ded to, and the surrender took place.
At 4 o'clock ?. NJ, on Saturday, Sept.
2lst, the Federal forces laid down
their arms, and were marched out Of
their entertainments to the tune Of
Dixie,' played by the rebel bands.
They left behind them their arms and
accoutrements. and reserved only
their clothing. Many of the men Of
the Brigade wept at being compelled
to leave their colors, each company
having n standard which had been
presented by their friends. The mus
ter rolls of the companies were taken
from them aud carried to Priccs head