The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-04
MULLIGAN'S FORCE TWO.THOU-
SAND SEVEN HUNDRED.
THEY THROW DOWN THEIR ARMS
AND REFUSE TO FIGHT.


ade received orders to proceed to Lexing
ton, to reinforce Colonel Marshall, who had
gone up week previous, to protect the
"Union men" of that place. But those
who were not Union men, embracing about
all of the population, were found too nu
merous, and about FIVE thousand butternut
colored rebels, under General Hughes, be-
ing in the neighborhood, Colonel Marshall
sent down for reinforcements
1heBrigade left Jefferson City on the
the first, and arrived at Lexington on the
seventh of September, having marched by
land the entire distance, 16O miles. We
found there Col Marshal's lst Illinois cav
airy and Col. Whites Sth Missouri infantry,
from st. Louis, together with about seven
hundred and fifty Home Guards, under
Colonel Peabody. The whole force, inclu-
ding Colonel Mulligan's regiment, was two
thousand seven hundred men.
The position where Colonel Marshall was
encamped was called Fort White Colorel
White of the Missouri Eighth regiment be~
ing in command until the arrival of Colo
nel MulIigan, who superseded him. En-
lrenchments had been thrown up, on
small scale, around the Masonic College
building, which served as general store.
house and magazine.
On the day after our arrival a contraband
came into camp and asked protection, says
ing his master had gone to join the secesh
army at Yorktown, about fifteen miles from
US. The enemy, we learned from him, were
about ten thousand strong, under General
Rains. Our scouts confirmed this state
ment the same day. Col. Mulligan imme,
diately dispatched Lieut.. Pease of company
d to Jefferson City for reinforcements.
Orders were also Immediately given to con-
struct entertainments, embracing an area
much larger than Fort White. The whole
command worked day and night, and on the
18th the works were rather more than half
completed. The breastworks were ten feet
high, and the ditch surrounding them about
fourteen feet wide. On that side next the
new town mines were constructed beyond
the ditch, communicating with our position
inside.
Our artillery consisted of two brass six
Founders, three iron six Founders and two
six inch mortars, for which we had only
about dozen shells. We also had but a
small supply of round shot and musket balls,
but plenty of powder.
On the l2th Tuesday, while we.were still
at work On the entertainments, our pickets
companies A and G, of Marshall's cav
alry-were driven in, Col. Mulligan inn
mediately sent out companies B, l, X and
q, Captains Glteson, Dan Qurk, Ftzger-
aid and Lieut.. Wallace), to entertain the
enemy. The enernys advance guard, about
5000 strong, were discovered in corn field
on the top OF the bluff near Old Town. We
Immediately fred upon them six volleys in
rapid succession, killing about six hundred
of them before they could form in line. We
lost in this part OF the battle eight killed
and fifteen wounded.
We retreated into our entertainments,
followed by the enemy, who brought up six
pieces OF cannon and commenced playing on
the college building, where our ammunition
ard all our provisions were stored. We
replied with all five of our guGs, giving
them round shot and shell to their heart s
content. The cannonading commenced
about 3 O'Clock P. M, and was kept up until
dark. We used up all our shells before
dark. We si.enced one of their guns by
knocking it to pieces, and killed, as we
learned afterward, about IS of their men.
We sustained no injury at all, except in the
ceased at dark.
The enemy did not recommeuce the bat j..
tie next day, for the reason that his reserve
forces had not yet come up. We took ad-
vantage of the interim to continue work on
our entertainments, working day and night.
After the battle of the 18th, in which
the rebels were repulsed, second messenger,
Lieut.. Ryan, Was dispatched to Jefferson
City for reinforcements.' He left Lexing-
ton on the steamer Sunshine, which boat
was captured by rebels on the way down,
and Lieut.. Ryan was made prisoner.
On the morning of the 18th, we discov>
cred that we were completely surrounded
by the enemy, who had cut US of from the
river entirely. His force was about six
times greater than when the battle COM
menced on the 18th.
The battle recommended at o'clock pre-
cisely, signal gun being fired from General
Prices headquarters at the court house in
the new town. The firing then recommended
with artillery on both sides.
The enemy continued fighting from the
18th to the 10Th inclusive, night and day
without interruption. During this whole
time we were without any water except
about twenty barrels in cisterns around the
college building. Most of this we had to
keep for hospital purposes. On the morn.
ing of the 18th it rained heavily for about
two hours, saturating our blankets, which
we wruDg out into our canteens for drink.
ing.
The rebels aimed most of their shots at
the college building, supposipg our maya.
zine to be there, where it was at first. But
after the engagement of the 18th we had re-
"a nursnu kho