St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-10-17

nonading was heard at distance; several
times in various directions thought to be
encounters between the enemy and these
relief parties. on -, - .,:,,,.
The situation oof the Federal troops o ; grew rev
more desperate as day after day passed -
Within their lines were pickcted about
the wagons and trains, large number Of
horse and mules, nearly three thousand
in all, row serious cause of care and anx-
iety, for as shot and shell plunged among
them, many Of the animals were killed aud
wounded, and a general stampede was i'm.
minent., The havoc IN the center of the
entrepchment was Immense. :. Wagons
knocked to pieces, stores scattered and d.
stroyed, and the ground strewn with dead
horses and mules. :: .,.h..>.. W ~, i i !!
On "Wednesday, 1.-The 18th, az evil from
the first appr@hended fell upon, Col. Multi
gap's command. They were cut of from
the river and their water gave out. III For
tunately a heivy rain, at intervals, came
greatly:to their relief: But to- show how
severe the straits Of the mcn, the fact may
be stated Of instances occurring where SOL
diers held their blankets spreal out until
thoroughly wet; and then wrung them in.
to their camp dishes, carefully saving the
precious auid thus obtained" Ra,ions be-
gan to grow short. The fighting ut this.
time, from the 10th to the 2lst,, Knew lit
tie cessation. The nights were: brilliant
moonlight; and all night" long the roar Of
the guns continued, with an occasional
sharp sortie and skirmsh without the
works. :: go j
From the first but one spirit pcrvadef
our troops, and that was no thought or
word Of surrender, except among some Of
the Home Guards, who had done the leass
share Of the work and the fighting. Thc
cavalry behaved nobly, and could the tull
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 Gen: Mulligan a SUM
mons to surrender to which the gallant
commander sent a refusuF saying, "fyou
want us yo' must take ,ls. !" = Rut the: de-
fection and disheattenment of the Home
Guards intensified daily, and on: Friday,
the 2lst, khite COL Mullisan was giving
his attention to some matters in another
portion Of the camp, the white flag was
raised at his own instance by Major Beck
er of the Home Guards, from the portion
Of the cntrcnchmcnt assigned by him ."
Capt. Simpson, Of the Earl Rifles, called
Col. Mulligan's attention to Major Beck
er's action instantly, and the Jackso,
Gnard, Capt: McDermott, Of Detroit, we're
sent to take down that flag, which was
done: The heaviest part Of the fight Of
the day followed in a charge u pon the
nearest battery of the enemy, the Illinois
cavalry suffering severely ' -''":; :"5:
The Home Guards then left the outer
work and retreated within the line Of the
inner entertainments, about the college
building: refusing to fight longer, and here
again raised the white flag, this time from
the center Of the forti6cations, when the
fire of the enemy slackened and ceased.-
Under this state Of affairs, Col: -Mulli5 5an
calling his officers into council, decided to
capitu!ate. and Capt slcDermott went out
to the enemy's lines vitha handkerchief
tied to a ramrod, and parIoy took place
Major Moore, of the Brigade, was sent to
Gen: Prices headquarters, ut New Lex:
lngton, to know the terms of :capitulati6nI
These we're made unconditional, the officers
to be retained as prisoners of war, the men
to be allowed to depart with their personal
property, surrendering their arms and nc
coutrements. - ;'" ~ -
Reluctantly this was conceded to, and
the surrender took place. At 4 r. NJ,
on Saturday, the Federal forces having
laid down their arms, were marched 'out
Of their ent: :enchments to the tune of
"Dixie' played by the rebel bands. They
left behind them their arms and accou.
trements, rescrvinS only their clothing
Tho boys Of the Brigade many of them
wept to leave behind their colors, cacil
company in" the Brigade having ite own
standard presented to.i by their friends
At the surrender the lnnster rolls of'the
G ,mqpainiess' were taken to Gen. Prices head
quarters, the list Of officers made out, an!
these ordered to report themselves as pris
oners of war. ~,..
The scenes at the capitulation we're ie1-
traor linary.. Col. Mulligan shed tcar..
The mon threw themselves upon the
ground, raved and stormod in we'll nigh
frenzy, demanding to be led out ssaih aud
''inish til; thing 49, Ii Col: Marshall's
cavalry regiment the feeling was equally
great. Much havoc had already been
done among their horses during the siege,
and but little more than half Of them re-
mained. Numbers Of the privates actually
shot their own horses dead on the spot,
unwilling that their companions in the
campaign should nov falliato the >nemy )
hands.