The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-10-05
LATEST FROM LEXINGTON.
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.
PARTICULARS OF THE SURRENDER.
r.eu .As cores sa.s... :. .a.ca.s.ss res..

received orders to proceed = Lexington ia
reinforce Col. Marshall, who had gone up
abou. week previous to probe. the Union
men Of that place. But thoe who were
not Union msn-embraeing abous oil the
population-were found too Numerous, and
about 5000 coloredrebe,s under
Gen. Hughes, being in the peighborhood,
Col. Marshall sent down hs reinforce
ments.
The position where Col. Marshall was
eneamped was called Fort White, Col.
White, Of the Missouri Sth Regiment being
in command until the arrival Of Col. Mall
ligan, who superseded him. Entrenchments
had been thrown up on rather small scale
around the Masonic College building, which
served as general store-house and maga-
zine.
Orders were Immediately given to con-
struct entrenehments embracing an area
much larger than T Fors White. The whole
command worked day and night, and on the
| 10Th the works were rather more than half
completed. The breastworks we're ten feet
high, and the ditch surrounding them about
/ fourteen feet wide. On the side next the
new town mines were constructed beyond
the ditch, connecting with our position
inside.
Our artillery consisted Of two brass si1-
Founders, three iron six-pounaers, and two
six inch mortars, for which We had only
about dozen shells. We also had but q
small supply Of round shot and musket
balls, but plenty Of powder.
On the 10Th, Thursday, while We were
still at work on the entrenchments, our
pickets were driven in. Col. Mulligan i'm
mediately sent out four companies to en-
gage the enemy. The enemy's advance
guard, about Eve thousand strong, were dis
covered 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 into line. We lost in thi,
part Of the battle eight killed and ffteer
wounded.
We rctreased into our entrenchments
followed by the enemy, who brought up 81,
pieces of cannon and commenced playing on
the college building, where our ammunition
and all our provisions were stored.
On the morning of the lisa we discovered
that we were completely surrounded by thu
enemy, who had cut US off from the rivel
entirely.
The enemy continued firing from the l1tt
to the Goth inclusive, night and day, without
interruption. During this whole time VI
were without any water except about twenf!
barrels in cisterns around the college build
ing. Most of this we had to keep for hos
pital purposes. On the morning of the l9tt
it rained heavily for about two hours, satu
rating our blankets, which We wrung ou
into our canteens for drinking.
During the 18th and 18th the rebels made
very poor progress, getting no nearer to VI
than when the battle begun. On the 1911
they commenced erecting breastworks o.
hemp bales, from behind which they con
tinued their fire, while they rolled then
towards US. About three O'Clock in th'
afternoon Of that day they charged ove
the en.renchments upon Col. Peabody
Home Guards, and planted their flag upor
the top of our breastworks. The irIsi
Brigade were ordered to leave their position
on the opposite side to retake the groun'
which Col. Peabody had lost. We fred OF
the run and continued at double quick
The rebels scattered and fed like flock o
sheep, bu. left the top Of our breastwork
covered with their dead. We killed abou
six hundred in this single charge, and cap
tured their flag. We lost about thirty
killed and wounded. They had no bayonet
and most Of their weapons were shot guns
and we did no. give them time to use evel
these. They fred only at random. Col
Mulligan received buck shot in the leg
which passed through the calf, tanning bu
no. disabling him. This was the end o
the action on that day, except the cannona
ding, which continued during the night.
On the 2osh, (Friday) they brought u
, more cannon to their hemp-bale battery OF
the hill. Between ten and two o'clock VI
made three charges upon this battery. VI
were led by Col. White Of the Missouri
Eighth. Col. Mulligan being scarcely abl
to walk. Col. White and his men Tough
travely during the whole battle. Col. Whit
. ia one of the bray est Of men. Col. Mulligal
relied more upon him than upon aDy cthe
officer Of his command. 10 the last charg
upon the rebel battery, about three o'clocl
Friday afternoon, be was shot through to
lungs, and died on Saturday morning.
Six diferen. times during the siege, .h
, rebel. were allowed TO approach the en-
t.snchments on the side next the city to th
edge Of the ditch. When regiment ha
: got sufficiently near, onr boTs inside waul
; explode mite, serding them Up into the al
$ and hurting ,hprn prsmiscuously in ever
, direction. slaashsering shem By hundreds
, Six mines we're thus exploded under thei
. feet, aud they evidently began 70 regar
Il tha. side Of the entreuehmsn's as = 5sugs:
Gus lecslitv.
Immediately after the charge 10 shic
: Col. Waite xas killed, M7jar Bsker, 1T Co
.Psaaody's uons Guards. planted lag