The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-09-28
THE SIEGE OF LEXINGTON.
The Surrender Of Col. Muilignn-Partic
ularS Of tho Fight


On SUNDAY, Sep LIST, the Irish brigade, Co.
onel jaime, \. Mulligan, who were then in Il
partially cnircuched camp u, jefferson CITY
were ordered TO proceed To Lexington, Iaiay-
cite county, one hundred and sixty miles up the
nver, to reinforce the troop, AT that place, un-
DIR Col. Peabody, consisting Of several hun.
dred Home Guards, few Kan,as troops ard 4
portion a the Missouri Sth regimrni, Col
White, with 200 Of the LIT regiment Illino,
cavalry, Col. 7. NJ. Marshall. These latter haC
preceded Col. Mulligans force the week il
their advance from jefferson City.
Colonel Mullig ans arrival with the Irish bri
gade swolled the force at Lexington to abou
$500 men. Colonel Mulligin taking the CON
mand as senior officer The brigade reached
Lexington on Monday, September oh, and
found the attack by the enemy under General
Prize imminently threatening. No time was
lost In the work ,f intrenchng their position.
chosen about midway between tho cid and now
towns OF Lexington. which are about "a mile
apart, connected by a scattering settlement
Midway stands solid brick ediicc Lullt for
college, and about this small breastwork had
already been begun.
BY Col. Muligan's orders this was extended.
and the troops set about the construction of nm
earthworh ten feet in height, with a ditch eight
feet in width. enclosing a large area rap,bls of
containing force If 10000 men Lexington
has been CO. sidered most important point by
the Confederate forces. Cabe Jackson AMI his
legislature had been in session there only the
week previous. When this worthy body nm
IDENTIFY retuei before the Uoicn troops. thew did
10 IN such haste that eight hundred thousand
dollars IN gold coin, and the state seals left in
the vault Of tho Bank fell into the hands of Cd,
Peabody,
Thurday, the 18th inst scouts and advanced
pickets driven IN, reported the near approach of
the rebels. AT this time Col. Mulligan had
portion OF his small artillery in readiness. We
mad only blk brass pieces and two howitzers
but having no shell, the latter were useless
Two pieces belonged TO the Kansas City compa-
ny, and were worked by them splendidly. The
cavalry company had only their side arms and
pistols, and having no carbncs or rifles could
do nothing at long range.
Severed mines were laid in front Of our ell
tenchments by our men.
The attack on Thursday, the 18th. was lcd Ia,
Gen. Rains in person, with a battery Of nine
pieces OF artillery on the angle least prepared Ia
resist assault. The enemy were repulsed with
heavy loss.
The hospital had been located ON the bank
oeiov ihe new town, and contained about
tweniy-iouT patients. The attacking marty did
not spaie or respect this building. Thry wrrr
met by the Montgomery Guards, Capt. Glea Son
VINO made brave resistance, but were driven
back, with the loss Of %. The fight was y,ry
herce. SIine of the sick were actually hayonci
cd or sahrrd in their cots. Rev. Father Butler.
talhollc Clergyman OF this CITY,
anu the chaplain OF tire Irish brigade W
wounded N the ioreheld hy ball which pa s
across IT, laying open the SKIN. lie was tax, "
prisoner, ~ also was DR.. Winner, surgeon of The
brigade, thus dcpriying the regiment of Il o
valuable services Vt 10th, during the dark and
trying days that followed, preceding the sur.
render
The ste Of the 18th warned the enemy tina,
they had ta'k before them which was no easy
one, and they commenced on Friday morning
q new system of approaches. They secured
the whole region for its staple, hemp in bales.
These were thoroughly wcttcd, a. a slisgutrd
against red hot shot aud then were skillfully
us t 70 max the batteries Of ths rebels, and
rolled forward as they made their advance.
The tight went on thus for several DAYS. the
enemy bringing more Of their artillery into a.
ton. Following the skirmish of 'Ihutd,y
hulligan ordered a portion Of the Old town On
the east 70 be burned T. prevent the rebels from
gaming therIrom the advantage of shelter.
Meanwhile, the little garrison, alIeaiy worn
by labor on the entertainments, began 10 look
eagerly for the coming of Teintorcements
On the 10th Col. Mulligan had sen, Lieut..
Rains, u Co. X, Of the brigade, with squad
Of twelve men on the steamer Sunshine, to JEFF,
ierson CITY, 100 miles distsn', pressing the ne
COSTLY for endorsements. Forty miles below
the Sunshine was captured, and Rains and his
men brought back to New Lexington aud
lodged rs prisoners in the old fair ground
Other me sengers were sent Off to guard against
the failure Of any one.
The enemy were in sufficient force 10 throw
out parties TO intercept the Federal tIoops en-
route for the relief Of Col. Mulligan. Thus a
dotachmen 5000 strong met and turned back
], 500 Iowa hoops from Richmond sixteen
miles from the river, they retreating il ia re-
ported, to 81. Joseph; Our informant says heL
Wy cannon aiding was heard at distance, several
times by them In various directions from lex
ington, which they understood to be encoun-
tiers between the enemy and these relief par
ties.
The situation Of the Union troops grew more
desperate rs day after day passed. On Wedaes-
day, the 18th, an evil, from the first apprehend-
%, len upon Col. Mulligan'S command. They
we're Guy OF from the river, and their water
ssrs oni. Fortunately, heavy rain, at inter.
Na'S' came greatly to their relief. The tight