The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-22
THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
Ofcisil Report of Gen. Price.

Offciil Report Of Gen. Price.
HEADQUARTERS MISSOURI STATE GUARD,
Camp Wallace, Lexington, Sept. %, 1861
To the Hon. Claborn f. jackson,
Gouernor of the State of Missouri:
| have the honor to submit to your Excellency
the following report of the action which terminal
ed on the 10th inst, with the surrender of the
United States forces and property, at this place.
to the army under my command
After chastsing the marauding armies of Lane
and Montgomery, and driving them ont of the
State, and after compelling them to abandon Fort
Scott, as detailed in my last report | continued
my march towards this point with an army in
creasing hourly in numbers anG enthusiasm
On the 10th inst, just as we were about to en-
camp for the day, mile or two west of Rose Hill,
learned that detachment of Federal troops and
Home Guards were marching from Lexington to
Warrensburg to rob the bank in that place and
plumber and arrest the citizens of johnson county,
in accordance with Gen. Fremont's proclamation
and instructions. Although my men were greatly
fatigued by several days continuous and rapid
marching, determined to press forward so as to
surprise the enemy, if possible, at Warrensburg
Therefore, after resting few hours, we resumed
the march at sunset, aud marched without inter
mission until II O'Clock i'll the morning, when it
became evident that the infantry, very few of
whom had eaten mouthfu in twenty-five hours,
could march no further. | then halted them, and
went forward with the greater part of my mount
ed men till we came, about day-break, within view
Of Warrensburg, where | ascertained that the enc
my had hastily fed about mid night, burning the
bridges behind them. The rain began to fall
about the time.
This circumstance, coupled with the fact that
my had been fasting for more than twenty
four hours, constrained me to abandon the idea
Of pursuing the enemy that day; my infantry and
artillery having come up, we encamped at War
rensburg, whose citizens vicd with each other in
feeding my almost fanshed soldiers. An unusu-
ally violent storm delayed our march the next
morning till about 10 o'clock; we then pushed for
ward rapidly, still hoping to overtake the enemy
Finding it impossible to do this with my infantry,
[ again ordered detachment to move forward,
and, placing myself at their head continued the
pursuit to within two and a half miles Of Lexing-
ton, when, having learned that the enemy were al
ready within town, and it being late, and my men
tatigued by forced march, and utterly without
provisions, L halted for the night
About day break the next morning sharp skir-
mish took place between our pickets and the ene-
my's outposts. This threatened to become gen
eral. Being unwilling, however, to risk double
engamement when short delay would make sue
cess certain, l fell ba k two or three miles and
awaited the arrival of my infantry and artillery
These having come up, we advanced on the town,
driving in the enemy's pickets until we came with
in a short distance Of the city itself. Here the
enemy attempted to make a stand, but they were
speedily driven from every position, and forced to
take shelter within their entertainments We
then took our position within easy range of the
coil ge Which building they had strongly fortified,
and opened upon them brisk fire from Bedsoe's
battery, (Which in the absence of Capt Bledsoe,
who had been wounded at Big Dry-Wood, was gal
l,, Il, JoJ h1, IN y
and by Parsons Battery, under the skillful COM
mand Of Capt. Guibor.
Finding after sunset that our ammunition, the
most of which had been left behind on the march
from Springfield, was nearly exhausted, and that
my men, thousands of whom had not eaten par
ticle in 80 hours, required rest and food | with
drew to the fair ground and encamped there. My
ammunitipn wagons having at last been brought
up, and large reinforcement having been received,
| again moved into town Oh Wednesday, the 18th
inst and began the final attack upon the eneny's
works,
Brig Gen Rains division occupied strong
position on the east and northwest of the fortif
cations from which an effective cannonading was
kept up on the enemy by Bledsoe's battery, under
Capt. Emmett McDonad and another battery
commanded by Capt Churchill Clark of St Louis.
Both of these gentlemen and the men and officers
under their command, are deservedly commend
ed in the accompanying report of Brig. General
Rains
Gen. Parsons took position south west Of the
works, whence his battery, under command of
Capt. Guibor, poured steady fire into the enc
my.
Skirmishers and sharpshooters also sent
forward from both Of these divisions to harass and
fatigue the enemy, and to cut them off from the
water the north, east, and south OF the col
lege, and did inestimabe service in the accomplish
mcnt Of these purposes
Colonel Congreve Jackson's division and part
of Gen. Stcen's were posted near Gen. Rains and
Gen Parson reserve, but occasian occurred
to call them into action. They were, however, at
all times vigiant and ready to rush upon the
enemy.
Shortly after entering the city on the 18th,
Col Rves, who commanded the fourth division
in the absence of Gen. Slack, led his regiment and
Col. Hughes along the river bank, to point i'm
mediatey beneath and west of the tortifcations-
Gen. Mc}ridc's command and portion of Gen.
Harris having been ordered to reinforce him.
Col. Rives, in order to cut of the enemys
of escape, proceeded down the bank Of the river
TO capture steamboat which was lying just under
their guns. Just at this moment heavy fire
was opened upon him from Col. Anderson's large
dwelling house on the summit of the bluffs, which
the enemy were occupying as hospital, and upon
which white flag flying. Several cOmpa-
MICS of Gen. Harris command and the gallant
soldiers of the 4th division, who have won upon
so many battle-felds the proud distinction of al
ways being among the bravest Of the brave imme-
diately rushed upon and took the place.