Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-09-23
Further DetatIs or Iho LexIngton Firbt.
iespectinII.
G. W. BRooKE.

Further Details of the Lexington Fight.
The following gives the clearest idea Of
the situation at Lexington, No., OF any ao-
count we have yet seen. 1t is from the St.
Louis Evening News Of Friday.
The general impression is that Mulligan is
used up. We have received intelligence
from Lexington down to Wednesday night
at 10 o'clock, through Mr.. King, son OF ex-
Governor King,l of Ray county. Mr.. King
came to the city by the Hannibal & St. 10.
Railroad, travelling in company with Mr.
Wsson Of Ray county, who left the opposite
bank of the river from Lexington at 10 o.
clock on Wednesday night.
The Confederates, under Price, estimated
at 900 or 20, O0U in number opened FIRE
with artillery on the Federal garrison. Early
Wednesday morning the garrison promptly
responded, aud the cannonading from both
sides was kept up all day long, and until 10
o'clock Wednesday night, though it was
much weaker during the night than in the
day. The garrison were behind their en-
trenchments, around the Masonic College, at
the outskirts of ihe city, and about mile
from the river. The Coniederates were
making their main attack from the south
side of the city, but they had also taken pos
session Of the ;ity, thus placing the garrison
between two fires. They had seized three
steamboats, that had been sent up from JEFF
fsrs1n City with ammunition and stores for
the garrison, taking possession of boats and
cargOes. The garrison appeared 70 be making
gallant resistance, and it is the general be-
lief that il their ammunition held out they
would be able TO maintain their position till
the arrival OF reiniorcements. Gen. Sturgis
with 1000 men was at Knoxville Ray coun-
", twenty mileF north of Lexington, at noon
on Wednesday, and could by forced march
reach the river opposite the city by twelve
O'Clock that night, but as there were no
boats or skiifs on the north side of the river,
it is difhculT 70 see how he could eff ct pass
age Of the river in time to take part in the
engagement
Desloes GIN. Sturgis force, there was
another force Of three thousand men under
Col. Smith, and still another under Col.
Groesbeck, on their way to Lexington from
the Hannibal & st. joseph Railroad. The
force under Col. Smith had been sent from
St. Joseph at first in pursuit Of the Organized
rAbble army under Patton, Boyd and several
other leaders, that left St. Joseph last week !;
tut Gen. Pope, on learning of the precarioEs
situation of affairs at Lexington, dispatched
fresh orders to them to hurry on to that
place with all expedition. Mr. Wason like
wise states that there were thousands of per-
sons, men, womln and children from the
neighboring country, gathered on the banks
of the river opposite Lexington all day
Wednesday, aud up TO ten clock at night,
watching with intense eagerness the progress
Of the bsttle. They could mol get across the
river, however, TO the opposite side, and
were therefore ignorant of the result of the
fighting. Nothing was known as to how
many had been killed on either side, nor
whether the sssailants we're gaining any ad-
vantage.
Il Is probable the attack was renewed yes
terday morning, unless in the meantime,
Gen. Sturges had arrived and succeeded,
in some inconeeivsble manner, in crossing
the river in the face of hostile army. Rr.
King mentions q report current in the coun-
try below the Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail-
road, that fight had taken place somewhere
in Ray county between a portion of the
Federal troops sent to Lexington and large
force of secessionists, but no particulars
could be learned.