Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-10-03
THgLExTNGroN FIGHT.

THE LExINGroN FIGHT.
Private Letter from one Of the Home
Guards who Fought Under Col. HUI
ligan.
[From the St. Louis Democrat z
The following private letter which
we. are permitted to publish, gives
highly interesting account OF the recent
fight at Lexington: es.e
Lsxrseros. Sept. 81.
Ny DEAR FRIEND: Youewill receive,
before YOU see this, the intelligence ol
the surrender of the garrison At Lex
ington. The 6gbt which occurred on
Thursday OF last week, was but prelim-
mary to the greater fight which has
since taken place. and which resulted IN
the unconditional surrender Of the posi-
on Yesterday at 5 o'clock P. NJ.
On Wednesday last eur town and
fort were invested by force variousIy es-
timated at from 10000 to 80, 600 mer
under the command of Price, Rains
Parsons, Slack and who else l know
not. but certain it is, that the entire
army Of Jackson is here.
The fight was begun BY the Pickets
as early as 8 o'clock. and was continued
during the whsle of the night. Early
on Thursday morning it was resumed
and lasted to late hour of the evening,
when flag of truce was sent IN pro-
posing terms of surrender. which were
at once rejected by the officer in COM
mand.
By the dawn of day on the following
morning the fight was resumed. and
during that day many attempts were
made to carry the place by assault, in
every instance, however, the enemy
meeting a signal repulse, with great
loss. In the meantime the water had
given out. Indeed as early as Wednes-
day, it was announced that the water
had given out, and the men were warn
ed not to eat salt provisions for fear ol
provoking thirst-and for want Of water
no bread could be baked. Thus for
three days and nights did the brave
men endure the tortures Of continual
watching. Of hunger and thirst, till in
many instances they actually tainted in
the trenches. Add to all this. the fact
that there were near 1000 horses inside
the Notifications, many hundred oil
which had been shot in the early part
of the fight, and could not be removed,
and we're purifying in the sun, till the
stencil became insupportable, and you
can form some idea of the horrors with
which we we're surrounded, to say moth
ing of the dangers to which we were
continually subjected by the firing o
volleys of artillery and musketry from Z
foe concealed behind houses, banks ant
trees.
Late on Friday evening the fna
charge was made from behind hemp
bales, which had been rolled up fol
breastworks, and the fire was SO heavy
as TO force part of Col. Marshsll''
command-two companies Of Home
Guards and company of the Irisf
Brigsde-to retreat inside of the SECOND
breastworks. In this charge one of-tht
cannous of the Home Guards and {
brass piece belonging to the Irish Brig
ade were captured by Harris command
At this critical juncture detachment
, WAS sent by Col. Mulligan to sustain
the retresting forces, who returned tC
the charge, sailed outside the breast
works, drove the enemy before them
and captured both pieces of artillery
Immediately after this charge white
flag was sent in by Gen. Price, and Col
Mulligan, in view Of the condition OF biz
men. surrendered the post.
A more gallant defense is not or
record, and although suffering the ex
treme of hunger and thirst, the brave
officers and soldiers shed bitter tears al
the stern necessity which forced them
to strike their flag.
The thought that their Government
had neglected them in their need, and
had turned deaf ear to all their suppl
cations for assistance, was even more
painful than the physical torments they
endured.
OF the killed and wounded l car
scarcely venture an estimate. ThOs'
who profess to be informed tell me tha
the entire Federal loss does not exceed
one hundred and fifty in kille.l ant
wounded, of which only forty-two ar
yet dead, while the loss of the Stat
forces is certainly not less than lively
hundred. of which at least FIVE hundre'
are killed.
Nearly every house in town is hos
pital. The sadcest want prevails every
where throughout the country. Star
vation is staring us in the face; and me
who six months ago we're reporte
wealthy have not the means of provid
ing for their families single day.
THE PLATTE RIVER. TRAGEDY -Th
coroner's iury, in the case of the raj