American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-10-19


: From a narrative of the seige and capture
of Lexington, published by the Chicago Tri- /
bun., we take the following. No definite /
Statement of the loss is given, but we can
arrive at it correctly enough, for in the be-
ginning of the account it is said that the |
force rsasler .AuIlig an, when first beseiged, /
eFss $780, and it will be seen below that
4I5O0 strong is given the number of privates
liable to march after the siege was over. The
, Fellows fought desperately enough, it would !
.eppear; but they we're surrounded and could
not away:
The enemy commenced on Friday morning
Ia new system of approaches. They secured
the entire region for its staple, hemp in bales.
, These were thoroughly wetted as q safeguard
against red hot shot, and then were skilfully
used to mask the batteries of the rebels, and
rolled forward as they madetheir advance
The fight went on thus for several days,
the enemy bringing more of their artillery
into action. Following the skirmish of
Thursday, Mulligan ordered portion of the
) ,old town on the east to be burned, to prevent
the rebels from gaining therefrom the advan-
aage of shelter Meanwhile, the little garri-
son, already worn by labor on the entrench-
rnents, began to look eagerly for the coming
of reinforcements.
The situation of the Federal troops grew
3 more desperate day after day passed.
Within their lines were picketed about the
wagons and trains, a large number of horses
asnd mules, nearly three thousand in all,
"a serfogs cause of care and anxiety, for as
shot aud sheH plunged among them, many
the animals. were killed aud wounded, and
! srom the struggles Of the latter the danger of
: a general stampede was imminent. The hay-
, -oc in the center Of the entertainment was
immense. Wagons were knocked to pieces,
= stores scattered and destroyed, and the
ground strewn with dead horses and mules.
On Wednesday the 18th, an evil from the
airst apprehended, fell upon Col Mulligan's
i command. They were cut off from the river
and their water gave out. Fortunately n
heavy rain, at intervals, came to their relief.
But to show how severe were tie straits of
the men, the fact may be stated of instances
occurring where soldiers held their blankets
spread out until thoroughly vet, and
, then wruug them into their camp dishes,
carefully saving the priceless fluid thus
obtained. Ratiens also began to grow
short ghe Sighting at this time, from the
10th to the 2lst, knew little cessation. The
nights were brilliant moonlight, and all night
long the roar Of the guns continued, with an
occasional sharp sortie and skirmish outside
1he works.
From the first but one spirit Pervaded our
troops, and that was no thought or word of
surrender, except among some of the Home
Guards, who had done the least share of the
work and the fighting. The cavalry behaved
nobly, and could the full details be written,
soraa Of Sbarr, bravo cl,arrras ON tI,a
enemy's guns would shine with any battle
exploits record
Gen. Price sent Col Mulligan a summons
TO Surrender, to which the gallant command
er sent a refusal, saying, q If you want US
you must take US" But the detection and
disbursement of the Home Guards intensi
fed daily, and on Friday, the 21st, Will,
Col Mulligan giving his attention Il
some matters in ahother portion of the camp
the white flag was raised at his own instance
by Major Becker, of the Home Guards, from
the portion of the entertainments assigned
to him.
Capt. Simpson, of the Earl Rifles, calIet
Col. Mulligan's attention to Major Becker
action instantly, and the Jackson Guard
Capt MeDermott, of Detroit, were sent t.
take down that flag, which was done. TIL
heaviest part of the fight of the day follows
"a in charge uPon the nearest battery of tn
enemy the Illinois cavalry suffering severely
The Home Guards then left the outer wor
and retreated within the line of the inne
entertainments, about the college building
refusing to fight longer, and here again raise
the white flag, this time from the center
tho fortihcations, when the FIRE of the enem
-slackened and ceased Under this state c
affairs, Col Mulligan, calling his officers int
econncil. decided to capitulate, and Cap
McDermett went ont to the enemy's line.
q with handkerchief tied to a ra,nrod an
parley. took place. Major Moore, of til
brigade, was sent to Gen. Prices headoual
tiers, at New Lexington, to know the terms {
scapitulation. These were made uncon ditiop
al, the officers to be retained as prisoners
swar, the men to be allowed to depart wit
their personal property, surrendering the
81 arms and accoutrements.
e a. Reluctantly this was acceded to, and IL
q Surrender took place. At4P. NJ on Satu
e day the Federal forces, having laid dow