The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-10-04
The Siege of Lexington.

"'y 'huOhSbeu CdIDp at J6UefSO
City, were ordered to proceed I
Lexington, Lafayette county, 1G
miles up the river, to reinforce tn
troops already at that place, unde
Colonel Peabody, consisting of Sc,
eral hundred home guards, a fe,
Kansas troops, and a portion Of III
Missouri eighth regiment, Colone
White. with 700 OF the first regimen
Illinois cavalry, Colonel T. NJ. Mar
shall. These latter had precede,
Colonel Mulligan's force one weel
in their advance from Jefferson Citv
! Colonel Mulligan's arrival will
the lrish brigade swelled the fore
ut Lexington to about $500 men
Colonel Molligan taking the com
msnd as senior officer. The brigad,
reached Lexington on Monday, Sep
tember 9th, and found the attack b,
the enemy, under General Price, i'm
miDently threatening. No time wa
lost in the work OF intrenching thei
position, chosen about midway be
tween the new and old towns OF Lex
ingtOn, which are about mile apart
connected by scattering settlement
Midway stands solid brick edifice
built tor college, and about this Q
small breastwork had been already
begun.
BY Colonel Mulligsu's orders this
was extended, and the troops sci
about the construction of an earth.
work, ten feet in highth. with ditch
eight feet in width, enclosing large
area capable OF containing a iorce
OF 10 600 men. The army train con.
sisting of numerous mule teams, six
mules to team, was brought within
them. The supply of iutrenching
tools being inadequate. a thorcr1h h
search was made through both towns,
and every description of suitable or
available implements appropriated.
The work was pushed with vigor, the
heavy muscle of the brigade telling
well as the brave fellows toiled in
the trenches. This went on for three
days, or until Thursday, the 18th, at
which time the portion of the works
assigned to the Irish brigade was
we'll advanced, that OF the home
guard being sti.l weak Oh tie West,
or New Lexington side.
OF Lexington. il shoull be said in
advance that it has beer considered
Il most important point by the con.
'ederate forces, and their prepsra
tons for i's car..ure and occunancv
ahnhdan,ly declare this. Among
other proofs that it was a covert
prize was the fact tina, C'aib. Jackson
and the Legislature had been in srs-
sion there As late as only the week
previous to the arrival OF Colonel
MnlIigan, holding their session in
the Court house. whence Claib. fnl.
minated proclamation counter to
that OF General Fremont. When
this worthy BODY prudcntly retired
before the federal troops, they did SO
in such haste that eight hundred
thousand dollars IN gold cen, and
the state seals left in the vault OF the
bank, tell into the hands OF Colonel
Peabody.
The college building. within the
fortlticaiion, became Colonel Muli.
san's headquarters. The magazine
and treasure were stored in the Gel
Ter and suitably protected. The hos
pital OF our troops was located Just
outside the intrencenchmeuts, in a
North. Westerly direction. The riv
cr at that point is about half mile
wide, and about half a mile distant
from the Notifications. The bluff
there is high and abrupt. the steam
boat landing being at New Lexington.
After these several day : of anxious
watching and unremitting toll, by
the little force, on the afternoon o.
Thursday, the 18th instant, scouts
and advanced pickets driven in re.
ported the near approach Of the re.
bels. Atthis time Colonel Mulligar
had portion ol his small artiller,
in readiness. We had only six bras;
pieces and two howitzers, but hay ins
no shell the latter were useless
Two pieces belonged to the Kansa,
City company, and were worked by
them splendidly. The cavalry com
pany had only their side arms anC
pistols, and having no carbnes o
rifles, could do nothing at long range
Several mines were laid in from
OF the entrenchments by our men.
The attack on Thursday, the 10Th
was led by General Rains in person
with battery OF nine pieces OF ar
tillery on the angle least prepared t,
resist assault. The enemy we're re
pulsed with heavy loss. In the tigh
companies |, Captain Fitzgerald; X
Captain John Quirk; and & Captain
; Phillips, did gallant service.
As stated, the hospital had beel
located on the bank below the neS
> town, and contained about twenty
four patients. The attacking part
+, did not spare or respect this building
They were met by the Montgomer
guards, Captain Gleeson, who mad
q brave resistance, but were drive
back with the loss OF twenty-five {
their men killed and wounded. :
Captain Gieeson was shot throug
e the jaw ard badly wounded. III
gallant Montgomery made many (
the Texans bite the dust. This fgt
was very fierce. Some OF the sic