New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-10-03
The Siege and Surrender of Lexington.
NORTHERN PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHT.
a COMPLETE VICTORY ADMITTED.

We are indebted, says the Memphis Appeal of
Tuesday, to gentleman in the army at Columbus,
for copy of the Chicago Tribune of the 25th ult,
from which we extract the following particulars
of the battle at Lexington, Missouri, as given to
the public by the Northern press. 1t will be seen
that they acknowledge the completeness of the
victory gained by the Confederate forces, and also
that there is an ingenious attempt to lessen its i'm
portance before the Northern public. We extract
at length:
On Sunday, Sept. /, the Irish Brigade, Col. JAS
| A. Muliigan, who were then in a partially en-
trenched camp at Jefferson City, were ordered to
proceed to Lexington, Lafayette county, one hun
dred and sixty miles up the river, to reinforce the
troops already at that place, under Col. Peabody,
consisting of several hundred Home Guards, a few
| Kansas troops, and a portion of the Missouri
Eighth Regiment, Col. White, with 700 of the First
| Regiment Illinois cavalry, Col. 7. NJ. Marshall.
These latter had preceded Col. Mnlhgans force,
| one week in their advance from Jefferson City.
| Col. Mullgan's arrival with the Irish brigade
swelled the force at Lexington to about $500 men,
Col. Mulgan taking the command as senior officer.
| TIE brigade reached Lexington on Monday, Sept.
| 9th, and found the attack by the enemy, under
| Gen. Price, imminently threatening. No time was
| lost in the work of .entrenching their position,
chosen about midway between the new and old
| town of Lexington, which about mile apart,
| connected by scattering settlement. Midway
stands solid brick editice, built for college,
| and about this small hreastwork had been
| already begun.
By Col. bIulligan's orders this was extended, and
the troops set about the construction of the earth
work, ten feet in height, with ditch eight feet in
width, inclosng large area capable of contain
ing force of 10000 men. The army train, con
| sisting of numerous mule teams, six mules to
| team, was brought within this. The supply OF H.
trenching tools being inadequate, thorough search
was made through both towns, and every descrip-
ton Of suitable or available implements approprl-
| hp wpr, nushpG
| 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 well advanced, that OF the
Home Guard being still weak on the west, the
New Lexington side.
The College building, within the Notifications
| became Col. Mulligan's headquarters. The maga.
zine and treasure were stored in the cellar, and
suitably protected. The hospital of our troops was
located just outside the intrenchments, in north
westerly direction. The river at that point is about
half mile distant from the fortifcatons The
bluff here is high and abrupt, the steamboat land
ing being at New Lexington.
After these several days of anxious watching anC
unremitting toll, by the little force, on the after
noon of Thursday, the 18th instant, scouts and ad
yaneed pckets driven in reported the near ap
proach of the rebels. At this time Col. MugaI
. had a portion of his small artillery in readiness
We had only six brass pieces and two howitzers
but having no shell the latter was useless. Tw'
. pieces belonged to the Kansas City company, ant
were worked by them splendidy. The cavalr,
company had only their side arms and pistols, Int
| having carbnes rifles, could do nothing a
long range.
Several mines were laid in front of the intrench
ments by our men.
! The attack on Thursday, the 18th, was led by
Gen. Rains in person, with battery OF nine pieces
of artillery on the angle least prepared to re5ls
; assault The enemy were repulsed with heavy
| loss.
contained
twenty four patients. The attacking party did not
spare or respect this building. They were met BY
J the Montgomery Guards, Capt. Gleeson, who made
brave resistance, but were driven back with tnt
loss of twenty-five of their men killed and wounded
The gallant Montgomery made many of the Tex
ans bite the dust. This fight was very fierce
Some of The sick were actually bayonetted o
D sabered in their cots. Rev. Father Butler al
y esteemed Catholic clergyman of this city and tn
Il chaplain of the Irish Brigade, was wounded in tn
forehead by ball which passed across it, layin
DR.. Winer, surgeon of the brigade, thus deprivn
the regiment OF the valuable services of both dur
e ing the dark and trying days that followed, pre-
e ceding the surrender.
The issue of the 18th warned the enemy that the
had task before them which was no easy one
and they commenced on Friday morning ne1
system of approaches. They secured the entr
region for its staple hemp in bales. These wer
| thoroughly wetted as a safeguard against red-hC
shot and then were skilifully used to mask tn
batteries of the rebels and rolled forward as the
!. made their advance.
IS The fight went on thus for several days, the enc
e nv bringing more Of their artillery into actor
st Following the skirmish of Thursday, h1ulliga
d ordered portion OF the old town on the east t
be burned, to prevent the rebels from ganin
}, therefrom the advantage of shelter. Meanwhile
the little garrison, already worn by labor on th
intrenchments, began to look eagerly for the con
" ing of reinforcements.
On the 10th, Col. bfulligan had sent Lieutenal
Rains, of Company K, of the brigade, with squa
| of twelve men, on the steamer sunshine, to Jete
son City, one hundred and sixty miles distan
pressing the necessity for reinforcements. FOr
miles below, the Sunshine was captured, and Rail
and his men brought back to New Lexington, al
lodged as prisoners in the old Fair Ground. 9th