The national Republican., 1861-09-28
me sltat OF Lzx'Ne1oN.
ThA Hlf1Grandar of Col. Mnlliran
PARrI, ULARs or TIM FIGHT.
MMNFSY Or THE IRISH BRICApE,
SCENES ANO INCIDENTS OF THE
SIEGE.

cthNHD hNV aNSsVCNlo . VT lnC
SIEGE.
Y ! IN IT, nor. tEl1
On Sunday. September 1st, the Irish Brigade.
Colonel James A. Muiligan, who were then IN
partially cntenehed camp al jefferson City
were ordered to proceed to Lexington, Iafay
ettc county, 100 miles up the river, to reiuforce
the troops already at that place, under Col
Peabody, consisting Of several hundred HON,
Guards, few Kansas troops, and a portion
the Missouri eighth regiment, Col. White, with
700 of the first regiment Illinois cavalry, Col.
I. II. Marshall These latter had preceded
Col Mulligan's force oae week in their advance
from jefferson City. -.
Col. Mullgan's arrival with the Irish Brig
ade swelled tho force at Lexington to about
$500 men, Col. Mulligan taking the command
as senior tficer. The brigade reached Lcxiug.
ton on Monday, September 9th, and found III,
attack by the enemy, under Gen. Price, imtni
nent!y threatening. No time was lost In th
work ot entrcnching thcr position, chose
about midway between the new and old towns
Of Lexington, which are about q mile apart
connected by q scattering settlement. Midway
stands solid brick editce. .built fer college,
| and about this smali brcastwork had bc0h
| ALREADY begun. r..grN
BY Colonel Muligan's orders this was ex
tended, and the troops set about the construc
ton Of an earthwork, ten feet in height, with Q
ditch eight feet In width, enclosing a large area
capable Of containing a force Of 10000 men
The army train consisting Of numerous mule
teams, six mules to u team, was brought within
this The supply Of entrenchiDg tools being
inadequate, thorough search was made through
both towns, and every description Of suitable
or available implements appropriated. The
work was pushed with great vigor, tho heavy
mutcle Of the brigade telling well, as the brave
fellows toled in the trenches. This went on
for three days, or until Thursday, the 18th,
| which time TIE portion Of the works assigned
| 70 the Irish Brigade was well advanced, that Of
The Home Guard being still weak on the west,
1 Or New Lexington side. ..l .......
| or Lexington, It should be said in advance that
It has been considered a most impor tanL poiD,
blythe Confederate forces, and their propara
lions for its capture and occupancy abl'ndsntly
declare this. Among other proofs that It was
a coveted prize was the fact that Claib Jackson
and his Legislature had been in session tber.
as late as only the week previous to the arrival
OF Colonel Mulligan, holding their sessions in
the courthouse, whence Claib Illuminated o
proclamation counter to that of General FrI
mont. When this worthy body prudsntly re
tired before the Federal troops, they did so in
such haste that eight hundred thousand doll irt
In gold coin, and the State seals left in thevaul
OF the bank, fell into the hands Of Colone
Pcab ,dy. .r .r .-Uef
The college building, within the fertilization
became Colonel Mulligan's headquarters. Tn,
magazine and treasure were stored In the Gel
lar, and suitably protected. The hospital o
our troops was located just outside the en-
trenchment, In norihweserly direction. Tn
river at that point Is about half mile wide
and about half mile distaut from the fortifica
ions. The bluff there is high and abrupt, th'
steamboat landing being at New Lexington.
After these several days OF anxious watching
and unremit,ing toll by the little force, o.
the afternoon OF Thursday, the 18th instant
scouts and advanced pickels driven in reported
the near approach of the rebels. At this tim,
Col. Mulligan had portion Of his small artil
lery in re adiness. We had only six brass piece
and two howizers, but having no shell, th
latter were useless. Two pieces belonged t,
the Kansas City company, and were worked
by them splendidly. The cavalry COMPANY
had only their side arms and pistols, and hav
Fling no carbines or rifles, could do nothing u
EloDg range. ,au
Several mines were laid in font Uf the Ell
trenchments by our men.
The attack on Thursday, the 18th, was lc,
by Gen. Rains in person, with battrry Of hin,
pieces Of artillery on the angle least prepare'
to resist assault. The enemy were rcpuise,
with heavy loss. In the fight, companies
Capt Fitzgerald; X, Capt. John Quirk; aud G
Capt Phillips, did gallant service.
As stated, the hospital had been located OF
the bank below the new town, aud contained
about twenty four patients. The attackin;
party did not spare or respect this building
They we're met by the Montgomery Guards
Capt Gleeson, who made brave resistance
but were driven back with a loss of 25 of thei
mon killed and wounded Captain Glecson Wa
shot through the jaw, and badly wounded
The gallant Montgomery made many Of th,
Texans bite the dust. This fight was yer,
, fierce Some of the sick were actually bayou
etted or sabred in their cots. Rev Fa;he
Butler, an esteemed Catholic clergyman o
this city, ard III chaplain of the Irish brigade
was wOuuded in the forehead by n ball whcl
passed across It, laying open the skiu lie wa
taken prisoner, as also was Dr.. Wincr, sur
geon Of the brigade, thus depriving the rcgi
ment of the valuable services Of both, during
the dark and trying days that followed pre-
cedipg the surrender.
The issue of the 18th warned the enemy tha
they had task before them which was no cus
ONE, and they commenced on Friday mrrnr
new system OF approaches. They secured IN
entire region for lis staple, hemp in baies
These were thoroughly wetLcd as a salegusr
> against red.hot shot, and then were akillul
used 10 mask the batteries OF the rebels, an
rolled forward as they made their advance.
The fight went on thus for several days III
enemy bringing more OF their artillery iCt
action. Following the skirmisb Of Thursday
y Mulligan ordered portion OF the old town o
the east to be burned, to prevent the rebel
from gaining thcretrom the advantage of she
ter. Meanwhile the little garrison, alrcad
" woru by labor on tie eutrenchments, began
look eagerly for the coming of reinforcement
a On the 10th, Colonel Mulligan had sent LIZ,
tenant Rains, Of company K, Of the brig1d
with squad Of twelve men, On the steam
B. Sunshine, to Jefferson City, 100 miles distan
pressing The necessity for reiuforcements. Fort
miles below, the Sunshine was captured, M
Rains and his men brought back to New lie,
Is ington and lodged as prisoners in the old ia
v ground. Osher messengers were sent Off
- guard against the failure OF any one.