St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-10-17
The Siege of Lexington Missouri

The Chicago Tribune Of yesterday con-
tains long account Of the siege Of Lex
ington. Itappears Col. "MulGgan was or
dered on the lst to leave Jefferson City,
and protect Lexington. Ho arrived with
his brigade at Lexington on the 9th: The
work. Of fortifying the town was perform
ed principally by his Irisamcn, the Home
Guards working slowly as they afterward
fought badly: a.. -"
On the afternoon of Thursday, the 18th
inst, scouts and advanced pickets diiven
in reported the near approach Of the rab.
els. At this time CO.! Mulligan had a
portion of his small artillery in readiness
We had only six brass pieces and two how
itzers, but having no shell, the latter were
useless. Two pieces belonging to tn.
Kansas City con,pany, and were worked
BY them splendidly. The cavalry COM
pany had only their side arms and pistols,
and having no carbines or rifles, could do
nothing At long range.
Several mines were held in front Of the
intrenchment by our men.
The attack on Thursday, the Eth, was
led by Gen. Rains 10 person, With a bat
terry of nine pieces Of artillery, on the an
gle least prepared to resist the assault. -
The enemy were rcpulsed with heavy loss.
The hospital had been located on the
bank below the new town, and contained
about twenty y-four patients The attack
ing party did not spare or respect the
building. They were met by the Mont
gomery Guards, Capt. Giceson, who made
brave resistance, but were driven back
with the loss of 25 Of their men killed and
wounded. Capt. Glceson was shot
through the jaw and badly wounded. The
gallant Montgomery made many of the
Texans bite the dust! The fight was very
fierce. Some of the sick were actually
bayoneted or sabred in their cots Rev.
Father Butler, an esteemed Catholic clcr-
gyman Of this city and the chaplain of the
Irish Brigade, was wounded in the FORE
head by ball which passed across it,
laying open the skin. He was taken pris-
oner, as also was Dr. Wi1er, Surgeon of
the Brigade, thus depriving the regiment
Of the valuable services Of both, during
the dark and trying days that followed;
proceeding the surrender. .. & - -
The issue of the 18th, warned the enc.
my that they had task before them which
was no easy one, aud they commenced on
Frida1 morning new system Of approach
es. They secured the entire region for
its staple, hemp in bales. These were
safely wetted as safeguard against red
hot shot, and were skil'fully used to mask
the batteries Of the rebels, and rolled for
ward as they made their advances:
The fight went on thus for several days,
the enemy bringing more Of their 'artille-
~ into action. Following the skirmish
Of Thursday, Mulligan ordered q portion
Of the old town, on the east to be burned
to prevent the rebels from gaining there
from the advantage Of shelter Mean:
while, the little garrison already worn by
labor on the entreuchments, began to loak
eagerly for the coming Of reihforcements.
On the 10th, Col. Mulligan had sent
Lieut.. Rains, Of company K Of the Bri:
gade, With squad Of twelve men, on the
Steamer Sunshine, to Jefferson City; 100
miles distant, pressing the necessity FOR
reinforcements., Forty miles below, the
Sunshine was captured, and Raios and his
men brought back to New Lexington and
lodged as prisoners 10 the old Fair Ground.
Other messengcfs we're sent of, to guard
against the failure 81. any one. ? ':''- 81
The enemy were in insudcisntforce to
thtowS out parties to intercept the Federal
troops enrout for tho relief Of Cof Multi.
gan. Thus q detachment 5000 strong
met and turned back 1900 Iowa troop,
lfrom Richmond, sixteen miles from the
river, they tetreating, it ig,teperted, u 81
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