Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-23
THE POSITION AT LEXINGTON.
THE REBELS ROUTED Al IsLUE
MILLS LANDING.

The dispatches which follow were received
previous to the above, and explain the situl;
ton as it was understood before the later in.
telligence was received
ST Louis, Sept 22-In order 10 correct
confusion and the many contradictory stale
ments relative to the position at Lexington
and to the opposing forces of Col. Mulligan
and Gen. Price, it is deemed necessary 10
make the following explanation =
The general direction of the Missouri River
at Lexington is from west to east, the city
lying on the south bank The early settle
ment now called "Old Town, is situate back
on the hill, and has been superseded by New
Lexington further up the river, where is the
steamboat landing, and which is the main
city. Muliigan's Notifications are on the
ridge running at right angles between the
two towns, They surround the masonic
college buildings, standing about quarter OF
mile from the river, which has been used RS
quarters for the troops, aud strengthened to re.
sist an artillery attac,. The line of iortifica.
tioas runs down to the river bluff, between
which and the waters edge is a wide shelving
beach. This is the point where the conflict
took place On Tuesday for possession Of the
ferry boats.
The main body of Prices army is situated
at Old Town, but the Notifications have been
assaied from all sides except the river. On
Thursday last week an attack was made from
the Old Town by strong party Of rowing rcb
els, who were repulsed with considerable loss,
and Old Town was shelled and burned, to pre-
vent its being used as a shelter. Lexington
proper is in possession OF Price, but 1t Is not
being the theater Of the conflict,
The reinforcements which left Jefferson City
on Wednesday, il they we're not assailed by
batteries along the shore, must have reached
the neighborhood OF Lexington, yesterday.
These troops could doubtless have been landed
on the south side of the river, and the steam
ers could cross to ferry over Gen. Sturgis
command and the combined forces, number
ing twelve thousand, could march on LeXing-
ton, and, with the assistance OF Mulligan's
heroes and Gen. Lane S command, attack and
completely rout Prices whole army.
SECOND DISPATCH.
ST.. LOUIS, Sept. ,22.--The following ac-
count of the battle at Blue Mills Landing is
from authentic sources Lieut.. Col. Scott
with $40 men OF the third Iowa regiment, and
one piece OF artillery, left Cameron Monday,
10Th, in pursuit of the rebels who lett
ST. Joseph on the Friday previous. Scott
arrived at Liberty, Clay county, on the
morning of the 18th, and moved from that
place al one A. NJ. AT three o'clock he fell in
with the enemy $500 strong, aud occupy ing
a strong position. Our skitmishers received
a CALLING DIRE and retired to our main
body when the action became general
Our six pounder was brought to bear on the
enemy, and few shots were fired, which
proved destructive. AT this time heavy fire
was opened on our single gun, killing one
gunner and wounding two Others On this,
several other gunners, Germans from St
Louis, abandoned the gun, carrying OIL the
primer and matches, rendering the piece use
less. The action continued an hour when our
column was withdrawn to more open ground,
bringing off the wounded and carrying away
the gun by hand, all the horses having been
killed or badly wounded
About this time, Colonel Smith, who LETT st.
Joseph with 400 men, about the same time
that Scott left Cameron, for the same general
purpose, Joined the latter, having passed for.
ward his mounted men aud artillery at a rapid
pace, on receiving a message from Scott, ten
miles back, that he was advancing on the enc
my. But, it being night, their men complete.