The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-10
The SIEGE OF LEXINGTON.

OlIOI VI OUs
SPEECH OF COL. MULLIGAN IN DETROIT.
At tho reception given to Colonel Muligan tho 10Th
ult the gallant Colonel delivered tho following speech
LADIES AND GENTEaEN-It is with no ordinary pleasure
that appear before you this night II is with peculiar
pride that stand in Detroit 50 sacred to the memories
OF the pastin the home Of that statesman (Cass) whose
life has been devoted to his country-that monument of
man living and embodying the history of the nation
God grant that he may live to country again
united. (Applalse.) II is with pleasure that stand
here in the homo of that whose blood has baptized
our great cause, for which he lies this night confined
hostile dungeon, When utter tn words OF bravery
and patriotism, you know embody the namo OF Wilcox
Of Michigan. prolonged cheersj And trust that the
time Is not far distant when he shall again stand
by the side OF CorcOran, OF the glorious Sixty
nnth--that loyal wall of true Irish hearts-rcsored
to the country which he has honored. (Checrs) Lot
| me now plainly and briefly relate the cir.
cumstances of little affair that happened us Mis-
souri, Just outside tho limits of Jefferson CITY, overlook
ing the broad Missouri, encamped two regiments
over which loated twin banners-binners which have
been twins in the past, and may they be in tho
future-the harp OF Ireland and the stars of America
(Applause.) Under these twin banners lay rockng
ana happy regiment as collected together II
the Irish Brigade OF Chicago At the hour OF mid
Marshals cavalry then threatened BY the enemy aud
with Thorn to cut their way through to Lexington and
hold il at all hazards The next morning the Irish
Brigade with its face set towards ngt0n We started
with forty rounds of ammunition and three days rations
and advanced for nine days without meeting the enemy
oragng upon the country the meantime for support
AS we moved along smoothcd his wrinkled brow
The chaplain mixed his admonitions with occasional
snatch Of an Irish melody. The Major a married
"Evor Of thoe Pm fond'y dreaming"
me Lieutenant Colonel was married man. and not to BIO
formal was married man, and followed the MAJOR.
anghter) Thus went on, until at length arrived
within two miles Of Lexington. The brigade sat down
pitched its camp, the rostcd and preparations
made for advancing into the city. We went in, with
solitary six pounder muzzed in and breechcd with
evergreens The had travelled nine days. by forced
marches, as it is called in the regular army yot thoy
Iayin Ini
Col Marshalls cavalry and few Home Guards, and l
wish for our sakcs, there had been fewer have very
vinciblc in peace and invisible in war. daughter
they generally content TO stay at home under tho
shallow Of tho paternal mansion and let tho country
take care Of itself say We found few of those Homo
Guards there. On the 10Th Of September lester
arrived from Col. Peabody, saying that he
treating from Warronsbdrg, twenty five miles distant,
and that Price was pursuing him with ton thousand
men fcw hours afterwards Colonel Peabody, with the
Thirteenth Missouri entered Lexington. We then had
$50 mon in garrison and forty rounds Of cartridges At
noon Of the 1lth commenced throwing up first in
trenchmonts In six hours afterwards tho enemy opened
their hie Col Peabody ordered out to meet thom.
The camp thon presented lively scene; officers
hnrryng hther and thither, drawing the troops up in
with his stat to tho bridge TO encourage his and to
plant his artillery Two six Founders planted OPP
pose tho enemy, and placed in charge of Capt Dan.
Qnirk, who remained at his post till daybreak II
night Of fearful anxiety. None knew vt what moment
the enemy would bo upon tho little band and the hours
passed in silence and anxious waiting 50 it continued
until morning. when tho chaplain rushed into hcadquar
tors, saying that tho enemy wcrc pusing forward
osr.a oa and the coons ~.
If his glass, saw General Price urging his
mon 70 the fight. Tney werc mot by Company X.
II the Irish Brigade under Captain Quirk, who held
them in check until Captain Dions company, Of the
Missouri Thirteenth drove them back and burned the
bridge. That closed work before breakfast. lmme
datey companies Of tho Missouri Thirteenth and two
companies Of Illinois cavalry wore despatched in search
Of the retreating onemy They engaged them IN
such extent delay their progress In order give
timo for constructing intronchmants camp
College Hill This had tho desired effect wo sue
ceeded in throwing up carthworks three or four foot in
height This consumed tho night, and was continued
during the next day, tho outposts still opposing tho
enemy, and Keeping them back far possible. At
three o'clock the afternoon Of tho 18th tho engage
mcent opened with artillery. voey Of crap
in front Of tho brcastworks. Tho guns within %he
Entertainments Immediately replied with yigor
which converted the scene into ono Of the Widest
description. The gunners were inexperienced ana
the firing was bad, Wo had tive six FOUNDERS, and
tho muskctry were firing at every angie. Those who
shooting ut the moon shooting above it
Iaughtcr) The men ordered to cease firing and
they arranged in ranks knoelng, the front rank
shooting and tho others loading The artillery
served with moro care, and within hour a shot from
of guns dismounei their largest piece twelve.
pounde, and exploded powder caisson This achieve
lnen lived with shouts Of ation by tho be-
lcagnrcd garrison The enemy rctreda distance three
miles. AT seven O'Clock the engagement had and
Lexington was ours again. (Applauso) Next morning
General Parsons with ton thousand a. his back
in flag of truce to little garrison OF 1900 men, asking
permission to enter the town and bury his dead claiming
that when the noble Lyon down his CORPSE fall.
his hands and he had granted cvory privilege
federal officers sent after It, IL necessary I'D
uco this a why he should BIO permitted to Dor
form act which humanity would dictate. Cheers The
roq est willingly granted and chccrfully assisted
in burying the fallen foe. On Friday the work of throw
ing up Entertainments went IL rained all day. the
stool knee docp in the mud, building them Troops
sent out to forage and returned with large quaint
ties Of provisions and fodder On Friday Saturday and
Sunday stole days provisions for 700 men
We had found provisions at Lexington and com
PEELED to get our rations as best could. quantity of
powder obtained and then large cistcrns were filed
with water The made cartridges the cellar of the
college building and cast one hundred and fifty of
shot for the guns at the foundcs Of Lexington During
the little respite the evening gave cast shot
made cartridges and stole provisions. zap
pause) We hal stacks of forage, plenty Of hams, bacon
&c. and felt that good times In store for Ali
this time our pckets were constantly engaged with the
enemy, and well aware that ten thousand men
threatening US, aDd knew that tho struggle to
be desperate one karthworks had been reared breast
high enclosing Of fifteen to eighteen acres and
surrounded by ditch Outside Of this circle OF
twenty one mines, and s!i further down wore
night of the 18th were getting ready the defence
and hoard the sounds OF preparation in the camp OF tho
enemy for the attack on the morrow Father Butler
went around among tho and blessed them and they
reverenty their heads and received his bene
drums beat to arms, and the terrible struggle com
menccd The cncmy's force had been increased TWEEN
ty eight thousand and thirteen pieces Of artillery
They came as one dark moving mass men armed to the
| teeth as far the eye could reach--mcn. men men
visible. They planted two batteries in front one
on the left the right and in the rear and
opened with terrible fire, which answered with the
| utmost bravery and determination Our spies had in
formed that the rebels ntGndei make one grand
| rout and bury In the trenches OF Lexington
The batteries opened at nine O'Clock and for three laws
they ceased to pour deadly shot upon u.s. About
| noon tho hospital taken. IL situated on
the left outside of the ntrcnchnens. | ha,
never thought it necessary build FORTH
cations around the sick mans couch | had
thought that among civilized nations, the soldier scken
ed and wounded in the service of his country would AT
least, be sacred But was inexperienced aud had vel
| to learn that such not the with the rebe :
They segcd the hospital took it, and the ba
and roof Seir sharpshooters poured deadly fire within
our intrenchinGniS 1t contained our chaplain aud sur
| geon and one hundr81 and twenty Wounded mon Ii
could not allowed 10 remain in the possession or the
enemy. company of the Missouri Thirteenth WAS or
dered forward TO rctake the hospital. They Started On
their GRAND but stopped at The breastwovks gonp moi
| out because II was bad TO go out Qaugftcr) A com
pany OF the Missouri Fourteenth oa ward but il
also shrank the task and rUfrssd move side
| the intrenchmeits. The Montgomery aGard CaptaI n
| Gleason of tho Irish Brigade, thep brought nt
The commander aimonished them that the Other had
| failed; aud with brief cNhortaton to uphold The
| name they bore, gave the word TO Charge" The
| distance eight hundred yards. They started
from tie intrenchments first quick, then doubt,
| quick, then n run then faster. The enemy
poured deadly shower OF bullets upon them but on the
went wild line Of steel aud what is better than steel