Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-09-25


The general direction Of the Missouri
River a. the city Of Lexington is from vest
70 east, as II is marked, the city lying on
The south bank. Old Lexington is the
early settlement situated back on the hill.
Il has been superseded By New Lexington,
farther up the river, where the steamboat
landing noR is. New Lexington is the
msin city. There are scattering houses
along the bluff between the two, and both
are now united under the one name Of
Lexington. Ils sfI5s
Col Mulligans Publications are between
the two locations, consisting Of heavy
earthEorks, ten feet in height, with a ditch
OF eight leet in width. These Qualifications
surround college building, which has been
used as quarters for the soldiers, and has
also been strengthened to resist an artillery
attack. The lines of the fOrtifcations are
extensive, and We hazs- -haaa-Aaas.-:sj -
capable Of cohtaining a loree OF 1V,VVO
men.
The main body Of the srlny Of General
Prics is located at Old Lexington, from
which point the attack has been made,
though the Fort has been sssailed on all
sides. The occupants Of the Fort had q
skirmish on Thursday Of last week with
party Of rebels, not, however, under Price
at the time, who sheltered themselves be-
hind the houses in Old Lexington. To de-
prive thsm OF this advantage, the old town
vas afie7W ward shelled and burnt by order
Of Col Mulhgan. New Lexington. or Lex
ington proper, is in possession of the reb-
els, bit the city is not nor has il been the
theater Of conflict. Col. Mulligan could
easily she'll and destroy ii, but this, Of
course, he will not do, unless under some
contingency which is net now apparent
The liae o. the forti6oations runs down
to the river bluff, and from the bluff to The
waters edge there is 8 wide, shelving
beach. The boats reported to be captured
laid at the waters edge, within the direc'
tions of the lines Of the fort, and on this
bead e where g severe struggle ensued on
Tues - r-the possession Of the boats.
TEE SITUATION AND TIE PROSPECTS,.
Col. Mulligsn's force consists Of his own
rsgimeat Col Marshslls cavalry regi-
ment, and Peabody's command Of about
six hundred Home Guards and Kansas
troops, the whole amounting TO from $500
to 5000 msn. As 70 their supplies Of pro
visions and ammuni tion little is known
The assurance OF an abundance Of both
would set the question Of tie result strest
for Mulliean cannot be taken, whatever
the force Of Price against him, unless mis-
powder and shot or his provisions grow
short. ,.s-.
Gen. Priess strength is not ascertsined,
but may be put down anyWhere between
fifteen and twenty thousand men. He hai
plenty Of artillery, but must be short o.
powder and shot, for he has had no ade
quste stores to draw upon since the Spring
field battle. u
As we stated yesterday morning, thl
Thirty-ninth Ohio, Col. Groesbeck, th'
Third Iowa Col Scott, the Sixteenth Ill
nois, Cnl Smith, with q force Of MissOuF
State militia and Iowa State troops undei
Colonels Craynor and Edwards, shout three
handred Irregular aud regular cavalry
and sig pieces Of artillery, left st. JOSEPH
and chflfoothe in two divisions on Sunday
morning, and, according to cur best ad
vices, arrived on the banks Of the river op
posifs Lexington on Wednesday, night o.
Thursds7 morning. The capture Of tn
three boats By the rebels Of course pre-
vented them from at once crossing tn
river. and II they gave Col Mulligaa an.
assistanes at al on Thursday, il Was from
their artillery, the river at that point Be
ing only half mile In width. The char
acIer Of that artillery, We learn, does no
include Sny- moriars or hcWitsers will
which shell might be thrown over the blui
into thsmidst Of Prices i0rces. If this b
true, de only service that could have beer
rendered vas the commsnd On ths bead
of the river side Of ihe forti6cati0ns, AM
ths destruction Of the three bosfs IN ID
hands Of the rebsis, should they have ai
Ter pted 70 hold Or use fbem Ne learnel
yessrdsy, from high sources, that thes
reiaforosnents would b augmented o
Thursday OF Thursday night by snDthe
division, undeE Gen. siurgis, who had be
lying 1t Hudson City, and the whole fore
on tie NORTH side of he river opposite Ie.
ington would, On yesterday, number ab0I
six thousand men. Beyond the mere graf
foation stdhe sight Of friends, Col. Null
gan had, up % yesterday, derived no beI
eft from their nearness, except that
stirred his heart, stiffened up the sineV
ofhigzslIsntlitils behd, and shooufagi
them to hope and bold last. 20
Ous readers VIII remember that Ia
Jefferson City sdvieeH noted the departuI
from tnat plsess On WsfnesdAy last,
thfss steamers for lexington. having
board the lSth, 22d, 24th and 23th. .lRdiaI
refimsnto; also that the steamers De
moines and White CleHd, With troops fro
81. Iauis had passed up in company VA
then, making the total force under Hay
r tftl