Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-10-05
THE LEXINGTON FIGHT.
Account OF the Attack on Col. NJ al
iSnn by an escaped
e. a. Cavalry Officer. f.

LEXINGTON, Sept. 2l.-Statement of |
Lieut.. Harris.-Lieut. Harris of Capt.
John Burnap's Company Of First Illinois
Cavalry, reached our city this morning.
He was in the fight at Lexington from the
commencement until the surrenl er AMI
bears evidence Of the gallan,ry OF all the
men engaged.
Lieut. Harris states that he disguised
himself in the uniform of the enemy after
the surrender, and passed through their
lines without rpoesta,ion. He therefore
escaped without taking the obligation. He
says that Price reached Lexin ston at noon
Of the 18th and commenced the attack
between three and four o'clock of the
same day. 1t was all cannonading but
one charge, which was CALAMITY repulssd
by Col. Mulligan. This was the only ap.
proach they made towards the entrench-
ments with their infantry. The balance
of the firing was from their artillery dur.
ing the day. The attack lasted three
hours and forty minutes, when the enemy
fell back. AS soon as they retreated the
! Federal pickets were again sent out, and
| there was lively firing between them
| Federal scouts were sent out but they were
captured.
From the 18th to the 9th the rebels
kept up constant fire Of musketry from
the house tops aud windows Of the town,
upon the entertainments. The loss OF the
federal troops the first day was lO-the
! rebel loss between 400 and 500
On the morning of the 10Th the attack
was renewed 10 force, and was continued
| for three days and nights. During this
h L. 4
great scarcity Of water. There VAS plenty
of provisions bat they had not time to eat
| -Four or five Of the men were shot in going
after water, witch was done in the darG
ness of the night.
On the first day-the l2,h-the rebels
succeeded in placing their flag upon Mul
lsan's entertainments, bat the federal
troops charged upon them, drove them
back and tool; the flag
The last three days of the fight the enc
NV FROM their great numl ers, were enabled
to keep up continued firing OF artillery
and small arms both day and night, which
kept our men continually on the alert, aud
rapidly exhausted their strength, as they
were not allowed to sleep or eat
On the list. the day of the surrender,
the fighting was severe. The enemy filled
the town, and made their approaches upon
our camp steadily. They collected all
'he hemp bales from the various places in
the town and formed them into breast,
works. under cover of which they were
enabled to annoy our troops and save
themselves. Every stump and every tree
was sought as shelter from which they
would fire, but after the first attempt upon
our entrenchmrrtS they never showed them
selves upon open ground.
When the attack was made to carry off
the boats the enemy took two pieces of
cannon; but these were retaken, af,e. Il
sharp contest by our men.
Our men finding themselves short of
ammunition and knowing that reinforce
meu,s were cut OF by the seizure of the
ferry boats, concluded to surrender This
was done agains, the strongest protest of
! Col. MUIigan, who proposed t. attack the
enemy with the bayonet, and die with
, arms in their hands, TIE men were will
| ing to follow him, bat were so exha lsted
that they could have made hut an inGitlcr
ent resistance. Still Col. Mu.ngan wanted
10 do so.
Alter a consultation it WAS finally
agreed to hoist the white flag, which was
done by Maj. Barker. The enemy then
catered the entertainments, hauled DOWN
the American flag, tore it into pieces, aud
burned it. They treated our men well af
| ter the surrender.
Lieutenant Harris gives the loss Of the
| Confederates at upwards OF |, 100 killed
aud l,+00 wounded. The loss Of the
| United States troops is put down at forty
| killed and about $50 wounded
by the capture Of Lexington the rebels
received quite large amount of gold.
seven cannon, 1. 500 rifles and mu, he's,
the equipments and arms OF Marshal's
| cavalry regiment, besides number of
wagons, quantities Of Professions, &c. &c
There were but 200 men engaged upon
the Federal side, the balance being sick
or absent.
The enemy reported their force at 81,
00O engaged and 1900 Out of camp on
! marauding expeditions
When Gen. Price received the surren.
der of our troops, he told the officers, Lieut..
Harris says, that he had captared Col
Stu"gis's battery and routed him out that
he had also captured all the camp equip,
page belonging to Lane, with whom his
men had had an engagement.
We omitted to mention the fact, that rs
soon as the rebels discovered the position
Of our hospital, they turned their guns
upon it, and compelled our men to select
another place. Lieut. Harris states this
as a positive fact.