The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-10-03
From the Chicago Tribune, Sept. 25.)
The Siege of LexingtOn--Hishly Impor.
tant Particulars of the Fight.

On Ouhuay, Oept ISL, the Irish
Brigade, Col. James A. Mulligan, who
were then in a partially entrenched
camp at Jefferson City, were ordered
to proceed to Lexington, Lafayette
county, 100 miles up the river; to rein
force the troops already at that place,
under Col. Peabody, consisting of sew
eral hundred Home Guards, few Kan.
sas troops, and portion of the Mis-
souri, 9Th Regiment, Col. White with
700 of the First Regiment Illinois Cav
airy, Col. T. M. Marshall. These lat
ter had proceeded Col. Mulligan's
force, one week in their advance from
Jefferson City.
Col. Mulligan arrived with the Irish
Brigade swelled the force at Lexington
to about $500 men, Col. Mulligan TAX
ing the command as senior officer. The
Brigade reached Lexington Monday,
Sept. 9th, and found the attack by the
enemy under Gen. Price, imminently
threatening. No time was lost in the
work of entrenching their position,
chosen about midway between the new
and old towns of Lexington, which are
about mile apart, connected by
scattering settlement. Midway stands
brick edifce, built for college, and
about this a small breastwork had al.
ready begun.
By Col. Mulligan's orders this was
extended, and the troops set about the
construction of an earthwork, ten feet
in height, with ditch eight feet in
width, containing large area capable
of containing force of 10000 men.
The army train consisting of numerous
mule teams, six mules to a team, was
brought within this. The supply of
entrenching tools being inadequate, al.
though search was made through both
towns, and every description of suita-
BILE or available implements appropri-
ated. The work was pushed with
great vigor, and the heavy muscle of
the Brigade telling well as the brave
fellows toiled in the trenches. This
went on for three days, or until Thurs
day, the 18th, at which time the por-
ton of the works assigned to the Irish
Brigade was well advanced, that of the
Home Guard, being still weak on the
west, or New Lexington side.
Of Lexington, it should be said in
advance that it has been considered
most important point by the Confed-
crate forces, and their preparations for
its capture and occupancy abundantly
declare this. Among other proofs that
it was coveted prize was the fact that
Claib. Jackson and his Legislature had
been in session there as late as only the
week previous to the arrival of Col.
Mulligan, hold their session in the
Court House, whence Claib. Illuminated
a proclamation counter to that of Gen.
Fremont. When this worthy body
prudently retired before the Federal
troops they did so in such haste that
eight hundred thousand dollars in gold
coin, and the State Seals left in the
vault of the bank, fell into the hands
of Col. Peabody.
The College building, within the for
tification, became Col. Mulligan's head
quarters. The magazine and treasure
were stored in the cellar and suitably
protected. The hospital of our troops
was located just outside the entrench-
ments, in a northwesterly direction
The river at that point is about half a
mile wide, and about half mile dis
tant from the Notifications. The bluff
there is high and abrupt, the steamboat
landing being at New Lexington.
After these several days of anxious
watching and unremitting toll, by the
little force, on the afternoon Of Thurs
day the 18th inst, scouts and advanced
pickets driven in, reported the near APP
proach of the rebels. At this time Col
Mulligan had portion of his small ar
tillery in readiness. We had only six
brass pieces, and two howitzers, but
having no shell the latter were useless.
Two pieces belonged to the Kansas
City Company, and were worked by
them splendidly. The Cavalry Com
pany had only their side arms and pis-
tolls, and having no carbines or rifles
could do nothing at long range.
| Several mines were laid in front of
the entertainments by our men.
The attack on Thursday the 18th
was led by Gen Rains in person, with
a battery of nine pieces of artillery on
the angle least prepared to resist as
sault. The enemy were repnlsed with
heavy loss. In the fight Companies /,
Capt. Fitzgerald, X, Capt. John Quirk,
and G., Capt. Phillips, did gallant
service. b
AS stated, the hospital had been To-
Gated on the bank below the new town,
and contained about twenty-four pa
tients. The attacking party did not
spare or respect this building. They
were met by the Montgomery Guards,
Capt. Gleeson, who made brave resis-
lance, but were driven back with the
loss of 25 of their men killed and
wounded. Capt. Gleeson was shot
through the jaw and badly wounded.
The gallant Montgomery made many
of the Texans bite the dust. This
fight was very fierce. Some of the
sick were actually bayoneted or sabred
in their cots. Rev. Father Butler, an
esteemed Catholic clergyman of this
city and the chaplain of the Irish Bri-
gade, was wounded in the forehead by
ball which passed across it,, laying
open the skin. He was taken prisoner.
as was also DR.. Wisner, surgeon of the
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