Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-03
TIE WAR IN MISSOURI.
THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF LEXINGTON
Particulars eth e Fight from North
era Accounts.
4 COMPLETE VICTORY ADMITTED.
Frsn ,hs nsnphI, lp cal. ootob.r1.

FreR The Memphis Lp cal, Octobzr l.
We are indebted to gentleman in the army a
Columbus for copy Of the Chicago Tribune of th,
18th ult, from which we extract the folio wing par
ticuars of the battle at Lexington, Missouri as Civ
en- to the public by the Northern press 1t viii b
seen that they ackno Wedge the completeness Of tbs
victory gained by the Confederate forces and slss
that there is ingenious attempt TO Lessen its i'm
I-porsance before the Northern public We extract
at length
On Sunday, September 1st the Irish brigade. Col
] James A Mulligan, who we're then in a partially
intrenched camp at Jefferson City, we're ordered to
proceed to Lexington. lafayette county, 1c0 miles
up the river to reinforce the troops already at that
| place, under Col Peabody, consisting OF several
/ hundred Home Guards, 8 few Kansas troops and a
| portion Of the Missouri Sth Regiment, Col White
with 100 of the let regiment Illinois cavalry Col
T. N Marshall. These latter had preceded Colonel
Aulligans force one week in their advance from
| Jefferson City.
Col. Mulhgan's arrival with the Irish brigade
swelled the force at Lexington to about 500 men
Col Aullgsn taking the command as senior officer
The brigade reached Lexington on Monday, Septem-
Der 9Th, and found the stack by the enemy under
Cen Price, immiDently threatening. No time uss
lost in the work Of entFenchDg their pos ton cho-
sen about midway betEeen the ED and new town
OF Lexington which are sbOu. mile apart con
nscted by 3 scattering settlement Midway stauds
4 solid brick edfce. built for L college and about
this a small breastwork had been already begun
By Col. Aulligan'a orders this was extended and
the troops set about the construction Of the earth
work, ten feet il hight with q CT capable of cen
tanning forcS of 10 600 men. The army train CON
sistinE ST numerous mule teams, siI mules TO team
was brought within thiS The supply Of intrenchinE
tools being inadequate, thorough search was made
through both towns, and every descriptions Of
GbiiAble or available implements appropriated Tn.
WoIkTas pushed with great yigor the heavy nu,cIs
Of the brigade telling well the brave floWs toed
in the trench e. This went on for three DAYS or
until Thursday the l2th st which time the portion
Of the works assigned 20 lhs Irinh brigade well
advanced, tbst Of the Home Guard being still weak
on the west. the New Lexington side.
The College building, Withiu the fOPt:Gcati ouH
became Gel Auiligan'I headquarters The aags,
zine and treasure were stored in the cellar and SQit
ably protected. he II oJpitsl Of oar tPoot wnH
located just outside the iItrent nsnts in north
we1teIly direction. The river a. that pei II il nut
half 1 Hlle diIt'At from the fOrtihcai lnE The |
bad hare il high and abrupt the steamboat landing
1eirg at NV LsxingteB.
After these several days of anxiOss w,tehins
and unremtting toll BY the little forcs on the AZ
ternoOn Of Thursday the 18th instant scouts and
advanced Picksts driven in. reported the hear Ap
preach Of the rebels. At this tins Col! Hulligsu |
had portion OF his aAaI artillery in ieadiaeEI.
We had only ak brass pisces, and two hoEitzerI
but having ne shell the latter wa useless. Two |
pieces belonged to the Kansas City COMPANY and /
were worked By them spleHaidly The cavalry
company had snly their side aFss aSd eistols aud I
having no carbiHeS or rifles could Do nothirg At
long Taus6. -
Several mines were lsis in froat Of ths istrencA
ments By our neE.
T The stack On Thursday the 18th was led BY Gen.
Rains in perssn with battery Of nine pieces of
artillery en- the angle least prepared 70 resiat -
sault. The enemy were repulssd with heavy losa
As stated the hospital had bean located on the |
bank below the new town, and contained about |
tWenty-fOur patients The attacking party did not
spare or respect this building. They were met by
The Montgomery Guards, Capt Gleeson. who made |
/ brave resistance, but wers driven back with the
oss of twenty I've Of their men killed and wounded
Capt. Glseson was shot through the Jaw and badly |
wounded The gallant Montgomery made many of |
he TeXanS bite the dust. This Eight was Very fierce
some Of the alex were actually bayensted or N |
1ered in their Gotta. Rev Father Butler IN esteemed
jathsc clergyman Of this city, and the chaplain OF
he Irish brigade, WAS wounded in the forehead BY
ball which passed acrOsE it, laying open the skin
lie was taken prisoner, also WAS Dr. Winer sur
,eon Of the brigade, thus depriviDg the regiment of
he valuable services Of both, during the dark and
rying days that followed preceding the surrender
The issue Of the 18th, warned the enemy that
hey had h task before them which was no easy one
md they commenced on Friday morning new
ystem of approaches. They secured the entire |
egion for its staple, hemp in bales These were
thoroughly Wetted a. safeguard against red hot
hot and then were skllfully used to mask the bat
cries of the rebels and rolled forward As they mads
heir advance
The fight went on thus for several DAYS the enc
ny bringing more of their artillery into action |
Following the skirmsh Of Thursday Auliigaa order
d portion Of the old town on the east TO be |
,urned. to prevent the rebels from gaining there
rom the advantage Of shelter Meanwhile the
title garrison, already Isrn by labor on the IN
renchments, began TO look eagerly for the coming
4 reinforcements. ---- :
% the 10th. Col. AuIligan had sent Lieut.. Rsiuu
4 Company K, Of the brlgsde. with 4 sduad OF
welve men, on the steamer Sunshine, to Jefferson
}ty, one hundred and sixty miles distant, pressing
be neces'ity for reinfOrcements Forty miles 30
DIV, the Sunshine captured and r iius and ala /
ma brought back to New Lexington and lodged an
risoners in the old Fair Ground. Other measen-
ers were sent eli to guard against the failure Of
ny one {
The enemy were in sufficient force to throw out Z
arleS to intercept the Federal troops en- route for
he relief Of Col. AulligAn Thus, a detachment I
We thousand strsng met snd turnsd back fifteen
IN ]red Iowa troops from Richmond sixteen miles y
rom the river they refreshing il is reported to ST.
oseph. Our informant s1ys heavy cannonsdinr Il
Taa heard at distance, several times by them in q
RriouG directions from Lexington, which they IN q
erstoOd to be encounters between the enemy and q
lSse relief parties. 81
The ntuation OF the Federal troops grew nors /.
ssperate as day after day passed. Within their
mes we're picketed about the wagons and trains 4 I
Irge number OF horses and mules, nearly three
lsusand in all, now serious cause OF care and -
nxiety, for ~ Ahos and shell plunged among them
lany OF tne animals were killed ana wounded, and
rom the struggles Of the latter the danger Of 4 N
eneral stampede was imminent The haVse in the
enter Of the intrenchment was immense Wagons Sc
Tere knocked to pieces stores scattered and de- y
-royed, and the ground streWn with dead horses p
nd mules. OF
On Wednesday. the 17th an evil from the first
pPearancs fell upon Col Mulligan command. Tney :.
ere cut off from the river and their water gave 81
IT, Fortunately EheaVy rain at intervals came ne
realty to their relief But to show how severe =
ere the straits Of the the fsc5 may be stated %
INSTANCES occurring Wnere sOIdieFs held their sc
ankets spread cut until Thoroughly wet and then ca
rung them into their camp dishes carefully aaV- pr