M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-10-03

J.
Ito throw out'lartles to intercept the
Federal troops en- ronte for the relief
lof Col. Mnlligans Thus a detach.
imept of 5000 strong metand turned
back 1900 Iowa stToops from Rich
imond, sixteen miles from the river,
they retreating, 1t is reported, to St.
Joseph, Oar informant says heavy
Icannonadlug wasaheard at a distance,
several times by them, in various d.
Irections from Lexington, which they
understood to be encounters between
fihe enemy and these relief parties.
| The situation of the Federal troops
grew more desperate as day after day
passed, - Within their lines were
fpieketed about the wagons and trains,
la large humber Of horses and mules,
nearly three thousand in all, now Il
tserious cause Of care and anxiety, for
as shot and shell plunged ainongthem
many Of the animals were killed and
wounded, and FROM the. struggles Of
the latter, the danger Of a general
Estampade was imminent. The havoc
nthe centre of the entrenchment was
immense. Wagons Knocked to piec,
les, stores scattered and destroyed, and
the ground strewn with dead horses
and mules. lHH Fsa fat -a D.. Gel
ID On Wednesday, the l7th, an evil
rom the first apprehended, fell upon
iCel. Mulligan's command. They
were cut off from the river and their
water gave out. Fortunately a heavy
rain, at intervals, came greatly to their
relief. But to show how severe the
straits of the men, the fact may he
stated Of instances occurring where
soldiers held their blankets, spread
out until thoroughly wet, and then
wrung them into their camp dishes,
carefully saving the priceless fluid
Thus obtained. Rations also began
to grow short, The fighting at this
time, from the 10th to the 2lst, knew
little cessation. The nights we've
brilliant moonlight, and all night
long the roar of the guns continued,
with an occasional sharp sortle and
skirmish without the works #i.a
From the first but one spirit per.
vaded our troops, and that was nc
thought or word of surrender, except
among some Of the Home Guards,
who had done the least share Of the
work ahG fighting. The cavalry be-
havcd no5ly, and could the full de
tails be written up, some Of their
sharp, brave charges on the cnclny's
guns would shine with any battle ex.
ploits on record ..
Gen. Price sent Gen. Mulligan O
summons to surrender, to which the
gallant commander sent refusal
saying, "lf YOU want us you mus
take us" But the detection and dis
heartenment Of the Home Guards in
tensified daily, and on Friday, the
DIST, while Col. Nulligan was giving
his attention to some matters in an
other portion of the camp, the white
FLAG was raised at his own instance by
Maior Becker OF the Home Guards
I from the portion. Of the eutrenchmen
assigned to him.
Capt. Simpson, OF the Earl Rifles
called Col. Mulligan's atte"tion to Ma
ior Beckcr's action instantly, and the
jackson Guard, Capt. McDermott, o
Detroit, were sent to take down tha
fag, which was 'dono. The heavies
part of the fight OF the day followed
III a charge upon the nearest battery
Of the enemy, the Illinois cavalry suf
fering severely. ssT .a4 1r1-s sar
The Home Guards then left the out
er work and retreated within the lin(
Of the inner entrenchments, about the
college building, refusing to fgh
longer, and here AGAIN raised the white
flag, this time from the centre OF thu
Tortitications, when the fire Of the ell
, ems slackcned and ceased. Unde
|, this state of affairs, Col. Mulligan
, calling his officers into council, decid
ed to capitulate, and Capt. McDer
mot went out to the enemy's lines
!, With a handkerchief tied to ramrod
/ aud a parley took place. Major Moore
! of the Brigade, was sent to Genera
, , Prices headquarters, .3 New Lexing
ton, to know the terms Of capitulation
These were made unconditional, thc
! officers to be retained as prisoners o
1, war, the men to be allowed to depar
/, With their personal property, surrcn
, , dering their arms and accoutrements
Reluctantly this was conceded to
, and the surrender took place. At
: P. NJ, on Saturday, the Federal torc
|, es having laid down their arms, werc
+ marched out Of their entrencllmcnts tC
, the tune OF "Dixie" played by thu
+. rebel bands. They left behind theu
I their arms and accoutrements, reserv
ing only,their clothing. The boys o
.ithe Brigade many OF them wept t.
. leave behind their colors, each compa
j ny in the brigade having its own stan
, ldord nraaanted ta II nv their friends