New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-03
THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
OFFICIAL REPORT or GEN. PRICE.
HRAnQI LkIEks MI..0rRL sTATs GrARD.

have the honor to submit 10 your EXcellency the
following report of the actions which terminated
on the goth inst with the surrender Of the United
States forces and property at this place to the army
under my command:
Afer chastisng the marauding armies of L8re
and Montgomery and driving them out of tue State,
aud after compelling them 10 abandon Fort Scott, as
detailed in ms last report, continued my march
toward this point with army increasing hourly in
numbers aud enthusiasm.
On the 10th inst. Just IA we were about TO en-
camp for the day mile or two west of Rosa Hill
learned that detachment OF Federal troops anC
Home Guards We're marching from Lexington to
Warrensburg TO rob the bank ia that place and plum
der and arrest the citizea6 OF johnson County, m
accordance with Gen. FremOnt's proclamation and
instructions. Although my men were greatly Ia
tigued BY several days continuous and rapid march
ing determined 10 press forward as TO surprise
he enemy if possible, at WaTrensburg. Therefore,
after resting few hours, we resumed the march az
sunset and marched without inteTmssiOn until .
O'Clock in the morning. when il became evident
that the infantry, very few Of whom had eaten
mouthful in twenty-five hours could march no fur
Their. then halted them, and went forward with
the larger part Of my mounted men till We came,
about day-break, within view Of Werrenburg, where
ascertaiucd that the enemy had hastily fed about
midnight burning the bridges behind them. The
rain began to fall about the ssme time
This circumstance, coupled with the fact that my
men had been fasting for more than twenty -four
hours constr ained me TO abandon the idea Of pursu
ing the enemy thai day; nv infantry and artillery
having come up, We encamped at Narrensburgh,
whose citizens Wed with each other in feeding my
slmo.t furnished solders An unusually violent
storm DELAYED our march the next morning ill about
10 o'clock; we then pushed forward RAPIDLY, still
bopiug TO overtalr the enemy. FingnQ II impossi-
able 70 do this with my infantry, again ordered
detachment TO move forward, and placing myself al
their head continued the pursuit to within two Gnd
ahalf miles Of Lexington, when, having learned that
the enemy were already within town, and IL being
late and nv mei fatigued by forced march, ana
utterly without provisions. halted for the night.
About daybreik the next morning sharp skirmish
took place between our Icket5 and the enemy out
posts. 1n. threatened 70 become general. Being
unwilling, however, 70 risk doubtful engagement,
when a short delay would make success certain,
fell back two a three miles and awaited the arrival
Of my infantry and artillery These having come
up, We advanced upon the town, driving IN the
enemy : picketi until we came within short dis
lance Of the cay itself Here the enemy attempted
10 make stand but they were speedily driven from
every position, and forced 70 take shelter within
their intrenchncnts. We then took our petition
within easy rnnQe of the College, which building
they had strongly fortified, aud opeued upon them
/ briik fire from Bledsoe's battery (which, in tie
absence Of Cap. Bledsoe, who had been wounded 1t
BIZ Dry-Wo0i, was calamity commanded by Capt
. Emmett McDoualdJ. aud BY Pasoas's battery,
under the skillul command Of Capt Gmbor,
! Finding after sunset that our anmunilion, the
/
from Springfield was nearly exhausted, and that my
men Thousands Of whom had not eaten particle in
3G hours repu.rcl rest and food l Withdrew 10 the
Fair Ground AID C1oaunrd there. Ny ammunition
wagons having been az last brought mp, and large
Reinforcement having been received, again moved
into town on Wednesday, the 18th inst, and began
4 the final attack upon tie enemy works.
/ Brig Gen. Rainss diyision occupied a strong Io-
stion on the east and northeast Of the forticaCls
from which an effective csnnonading was kept up
ON the enemy by Bledeoe's Battery, under command
cxcopt on the last dav Of Capt. Emmot Mcdonald
and another battery, commanded by Capt. Churchill
Clark OF -. Louis. Both Of these gentlemen, and
( the men aud officers under their command are de-
seryedly commended in tbs accompanying report Of
Brig. .GeI. Rains.
Gen hrsous took a position southwest Of the
works whence bis battery, under command Of Capt.
Guibor. poured n steady ire into the enemy.
SkirmtheTs aud sharpshnoters were also sent for
ward from both Of thee divisions to hsrass and IA
tigue the enemy and 10 cut them OF from the water
on the aorth. east, aud south OF the college, end
did inesiimable seryice IN the Accomplishment, OF
these purposes.
l. Colonel Congreye Jaclsons division aud par; Of
General Stems were posted near General Rains and
General Parsons az reserve, but no Occasion
occurred 10 call them into action. They were,
however, at all times yigiant, and ready TO rush
upon the enemy.
Shortly after entering the city on the 18th, Col.
Rives, who commanded the Fourth Division In the
absence Of Gen. Slack, icd his regiment and Col.
Hughcss along the riVor bank, 20 a point imme-
daiely beneath, and west OF the ior;iicaions Gen.
McBride's command and portion OF Gen. harris's
having been ordered to rc-entorCe him. Col lHves,
i'm order 10 cat of the enemys means Of escape, pro-
ceeded down the bank Of tho river 20 capture
steamboat which was lying Just under their guns.
Inst az this moment a heavy IRE was opened upon
him from Col. Anderrous large d"elhnS-house, on
The summit of the bluiIs which the enemy were oc-
cupyipg as a hospital, and upon which white flag
was 1yiLg. Several companies OF tep. HHrT!ss
command and the gallant soldiers OF The Fourth Di-
vision who have won upon so many battie-helds The
nroud disinctiou OF always being among the braycs
Of the brave, Immediately rushed upon and took the
place. ,
lbs wards OF the enemy's inirsnchments. com
uany from Col. Hughes regiment then took possess
sion Of the boats, one oil winch whs lchly freghted
with valuable stores. Gen. McBidcs and Gen.
Uorris's divisions meanwhile gallaulv stOrmod and
occupied the bluffs immediately north of Anderson
house. / he possession nl .Lese Nights enabled oar
men 10 harraas the cneG 80 gfohty That, resolving
10 reQain them they maze upon The house a success
fal assauli, and one which would nave been honor
able 70 them had IL not been accompanied by an ac
Of savage baTbarity-the COld-blOOdcd and cowHrdly
murder of three deensoless men, who had laid down
their arms and surrendered themselves us prisoners
The position thus retaken by tue enemy was soon
regfned by the brave men who had been driven
from it. and was tbencetorward held by them 70 the
very end If the contest.
The nights 10 the left of AndersOn's house. which
had been taken. as before stated, by gems. Mcbride
and Harris, and by part Of Gen. Stems command
under Col Boyd aud Major Winston, were rudely
fortified by oar soldiers, who threw up broastworks
ms well a. they could with their slender means. On
the morning of the 2Oth inst, 1 caueed number OF
hemp balcs 10 be transported to the river Nights,
where movable breastworks were speedily con-
strucfed out Of them by Gems. Harris and Mcbride
Col. Riyes and Major Winston, and their respective
rnmmnnda Capt. kelly's battery Attached 20 Gen