Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-10-10
THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. Gen. Prices Official Report.


 have the honor to submit to your excellency
 the following report of the action which term
 mated on the 20th inst, with the surrender o
 the United States forces and property at this
 place, to the army under my command:
 After chastising the marauding armies of Lane
 and Montgomery, and driving them out of the
 State, and after compelling them to abandon Fort Scott, as detailed u my last report, con.
 tnued my march toward this point with an army increasing hourly in numbers and enthusiasm. ] On the 10th inst, just as We were about to 1 encamp for the day, mile or two west of Rose ] Hill, learned that detachment of federal
 troops and Home Guards were marching from 1 Lexington to Narrensburg to rob the bank in that place and plunder and arrest the citizens of
 Johnson county, in accordance with Gen. Ere
 mont 6 proclamation and instructions. Although
 my men were greatly fatigued by several days
 continuous and rapid marching, determined to press forward 90 as to surprise the enemy if
 possible at Warrensburg. Therefore, after rest ing few hours, we resumed the march at sun
 set and marched without intermission until 2
 o'clock in the morning; when it became evident that the infantry, very few of whom had eaten
 . mouthful for twenty-two hours, could march
 no further. then halted them, and went for.
 ward with the larger part of my mounted men 1 1 Warrensburg, where 1 ascertaiued that the enc
 my had hastily fled about midnight, burning the
 bridges behind them. The rain began to fall about the same time.
 | This circumstance, coupled with the fact that 1 my yamen had been fasting for more than twenty 1 four hours, constrained me to abandon the idea ! of pursuing the enemy that day; my infantry | aud artillery having come up, we encamped at ] Warrensburg, whose citizens vied with each oth CT in feeding my. ..alnost famished soldiers. An 1 unusually violent storm delayed our march the 1 next morning till about 10 o'clock; we then pushed forward rapidly, still hoping to overtake the enemy. Finding it impossible to do this | with my infantry, again ordered detachment to move forward and placing myself at their | head continued the pursuit to within two and a half miles of Lexington, when, having learned ! that the enemy were already within town, and it being late, and my men fatigued by a forced march, and utterly without provisions, l halted | for the night
 About day. break the next morning sharp skirmish took place between our pickets and the enemv's outposts. This threatened to be- come general. Being unwilling however to risk doubtful engagement, when short delay would make success certain, fell back two or three miles and awaited the arrival of my in- tantry and artillery; these having come up we advanced upon the town, driving the enemy's pickets until we came within short distance of the city itself Here the enemy attempted to make stand, but they were speedily driven from every position, and forced to take shelter within their entrenchments. We then took position within easy range of the college, which building they had strongly fortified and opened upon them a brisk fire from Bledsoes battery, which in the absence of Capt Bledsoe, who had been wound ed at Big Dry Wood, was gallantly commanded by Capt. Emmet Mcdonald, and by Parsons battery, under the skillfu command of Capt. Gubor.
 Finding after sunset that our ammunition, the most of which had been left behind on the march from Springfield was nearly exhausted, and that my men, thousands of whom had not eaten a particle in 36 hours required rest and food, l | withdrew to the Fair Ground and encamped there. My ammunition wagons having heen at last brought up and large endorsements having been received, 1 again moved into town on Wednesday, the 18th inst, and began the final attack upon the enemy $ works.
 Brig Gen. Rains division occupied strong position on the east and northeast of the fortif
 cations, from which an effective cannonading was kept up on the enemy by Bledsoe's battery, under command, except on the last day, Capt. Emmet Mcdonald, and another battery com handed by Capt. Churchill Clark, of St. Louis. Both these gentlemen and the men and officers under their command, are deServedly commend ed in accompanying report of Brig. Gen. Rains. Gen. Parsons took position southwest of the works, whence his battery, under command | of Capt. Guibor, poured steady fire into the enemy.
 Skirmishers and sharpshooters were also sent forward from both of these divisions to har- rass and fatigue the enemy, and 10 cut them of from the water on the north, east and south oi the college, and did inestimable service in the accomplishment of these purposes.
 | Col. COngreve Jacksons division, and part of Gen. Steens were posted near Gen. Rains and Gen. Parsons IS a reserve, but no occasion occurred to call them into action. They were, however, at all times vigilant and ready to rush upon the enemy.
 Shortly after entering the city on the 18th, Col. 1 R;ves, who commanded the fourth division in the absence of Gen. Slack, led his regiment and Col. Hughes along the river bank, to 8 point immedi- aely beneath and west of the Qualifications. Gen. l McBride's command, and portion of Gen. liar 1 ris' having been ordered to reinforce him, Col. 1 Rives, in order to cut off the enemys means of | escape, proceeded down the bank of the river to ] capture steamboat which was lying just under their guns. Just at this moment heavy fire was | opened upon him from Col. Anderson's large dwelling house, on the summit of the bluffs which 1 the enemy were occupying as hospital, and upon | which a white flag was flying. Several companies of Gen. Harris command and the gallant soldiers of the fourth division, who have won, upon 50 many battle fields, the proud distinction of always l being among the bravest of the brave, immedi- atey rushed upon and took the place.
 l The important position thus secured was within 1 l25 yards of the enemy's intrenchments. A com | pany from Col. Hughes regiment then took pos | session of the boats, one of which richly 1 freighted with valuable stores. Gen. McBride's and Gen. Harris divisions meanwhile gallantly | stormed and occupied the bluffs immediately north | of Anderson's house. The possession of these | heights enabled our men to harrass the enemy so greatly that, resolving to regain them, they made upon the house successful assault and one which would have been honorable to them had it not been accompanied by an act of savage barbarity-the cold -bo0ded and cOwardly murder of three de. | fenseless men who had laid down their arms and surrendered themselves as prisoners. The position thus retaken by the enemy was soon regained by | the brave men who had been driven from it, and *was thenceforward held by them to te very eLd of the contest.
 The heights, to the left of Anderson's house | which had been taken, as before stated, by Gems
 Mcbride and Harris, and by part of Gen. Steen's command under Col Boyd and Major Winston
 were rudely fortified by soldiers, who threw up
 breastworks as we'll as they could with their slen
 der means. On tho morning of the 20th inst,
 caused number of hemp bales to be transported
 were speedily constructed out of them by Gems | ID