Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-10-04
TIE SIEGE or LEXINGTON.

foe and 6nal surrender. II presents this un-
fortunate affair in a very clear light
"On Sunday Sept. l. the Irish Brigade,
Col. Jas. A. Mulligan, who were then in a
| partially intronched camp at Jefferson City,
were ordered To proceed to Lexington, iaiay-
otto county, 90 miles up the river, to rein
force ths troops already at that place. uudcr
Col. Peabody, consisting Of several hundred
Home Guards, few Kansas troops, and a
portion Of the Missouri 9th Regiment, Col
White. with 700 Of the first Regiment lli-
nois Cavalry. Col. r. NJ. Marshall These
latter had preceded Col. Mulligan's force
one week in their advance from Jefferson
City
/ Col. MulIgan's arrival with tho Irish
/ Brigade swclled the force at Lexington 10
about $500 men, Col. Mulligan taking tho
command As senior officer The Brigade
reached Lexington on Monday, Sept. o, and
found the attack by the enemy, under Gen
Price, immincntly threatening. No time was
lost in the work ufinircnching their position.
chosen about midway between the new and old
towns of Lexington, which arc about q mile
apart, connected by a scattering settlement
Midway stands "a solid brick ediice, built
/ for college. aud about this small breast
work had been already begun.
! BY Col. Mulligan's orders this was extend
ed, and the troops set about the construction
of an earthwork. ten feet in hight, with a
ditch eight feet in width enclosing large
area capable Of containing force Of 10000
men. The army train, consisting Of numcr-
Gus mule teams, six mules to a team. was
brought within this. The supply Of intrcnch-
ing tools being inadequate, a thorough search
was made through both towns. and every de-
scripton Of suitable or available implements
appropriated. Tho work was pushed with
great vigor the heavy muscle Of the Brigade
telling we'll as the brave fellows toied in the
/ trenches. Phis went on for three days or
until Thursday, the l2th, at which time the
| portion Of the works assigned 70 the Irish
Brigade was we'll advanced, that of the Home
/ Guard, being still weak on the west, or New
Lexington side
OF Lexington II should be said in advance,
that it has been considered a most important
point by she Confederate forces, and their
preparations for it, capture and occupancy
sbundantly declare this. Among other proofs
that il was a coveted prize, was the nct that
] Claib Jackson and his Legislature had been
in session there late as only the week prcvi-
Gus to the arrival Of Gel Mulligan, holding
/ their session in the Court House, whence
| Claib Illuminated proclamation counter to
/ that OF Gen Fremont. When this worthy
/ body prudenty 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 fortihca-
ton, became Col. Mulligan's headquarters.-
1 The magazines and treasure were stored in
I the cellar and suitably protested. The hoi-
piial Of our troops was located just outside
/ the entertainments, in a northwcsterly diroc-
ton. The river at that point is about half a
mile wide, and about half mile distant from
/ the forlifcalions. The bluff there is high
I aud abrupt, the steamboat landing being at
New Lexington.
After three several days Of anxious watch
/ ing and unrcmitting toll by the little force,
on the afternoon of Thursday, the 18th lust,
scouts and advanced pickets driven in report
ed the near approach of the rebels At this
time Col. Muligan had portion OF his small
ar1llcry in readiness. lie had only six brass
pieces and two howitzcrs, but having no shell
tie latter were useless. Two pieces belonged
90 the Kansas City Company, and were work
ed by them splcndidly. The Cavalry Company
had only their side arms aud pistols, and
having no carbincs or rifles could do nothing
at long range.
Several mines were laid in front OF the in
treuchments by our men.
The attack ON Thursday the 18th was led
by General Rains in person. with a battery
of nine pieces of artillery on the angle least
prepared to resist assault. The enemy were
repulsed with heavy loss.
As stated, the hospital had been located on
the bank below the now town, aud contained
about tweuty-fuur patients. The attacking
party did not spare or respect this building.
They were met by the Montgomery Guards,
Capt Gleason. who made a brave resistance,
bnt were driven back with the loss of twen-
ty-fvc Of thcir men killed and wounded.-
Capt Gleason was shot through the jaw and
badly wounded The gallant Montgomery
mado many Of the Texans bite the dust This
ftht was VERY fierce Some Of the sick were
actually hayoncted or sabred in their cots
Rev. Father Butler. an esteemed Catholic
Clergyman Of this city, aud chaplain Of tho
Irish brigade was wounded in tho forehead
hy a bali which passed across H. laying open
the skin. llo was tal,cn prisoner, AS also
was Dr. W ncr. surgeon If the Brigade, thus
deriving the regiment, nf the valuable SER
vices of both. during the dark and trying
days that followed, preceding the surrender
The issue of the l2th warned the enemy
that they had a task before them which was
no easy one. aud they commenced on Friday
morning new system Of approaches. They
scoured the entire region ior its staple, hemf
in bales. These were thoroughly wctied as
asafesuard against red hot shetland then wcr'
skllflly used to mask the batteries Of tho
rebels, and rolcd forward as they mado thclI
advance.
The 6ght went on thus for several days
the enemy bringing more Of their artillery
into action Following the skirmish o
Thursday, Mulligan ordered portion Of thu
old town on tho east 60 be bnrned to preven
the rebels from gaining therefrom the advant
age Of shelter. Meanwhile the little garrison
already worn by labor on the intrenohments
began to look eagerly for the coming Of re
Inducements.
On the 10th, Col. Mullgan had sent Lient
Rains, of Company X OF the Brigade, with
SQUAD Of twelve men. on the steamer Sun
shine, to Jefferson City, 100 miles distant
pressing the necessity for reinforcements. -
Forty miles below the Sunshine was captur
ed, and Rains and his men brought lack L
New Lexington and lodged as prisoners il
the old Fair Ground. Othcr messengers wer
/ ,.u.rI ,,.iust tho f.flura # an