Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-27

holding out, and that by Thursday. the
10Th, one day before Mulligan surrendered
the reinforcement from Pope's forces for
Lexington should be increased still further,
to 4. 900 men,. That they did not arrive
there and save it, is not Fremont's fault,
then.
Nor was this all On the 18th Of Sep.
tember, the day before | arrived there, it
was supposed at ST. Louis that Prices adj
vance threatened Boonville; and Fremont
telegraphed Gen. Sturgis. then in north
Missouri. as follows:
"HEADouARTERs WESTERN DEPT.
ST.. LOUIS. September 13, 1861.
SrR: Information having been received
at these headquarters of an intended alta elk
on Bonneville, you are hereby ordered to
move at once by the shortest possible
route. and with all practicable speed. di-
rect to that place with your force of infant
ry and artillery.
J.C. FREMONT.
Major General Commanding.
To Brig. Gen. STURcrs. Mexico"
But on the eventful 14th of September
it was discovered that. the attack would
probably be on Lexington. and he tele-
graphed again to Sturgis, as follows:
"HEADoUAnTERs WESTERN DEPT,
ST.. LOUIS. September IA, 1861.
Sir: You are hereby directed to move.
via Utica. with all practicable speed to
Lexington. on the Missouri river. with
your force OF infantry and artillery. You
will send back the three companies of the
Fremont hussars, under Captain Blum. to
ST. Louis.
The most practicable route from Utica
to Lexington for you will be by Austin
vile, Finney's Grove, and Morton.
j. G. FREMONT.
Major General Commanding.
To Brig. Gen. STURcls. Mexico"
On the 18th. he twice telegraphs to act
ing Brig Gen. Jeff. @. Davis. at Jefferson
City, to send forward two regiments to
strengthen Lexington, and says. "mose
promptly" On the l4th he telegraphs
him that he is sending him up regiments
and batteries from St. Louis. while he also
notifies the Department at Washington
that they should have the five regiments
they demanded Of him-two from St.
Louis, two from Cairo and vicinity. and
one from Illinois-absolutel stripping
himself in St. Louis of every means of de-
fense to comply with these wants in every
direction Not content with issuing or
ders. you find nearly half a dozen the same
day to his officers. urging celebrity. energy,
rapid movement. No man living gould
have done more. add here the official
dispatch to jeff. G. Davis:
"HEApouARTERs WESTERN DEPT,
Sr. LOUIS. September IA. 1861.
SIR: As column of the enemy's force
is moving upon Lexington. you are here
by directed Immediately to order two OF
tho regiments under your command to the
reinforcement of that place. Orders have
already been issued 20 two regiments in
this city to proceed to Jefferson City. and
reinforce your command.
Brig. Gen. Sturgis, now at Mexico, will
also repair to Lexington with his entire
force of infantry and battery of artillery.
On his arrival. he will assume command
of all the troops at that place.
j. G. FREMONT.
Major General Commanding.
To Colonel JEFF G. DAVIS.
Col. Com. at Jefferson City.
Now, let us examine what was DONE
Pope's reinf ,rcements did not arrive; Gen.
Sturgis did come to point near the river
on the opposite side from Lexington; and
/ have the testimony Of Col. Mulligan him
himself that il he had actually come
withcn sight with his forces on the
opposite side of the river Price had got
SO tired of fighting. the defense had been so
persistent and unyieldipg, that he would
have retired, notwithstanding his force Of
twenty thousand men. with eight brigadier
generals. besieging one colonel of the Un-
ion forces. But the evidence is, that StuI-
gis came down to . point within few
miles Of the river. and learning that the
ferry boats had been destroyed. and that.
therefore, it was impossible for him to
cross the river, and learning from coutra.
band-for they were permitted then to
come within our lines and give information
as to rebel movemcnts-that Prices force
was twenty totwenty- five thousand. deem
ing that he had not force sufficient 70
meet them as he had not, he retired.-
Fremont. however, supposed that. by
four days after his order to him, ne would
have reached Lexington; and on the 18th
two days before Lexington fell-he sent
orders to him at that point.
jefferson G. Davis, upon the reception
of Gen. Fremont's orders embarked as
soon as possible, for ittakes time. his avail
able force upon some steamboats,; and
they proceeded mp the river to place call
ed Glasgow. where. learning the rebels had
erected batteries. they landed for the pur-
pose of storming them before proceeding
under their fire; and in the darkness Of the
night they fred into each other, and being
thrown into confusion. they did not get to
Lexington in time to reinforce Col. Multi
gan.
These three forces from different direc-
tions, then set out under the orders Of Gen.
Fremont to reinforce the gallant defenders
OF Lexington. and he failed in accomplish
ing that purpose, because the elements
seemed to be against him, and not because
he did not seek in every possible way to
succor that besieged garrison. His dis
patches to his secret agents are not of
course. published; but reply from one of
them, Charles Noyes, says that Sturgis
was expected to reach Lexington the Wed
nesdsy night before the surrender, and