The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-11-08
THE BATTLE or LEXINGTON.


Volumes could be filled with the
unwritten history Of our civil war.
The army IL full Of brave officers who
have breasted the storms and defended
the flag on many q well contested bat
tie iield, whose deeds are still unre-
corded and whose names are almost
unknown. or have been barely men
toned I'm official reports. AS an Illus
tration OF this fact, l propose to give
some Things, worthy OF membranes,
performed by brave officer who has
spent twenty years IN the army, aud
has given his best services to the coun.
try, but still lacks q few dles OF being
q captain.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE n. PALMER,
the subject Of these sketches, was born
April IS, 1871, at Leonardsviile, MRdi-
son county, n. Y. When Eve years Of
age his family moved 10 Illinois, trav-
cling according 30 the primitive modes
OF those early times. They took the
canal boat at Utica, n. Y, crossed
Lake Erie, passed through the Miami
canal to the Ohio river, where they
took a steamer down the river. and
finally settled ia Monmouth, Warren
county, III.
Lieutenant Palmer comes Of good
ancestry, for his great grandfather
was a Colonel in the revolutionary
war, and was at Saratoga when Bur
goyne surrendered. His grandfather
was q major general Of the New York
militia His father was paymaster and
captain Of dragons, commissioned by
VIM. H. Sew ard, was an officer OF cav
airy In the Mexican war, and captain
OF the first Illinois cavalry in the re-
belliOn.
During the winters Of the years
1867 Palmer lived with his grand
father in West Winfield, n. Y, and
walked two miles and back 20 attend
the Winfield academy. In 1850 he
took q course In Sloan's commercial
college at Chicago. He spent the sum-
mer In McHenry county, I'll. There
was great excitement at this time on
account Of the Lincoln and Douglas
senatorial campaign. Palmer aud a
young man named StilsOn thought
they would make speeches for Lincoln
Taking a buggy they went to Ger
man settlement about six miles dis
taut, and collected some twenty Ger
mans In q store, and began to talk for
Lincoln. The place. was strongly
Democratic aud the Germans soon got
dry, and wanted the young men to
treat. They said that speakers there
generally bought keg OF beer from
the brewery In the place and set il up
for them. The young men said they
were advocates Of temperance and
could not consistently treat, entertain
ing these sentiments But the Ger
mans said that would not do; they
must have the beer. Soon they be-
came bOisterOus and threatening In
their demands, and the young men
became somewhat alarmed, aud cast
about in their minds how they could
get OutOf the difficulty. At last Palmer
told StilsOn, In a low tone Of voice, 10
TO 20 out, as II he was going after the
beer, but TO get the buggy and drive
around 10 the door, aud then give a
long whistle. Palmer then said AS he
went slowly TO the door.
"While my young friend Is out get
ting the beer, / desire to present a few
ideas upon the present political ques-
lions which are agitating the country
shall preface my remarks by hon
estly informing you that J have made
but few political speeches In my life.
You viii therefore excuse me IL / say
Just here StilsOn gave a long whistlel
good evening, gentlemen"
Before the Germans realized the sit
uatiOn Palmer was out OF the door and
IN the buggy, which was driven Off at
q very high speed. The Germans
rushed 70 the door only 30 see the
young men sailing out Of town as fast
as they could 70, followed by q storm
Of explosives from the Germans who
now realized that they hsd lost their
beer. This ended the political speeches
Of the young men.
IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
In April, 1861, Palmer enlisted In
the Seventeenth Illinois Infantry for
the war. He was the first person that
enlisted in Warren county. In May
he withdrew from the Seventeenth
regiment and went into Company G.,
First Illinois cavalry, Of which his
father was captain In July, his com
pany marched to Quincy, Ill.,, and
went into camp at the fair grounds,
and were mustered into service by
Gen. JEFF G.. Davis, at that time Cap
tain. The last of August the company
moved TO St Louis; and went into !
camp at jefferson Barracks. Here the |
company were are armed with swords |
and muzZle loading horse pistols, |
which had been bought by Gen. Ere |
mont in Europe. The swords were /
rotten and the pistols were worthless. |
Soon the company marched for Lex /
ington, Mo, and reached that place 1
September 10, 1851, 10 aid In repelling /
Prices invasion. From Lexington /
they marched Immediately for War |
rensburg. and reached that place about /
S o'clock one evening. Here they /
learned that Gen. Price was only
few miles from town, ana would at
tack them in the morning. As they /
had been sent out SO feel the enemy /
and learn his strength and position,
they treated toward Lexington that
night. During the darkness several
wagons containing supplies were over
turned and broken, and they were
compelled 20 burn them. They reached
Lexington on the nth Of September,
End Joined the forces OF Gen. Multi
gan, commanding the Twenty-third
Illinois Infantry, who, being the
senior Oilleer, assumed command. Gen.
Price followed them up closely and
made his camp at the fair grounds,
south Of Lexington. The First I'LL
nOis cavalry was stationed near the
seminary, at the north OF town, out
side OF the main works I'm a little "a
vine which served 10 protect them.
On the 18th Of September Gen. Price
attacked the union forces, firing a few
cannon and musket shots, while he
their position, but with
drew TO his camp at dark.
Gen. Muliigan began ut once TO put
the place IN better state OF defense.
IA Palmef's father was captain Of the
but was absent on sick
leave, and discipline was not yet very
severe, Palmer played the part Of q
'free rover" and spent few days In
riding about the confederate Outposts.
On the 18th OF September he went TO
some houses between the OutpOsis and
the confederate camp, and found a
confederate surgeon and an artillery
man, slightly wounded in the recent
skirmish. He brought them both In,
not believing the statement that the
man was a surgeon. Gen. Mulligan
released the surgeon, but Kept the ar
Lilleryman q prisoner.
On the 18th Of September, Palmer
disguised himself in az old check |
shirt, blue oyeralls and an old straw
hat aud telling two OF his companions |
that he was going into the confederate
ramp, he started OFF and made directly
along the river rUad camp. About half
= mile south Of the town the road ran
q dense wood, steep bluffs Fis-
Ing on the lei Of the road, on the top