Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-09-25
THE FIRST DAY.

THE FIRST DAY.
The Intelligencer printed, last week,
a graphic sketch of the battle of Lex
ingtOn, by Col. r. ii. Musser, which
contained the salient portions of Gen.
Prices report of the battle. All that
was said was complimentary to Col.
Mulligan, showing his bravery as a
soldier, his honesty as a man, and his
punctilious regard for his word. To
repeat the various reports OF the battle
would, therefore, be but a thrice told
tale, and we shall content ourselves
with an account of the reunion.
Extensive preparations had been
made to feed a multitude on Tuesday.
A number of animals had been barbe-
cued and other culinary provisions
made. 1t was OH that day that Mrs.
Mulligan was expected and that the
grand parade was to take place. But,
unfortunately, the weather proved un-
propitious. A heavy rain in the morn
ing rendered the middle of the streets
too muddy for pedestrians, and Mrs.
| Mulligan had not arrived. A meeting
was held at Turner Hall, over which
| Mr.. Hall presided, and it was deter
mined to postpone the grand parade
until 10 O'Clock Wednesday morning
to go to the grounds informally during
the day, and to march to the depot at
night to receive Mrs. Mulligan and her
party. This programme was carried
out. Some 1,2OO or l,4OO persons as
sembled on the grounds during the
| day, and at oon were bounIifully fed
by the caterers, Messrs. A. j. Hall and
| Frank Thomas. After dinner the
crowd assembled at the speakers stand
and was addressed by Col. Van Horn,
Capt. A. b. Logan and Capt. Il. A.
Collins. Mr.. A. ). Hall presided. lie
opened the proceedings with a happy
little speech, in which in conclusion he
said:-
MIR. HALLS SPEECH.
"LADIES, GENTLEMEN N Com
RADES:-On this anniversary of the
battle of Lexington, upon its his,
toric grounds are gathered soldiers
who wore the blue and soldiers who
wore the gray, and under the bright
sun we view as grand spectacle Us
was aver gazed upon. We come here,
to-day, not to gloat over victory OF
repine at defeat, but to break bread
together. This is not my day TO speak
but we have here two distinguished
citizens, Colonel X. r.. Van Horn and
Major Warner, who will address you.'
MI. Hall then introduced Col. r. T.
Van Horn, of Kansas City, who deiiv-
cred the address OF the occasion. W.
regret that its length precludes its pub
LEGATION in full at this time, as il is full
of interest.
COL. VAN HORNS ADDRESS.
FELLOW SOLDIERS AND FELLOW CIT
IzENs:-The occasion that brings u
together is the twenty fifth a%nniversa.
ry of n OF the most memorable mill
tary events of the first year of the wa
west of the Mississippi-the battle, %
siege of Lexington. l am not aware o
a full recital OF its events, nor can the,
be written as the accounts of other bat
ties have been, Tor they were not re
suits of a plan of campaign, but TIL
consequence of incidents outside tn
general plan of the commander of tn,
military department.
The battle OF Wilson's Greek ha,
been fought but a short time before
and among the movements to hold tn,
state against the rising tide of secession
following that event, was the garrisonin!
Of strategic points-among them ST
Joseph, Kansas City, Lexington, War
%rensbnrg, Sedalia or Georgetown
Lexington Was IN important place be
cause it was an eligible crossing plac
of the Missouri, and because it wa
the center of wealthy and populou
country, very largely what was thel
called secession. The Missouri troop
on the side of the rebellion had not a
that time passed under confederate con
troll, but were assuming TO act unde
state authority. The rebel soldier
, were not 'cOnfederates," but the ''AIis
souri, state guard" and Pap Price hel,
his commission under the seal of TIM
two bears and the signature OF Cover
nor Claib. jackson. This fact account
for our exchange after the surrende
for the Camp Jackson prisoners, tn
cartel being arranged entirely withou
reference to the confederate authorities
The force garrisoning Lexington wa
3 under Colonel Robert White, with til
| double purpose of holding the plac
, and recruiting men. The movement @
. Price toward the river, after Wilson
l Greek, rendered 1t advisable t.
| strengthen the force at this point. A
the most available and disposable rein
r forcements. the command at st. Joseph
under Colonel Everett Peabody, am
that at Kansas City, under nv ow
command, were first ordered to rein
force Lexington, the two command
y being fragmentary regiments acted 70
the time as II regiment-which the
finally became in fact, as the Twenty
Y fifth Missouri infantry.
y Arriving in Lexington this comman,
|, was ordered, or undertook rather
reconnaissance south to Warrensburg
= where Colonel Grover had a command
reaching that place on the 10th OF Sep
= TENDER, and found General Price witt
a in five miles with an overwhelmin
i force. The command now joined wit
Growers fell back to Lexington, where
9 in the meantime, Colonel Mulligal
n with his Irish brigade, and ColOnt
e Marshall, with the First Illinois cava
ry, had been ordered up from George
town.
Tho arrival of the confederate ad
u vance the same day, and the n~ecessit
q of prompt defensive measures on I'll
part of the little force Of Union troop
brought all together on the hig
grounds about the college building
u A comparison of commissions anon
l. the officers present, the highest ran
10 being colonel, disclosed the fact tn.
4 Colonel James A. Mulligan was IL
! ranking officer, and he took comnan
y with the hearty assent and cooperate
q of all. 1t was at once decided to fort
g fly and defend the place, there being 4
q order from General Fremont or any
! one else, nor did we hear from heat
" quarters or any commander till aft,
r., the surrender. The reports Shove
" abOu. 300 men, and the cavalry W:
N useless, only having as yet receive
=, their sabers, which reduced the re
' fighting force to but little over 2,O'
10 men
Is The colonel then enlarged upon Il
details above presented, and related
some length and in a very pleasa
ID manner numerous incidents of Il
Of siege, and said:-"l could recite maj