Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-10-01
The Glorious Performance of
the Irish Brigade of Chi
cagO, Ill.
Capt. Gleason and the Brilliant
and Reckless Charge of
His Men.
SURGEON AND CHAPLAIN RECOVERED

by Col. James Mulligan and the Irish
Brigade of Illinois, is one of the most
glorious performances of the whole civil
war. The best account of this deed was
in a speech delivered by Col. Mulligan at
a public reception given to the brave
Irish-American General by the citizens of
Detroit, Mich, November 20, 1861,
short time after his release from a South
ern prison.
Let ME briefly relate, said the brave
General, the circumstances of little
affair that happened to us in Missouri.
Just outside the limits of Jefferson City,
overlooking the broad Missouri, were
encamped two regiments, over which
f1oated twin banners-the stars of America
and the harp of Ireland. Under these
twin banners lay as happy regiment as
was ever collected together. 1t was the
Irish Brigade of Chicago At the hour
of midnight it received an order to march
to the relief of Col. Marshall's cavalry,
then threatened by the enemy, and with
them to cut their way through to Lexing-
ton and hold it at all hazards. The next
morning saw the Irish Brigade with its
face set toward Lexington. We started
with forty rounds of ammunition and
three days rations, and advanced for nine
days.
Thus we went on until at length we ar
SC
The brigade pitched its camp and pre-
parations were made for advancing into
the CITY, We went in with our solitary
. six-pounder. The men had travelled nine
days by forced marches, yet they never
looked better. On arriving at Lexington
we found Col. Marshall's cavalry and
few home guards.
On September 10 letter arrived from
Col. Peabody, saying that he was retreat
ing from Warrensburg, twenty five miles
distant, and that he was being pursued
with 10000 men. few hours afterward
Col. Peabody, with the Thirteenth Mis-
souri,, entered Lexington. We then had
$3.50 men in garrison aud forty rounds of
cartridges. At noon on the 18th we conf
menced throwing up our first intrench-
ments. In six hours afterward the enemy
opened their fire. Col Peabody was or
dered out to meet them. Two six-pounders
were planted to oppose the enemy and
placed in charge of Capt. Daniel Quirk,
who remained at his post till daybreak.
1t was a night of fearful anxiety. None
knew at what moment the enemy would
be upon the little band, and the hours
passed in silence and anxious waiting.
So it continued until morning. when
the chaplain rushed into headquarters,
saying that the enemy were pushing for
ward. They were met by Company K, of
the Irish Brigade, under Capt. Quirk, who
held them in check until Capt. Dillon's
company, of the Thirteenth Missouri,
drove them back and burned the bridge.
That closed our work before breakfast
Immediately after six companies of the
Thirteenth Missouri and two companies
of Illinois cavalry were dispatched in
search of the retreating enemy.
They engaged them in a cornfeld,
fought with them calamity, and harassed
them to such an extent as to delay their
progress in order to give time for con-
structing intrenchments around the camp
on College Hill. This had the desired
effect, and we succeeded in throwing up
earthworks three or four feet in height.
This consumed the night and was con-
tinued during the next day, the outposts
still opposing the enemy and keeping
them back as far as possible. AT 3
O'Clock in the afternoon of the 18th the
engagement opened with artillery. The
guns within the intrenchments immedi-
ately replied with vigor.
Within an hour a shot from one of our
guns dismounted their largest piece, a
twelve-pounder, and exploded powder
caisson. This achievement was received
with shouts of exultation by the be-
leaguered garrison. The enemy retired a
distance of three miles. At 7 O'Clock the
engagement had ceased and Lexington
was ours again. Next morning Gen. Par
sons, with 10000 men at his back, sent
in flag of truce to little garrison of
2,700, asking permission to enter the town
and bury his dead.
The request was willingly granted, and
we cheerfuliy assisted in burying the fall
len foe. On Friday the work of throw
ing up intrenchments went on. 1t rained
all day, and the men stood knee deep in
the mud building them. On Friday,
Saturday and Sunday we foraged seven
days provisions for two thousand seven
hundred men. A quantity of powder was
obtained, and then large cisterns were
filed with water. The men made car
tridges in the cellar of the college build
ing, and cast one hundred and fifty
rounds of shot for the guns at the foun-
dries at Lexington. During the little re-
spite the evening gave us we cast our
shot, made our cartridges and stole our
own provisions.
All this time our pickets were constant
ly engaged with the enemy, and we were
well aware that 10000 men were threat
ening us, and knew that the struggle was
to be desperate one. Earthworks had
been reared breast high, including an
area OF fifteen to eighteen acres and sur