The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-09-17

geon and chaplain at all hazards. Forty
minutes later the brave lieutenant was
borne back severely wounded.
On .!l2 morn ing of the 18th the firing
was resumed and continued all day We
recovered our surgeon and chaplain. The
day was signalized by a fierce bayonet
charge upon the enemy, which served
to show them that our men were not
yet completely worried out. Through
that day our little garrison stood with
straining eyes, watching to see if some
friendly flag was bearing aid to them.
But no reinforcements appeared, and,
| with the energy OF despair, they deter
mined to do their duty at all hazards.
The 10Th was terrible day. Our water
csterns had been drained, and we dared
not leave the crown OF the hill, and
make our intrenchments on the bank of
the river, for the enemy could have
planted their cannon on the hill and
! buried us
The day was burning hot, and the men
bit their cartridges; their lips were
parched and blistered. But not word of
mulmuring. The night of the 10Th two
| wells were ordered to be dug. We took
a ravine, and expected to reach water
in about thirty hours.
The morning Of the Goth broke, but
no reinforcements appeared, and still
the men fought on. The rebels had con-
structed movable breastworks of hemp
bales, rolled them up the hill, and adj
vanced their batteries in manner to
command the fertilization. Heated shot
were fired at them, but they had taken
the precaution to soak the bales in the
Missouri. The attack was urged with
renewed vigor, and, during the fore
noon the outer brcastworks were taken
by Il charge of the rebels in force. The
whole line was broken, and the enemy
rushed in upon us.
Capt. Fitzgerald was then ordered to
oppose his company to the assaiants.
AS | gave the order, the gallant Fitz-
gerald at the head of Co. l. with a yell
rushed in upon the enemy. The COM
mander sent for a company on which he
could rely; the firing suddenly ceased,
and when the smoke rose from the field
| observed the Michigan company under
their gallant young commanders, Capt.
Patrick McDcrmott. charging the enemy
and driving them back. Many of our
ridges had failed. and it was evident
good fellows were lying dead, our cart
ridges had failed and it was evident
that the fight would soon cease
1t was now 3 o'clock, and all of a sud-
den an orderly came. saying the enemy
had sent a flag of truce; with the flag
came the following note from Gen.
Price: "Colonel-What has caused the
cessation of the fight" The colonel re-
turned it with the following reply writ
ten on the back: General hardly
know. unless you have surrendered"
He took pains to assure me, however.
that such was not the case I learned
soon after that the Home Guard had
hoistcd the white flag. The lieutenant
who had thus hoisted the flag was
threatened with instant death unless he
pulled 1t down. The men all said, I'VE
have no cartridges. and vast horde of
the enemy is about u.s." They were told
to go to the line and stand there, and
use the charge at the mrzzle of their
guns or perish there. They grasped
their weapons the flercer, turned calmly
about, and stood firmly at their posts,
And there they stood without murmur,
waiting for the rebel horde to show
themselves at the earthworks.
A council Of war was held, and when.
finally. the white flag was raised, Adjt.
: Cosgrove. of your city, shed bitter tears,
The place was given up. The enemy
| came pouring in. We were placed in
J file, and figure on horseback, looking
: much like death on the pale horse"
t led us through the streets of Lexington
. we were then taken to a hotel with no
rations. After we had boarded there
/ Tor some time. We started with Gen.
Price, on the morning of the Both for
the land Of Dixie. The column of our
| escort was fifteen miles long. OF our
imprisonment there l will say nothing,
we all feel, every man OF us, that we
have been fighting for great cause.
} that we were not spared from Lexington
\ to sit idly in our homes while our coun-
2 try is In danger We all feel that that
republic which was cemented by the
blood of our fathers, is to be again ban
: tized and made stronger with our blood.