The Irish standard., 1903-02-28
A More Gallant Defense is Not on Record
But Slight Mention is Made
Of 1t in History.
The Siege Lasted Ten Days But Even Then
1t Was Not the Brave Irish
That Surrendered.

filled it with their sharpshooters. Col.
Mulligan ordered the house to be
cleared, (which was done in Il twink
ling at double-quick by platoon of
the Irish brigade, who routed them
at the point Of the bayonet.
"lhc situation of the Federal troops
grew more desperate as day after day
passed. Within their lines were pick
| ctcd about the wagons and trains
nearly three thousand mules and
horses, now a serious cause of caro-
and anxiety, for as shot and shell
plunged among them, many of the
animals were killed and wounded,
and from the struggles of these latter,
the danger Of regular stampede was
imminent The havoc in the center Of
the intrcnchmcnt was immense. Wng.
ons were knocked to pieces, stores
scattered and destroyed, and the
ground strewn with dead horses and
mules"
On the 18th the Confcdcratcs cut off
the river and the water gave out 10
SHOW how severe the straits of tho
men, "thc fact may be stated Of NUM-
| crOuS instances occurring where SOL
diers held their blankets spread out
until thoroughly wet, and then wrung
them into their camp dishes, carefully
| saving the priceless fluid thus OBJ
tanned. tntions also began to grow
short. Tho fighting all this time,
from the 10th to the Dist, knew little
cessation. The nights were brilliant
moonlight, and all night long the roar
! of the guns continued, with an occas.
ional sharp sortie and skrmish out
side the works."
"From the first but one spirit per-
vadcd our men," continues the Chicago
Trlbunes war correspondent, "and
that was 10 thought or word of sur
render, except among some of the
Home Guards, who had done the least
share Of the work and the fighting.
The cavalry behaved nobly and could
the full details be written up, some
of their sharp, brave charges OH the
enemy's guns, would shine with any
battle exploits on record.
"Gen. Price sent Col. Mullgan a
summons to surrender, to which the
gallant commander sent Il refusal,
saying, If you want us, you must take
u.s. But the detection and dishearten-
ment Of the Home Guards intensified
daily, and on the 21st while Col. Null
ligan was giving his attention to some
matters in another portion of the
camp, Maj. Becker of the Home
Guards, raised at his own instance the
white flag from the portion of the in
trenchmcnts assigned to him."
or the killed and wounded, II can
scarcely venture an estimate" says an
officer. "Those who profess to be in
formed tell me that the Federal loss
does not exceed one hundred and fifty
in killed and wounded, while the Con-
fedcrate loss is certainly not less than
twelve hundred, Of which at least five
hundred are killed. A more gallant
defense is not on record, and although
suffering the extreme of hunger and
thirst, the brave officers and soldiers
shed bitter tears at the stern necessity
which forced them to strike the flag"
The best account Of this brave de-
fense is in the following speech, de.
livcred by Col. Mulligan at a public
reception by the citizens of Detroit,
Mich, on Nov. 20, 1861, to Col. Multi
gan short time after his release from
a southern prison:
Let me now plainly and briefly re-
late 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
floated twin banners-the stars Of
America and the harp of Ireland.
Under these twin banners lay as
happy regiment as was ever col.
lected together It was the Irish Brig
ade Of Chicago. At the hour of mid
night august 3D it received an order
-,