The Irish standard., 1903-02-28

mere is nOt, peIllipS, III ill HlStolS,
Il record of Il defense more brilliant
than that of Lexington, Mo-, by Col.
James Muligan, commander of the
Illinois Irish Brigade. Were this hero
and the three thousand men who conf
posed his command of some other race
and creed than Irish and Catholic,
their names would be inscribed in i'm
pcrishablc letters.
But, being Irish and Catholics, our
"historians" gave little attention to
them or their deeds, and the result is
that it is only in the official documents
of the Civil War-documents beyond
the reach Of the vast majority of pco-
ple-that any record Of this gallant
defense can be found, "the incidents
of which," said an eye witness, "would
fill several volumes if written out"
The seigc began on September ~,
1861, and lasted till the 21st-a period
of ten days-and even then it was not
Gen. Mulligan or the Irish Brigade
that hoistcd the white flag, this be-
ing done by the Home Guards, Il con.
tingent not at all connected with Col.
Mulligan's brave band. The war cor
respondent of the Chicago Tribune
said: "Rcuctantly the surrender was
acccdcd to. st The Irish Brig
adc left behind them their arms and
accoutrcmcnts, rcscrving only their
clothing The boys of the brigade
wcpt to leave behind their colors.
The scenes at the capitula-
ton were extraordinary. Col. Multi
gan shed tears. The men threw them
selves upon the ground, ravcd and
stormcd in we'll nigh frenzy, demand
ing to be led out and finish the
thing"
OF Lexington it should be said In adj
vance that it was considered n most
important point by the Confederate
forces, and their preparations for it's
capture and occupancy abundantly de-
clare this. Among other proofs that it
was a coveted prize was the fact that
the Legislature had been in session
there as late MS only the week previous
to the arrival Of Col. Mulligan and his
Irish Brigade.
The place was put in the best posi-
bic shape for defense and after several
days Of anxious watching and unre-
mitting toll by the little force, scouts
and advanced pickets reported on the
afternoon of September IL, the near
approach of the Confederatcs. At that
time Col. Mulligan had only six brass
pieces and two howitZcrs, but having
no shell, the latter were uslcss; the
cavalry had only their sidc-arms and
pistols.
The attack on the 18th by Gen.
Rains, with battery Of nine pieces Of
artillery OH the angle least prepared
to resist assault, the enemy were re-
pulsed with heavy loss. The issue
warned the enemy that they had
task before them which was no easy
one, and on the following day n new
system Of approaches was commenced.
The Confcderates procured n large
number of bales Of hemp, which were
thoroughly wettcd and then skillfully
used to mask the batteries and rolled
forward as they made their advances.
On the night Of the 18th, by the ar
rival of immense reinforcements, the
force Of three thousand,
became, in an incredibly short space
of time, swclled to thirty-five thou
sand, with thirteen pieces Of artillery.
At n given signal from Gen. Price the
whole thirteen pieces opened "at once
their fiery throats upon the Federals.
THE latter had one four, one twelve
and three six-pounders, and, getting
into position, they too Joined the Choir
us that went laundering over the coun-
try with a volume that shook the very
of the EARTH"
The Confederate forces absolutely
swarmed in every direction. On the
18th the Confederates obtained pos
session of house, forty yards from
the outer line of intrenchments, and