The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1909-04-22

1.-THE third day OF the siegel a battery
was placed due east of the college
about quarter of 4 mile distance
from Is, and about dozen red hot,
six pound cannon balls were fired III
80 the building In an effort to set IL
on fire. Many have doubted that
this could be done, and / was some
what skeptical about 1t until saw
the performances and took part In Ii
myself. A blacksmiths travelling
forge was brought DIP as near the
battery as was considered safe on
account OF our ammunition chests.
The cannon balls were then heated
In the forge as hot as could be with
out melting. The regular charge OF
powder (about a pound In a flannel
sack was first rammed down the
gun, then a cylindrical shaped piece
OF wood about two inches shick (call,
ed a sabot) that just fitted the gun
was rammed down on the powder;
then about a pound OF wadding
thoroughly saturated with water SO
that 1t would not ignite easily was
rammed down on the sabot, then an
other sabot, or circular iron plate
one-hali an inch thick was rammed
down. Now we we're ready for the
red hot cannon ball which was
brought TO the muzzle OF the gun by
means OF iron tongs, and as soon as
the ball could be rammed home the
gun, which had been already care
fully sighted, was Immediately fred
and the red hot ball like a meteor
was seen on It's way to the old col.
lege building where 1t disappeared
within leaving a ragged hole in the
wall. About a dozen OF these were
fred just before we got word that
Col Mulligan had surrendered.
The terms OF the surrender we're
very liberal. Gen. Price by a three
days Siege had gained an almost
bloodless victory. He could have
taken the fort In hall an hour at any
tine by assault, but the loss OF lie
would have been awful. As 1t was
many OF the horses we're killed In the
fort and the odor was terrible. And
the horses that were unhurt were
generally stolen by the camp fol-
lowers, many of whom had been dur.
Ing the siege lying sick(?) In bed In
the neighboring houses, but imme-
diatly recovered on hearing OF the
surrender. Ii was estimated that
there were several thousand OF these
at that time. The whole army was
nothing more than we'll organized
mob. Men came and went away with
or without permission when they
wished. No two men were dressed
alike. You could have seen the uni
forms OF the West Point cadet, OF the
Virginia Military Institute and Of
various other organizations no two
OF which were the same. But these
fine clothes gentlemen were few and
far between. Nearly all wore theil
every day working clothes.
The situation was peculiar and
unique in every respect. A portion
OF the U. 8. Army had surrendered
to the army of loyal state that
only wanted to be let alone. The
commander OF the State Guards
while possessing great military abil
ity, as q strategist and tacticisr
was too lenient and kind hearted tC
maintain the discipline necessary tc
make an army at all times efficient
1t was only the love and admiration
for him whom they called "Old Par
Price" that held the army together
Some OF his best soldiers went home
on various pretexts-to visit theil
families, to get clean clothes, and
many were really sick and were
obliged to 60. Some had never beer
sworn In; Others who had been, con
sidered the oath joke. Some wert
killed while attempting to get home
some we're arrested and imprisoned
by the enemy and q few on being
arrested accepted parole or tool
the oath Of allegiance and came bach
considering that joke. All the fed
eral prisoners were paroled BY Gen
Price and sent home. His army 70
manned at or near Lexington two Of
three weeks and all was gaiety and
irolicing among the young folks In
the town and surrounding country
Every house was thrown open to al