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

bluffs OF the Missouri river, and forti-
fed is with earth works. They
arrested several citiIens OF the town
and imprisoned them In the college
E on account OF trivial actions which
Coils. White and Stifel considered Of
iensive. This incensed the friends
and sympsthisers Of the prisoners
and protests were made, but no at
tention was paid to any complaint
except to perhaps imprison the CON-
plsinsnt. During this time there
were no State Guards nearer than
Springfield and Coils. White and Stifel
sent scouts into the country who
took, without remuneration the best
horses OF the farmers near the town,
and finally got so bold as to go
nearly all over the county taking
horses and anything else their fancy
dictated. Not all the men, however,
who were willing to risk their lives in
defense Of their homes and property
were with Gen. Price In Springfield.
Before the middle OF August force
OF about 1000 young men armed
with shot guns were In camp at the
fair grounds, three miles south OF
Lexington. In a few days they had
as prisoners, Judge j. f. Ryland,
Judge j. E Rylsnd, ex.Gov. Austin
King and several other prominent
Union men, and notice OF the situe.
tion was sent the Federals In town,
telling them that our prisoners
would be treated as we'll as theirs.
This put an end to marauding excur.
sions to the country; and although
we numbered only about 1000 men
the federals did not come out and
attack us and we knew enough not
TO attempt to storm a garrison OF
1000 we'll fortified men.
Thus matters went on until the
latter part OF August when we found
out that Col. Mulligan was moving
: on Lexington with a large force from
!, Sedalia, which was then the western
terminus OF the Mo. Pac. R r. We
then withdrew TO Johnson county
: and later to Index, In Cass Co., which
was about fifty miles southwest OF
Lexington. About the 7th OF Sept.
Gen. Price came up from the south
and our regiment was united with
his force OF about 10000 men, and
the movement on Lexington was be-
gun in earnest. On the 9th we learn
ed that Col. Mulligsn had sent a
, force out to Warrensburg and we at
. tempted by forced march at night
to take them in. But they got no
+. tice OF our approach and made q
: rapid retreat to Lexington. Three
! or four regiments with Bludsoe'f
! battery chased them all day on the
! 18th Of Sept, from Warrensburg tc
Lexington, but did not get within
I shooting distance until they we're q,
Lexington but followed them tc
! within a few yards OF their fortified
, tions and fred a few shots from thu
!. battery and good many from shot
3 guns into their fort. Thus ended thu
J first skirmish at Lexington. Fol
q when night came on Gen. Price with
! drew to the fair grounds and en-
t csmped-or rather bivouaced hi
4 whole army in that neigborhood un
j til the morning OF the 18th of Sept
7 when he moved up and surrounded
Q the federal Notifications and tn,
siege was on for three days and two
: nights. Col. Mulligan's force consist
8 ed OF about $500 men, and the ARM
t of Gen. Price was about 10000
strong, and by 8 O'Clock q. m. Sept
: 18th the federals were completely
< surrounded with no chance OF escape
: Water was scarce and there were two
s or three hundred horses besides tn
t men to be provided for within thu
4 Notifications.
: The only hard fighting was on tn
= west and northwest between the col
Q lege and the river, where two or thre,
: regiments had to climb the steer
D bluffs In the face OF a heavy fire from
i the enemy; but they did 80 once o.
q twice before they got possession o
!. the hill top, with the loss Of only {
b few men, and finally rolled hemI
+ bales In front Of themselves as move
o able breast works until they reached
the outervorks OF the Notifications
q which they held until the surrender
; On the east, south and north cas-
Q the firing was intermittent and oc
:-ck