The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-10-03

11tn our men worked with pick ana
shovel. That evening our pickets
were driven in. We waited until the
morning of the 10Th. vigilant and
without sleep. and then messenger
rushed In. saying. Colonel, the enemy
is pushing across the bridge in over
whelming force With glass we
could see them as they came, General
Price riding up and down the lines
urging his men. Two companies of
the Thirteenth Missouri, with Com
pany K Of the Irish brigade. drove
the enemy back and burned the
bridge.
1.-THE enemy now made detour and
approached the town on the Independ
ence road Six companies of the Mis-
sourians and the cavalry met them In
Lexington cemetery, and the fight rag
ed furiously over the dead. We sue
ceeded in keeping the enemy in check
and meanwhile had thrown up in
trenchments three or four feet high.
At 3 O'Clock the engagement opened
with artillery. The contest ragged half
over the enemy's big gun and explod-
ed a powder caisson. The fight con-
tinued until dusk, and as the moon
arose the enemy retired to camp, two
miles away. and Lexington was our
own again.
Intrenching Knee Deep In Mud.
ION Friday. the 18th. it rained all
day. and the men stood knee deep in
mud building intrenchments A guam
THY of powder was obtained, and our
cisterns were filled with water The
men made cartridges and cast $50
rounds of shot for the guns. All this
time our pickets were engaged with
the enemy. On the night of the 18th
we heard sounds Of preparation for
attack in the enemy's camp.
"At 8 o'clock the 18th the drums beat
to arms, and the terrible struggle com
menced The enemy's forces had been
| increased to $4,000 men, They came
on in one dark, moving mass. They
planted two batteries in front, one on
the left, one on the right and one in
the rear and opened with terrible fire.
Our spies informed us that the enemy
intended to make one grand rout and
bury us all In the trenches of Lexing-
ton. The batteries opened at 8 o'clock
and for three days never ceased to pour
deadly shot upon us. About noon our
hospital was taken. 1t was outside the
intrenchments. had taken it for
| fnd ho fr
build Notifications around the sick
mans couch. But was inexperienced
They besieged the hospital. took it and
from the balcony poured a deadly fire
into our intrenchments.
'"The hospital contained our chaplain
surgeon and 120 wounded. 1t could
not be allowed to remain in the posses
sion of the enemy. Two companies Of
Missourians were ordered in turn tt
retake the hospital. but DO refused
The Montgomery guards. Captain
Gleason, Of the Irish brigade. were
then ordered in. The commander
with brief exhortation to uphold ths
historic name they bore. gave the wort
to charge. The distance was S0t
| Lucy otdAt CO, Qu1Ch, IHCl
double quick, then on run, the1
faster. The enemy poured deadl!
shower of bullets upon them, but OIL
they went up the slope to the hospita
door and, with irresistible bravery
drove the enemy before them. TIL
hospital was retaken. Captain Gleason
was shot through the arm and through
the face.
Toward evening word came from
the enemy that If the whole garrison
did not surrender before next day the.
would hoist the black flag and give n
quarter. We told them when we aske'
for quarter 1t would be time to settl
that. We were In terrible situation
The men caught rainwater in thei
blankets and ran it out into their can