The Battle of Lexington, Fought in and Around the City of Lexington, Missouri, on September 18th, 19th and 20th, 1861, by Forces Under Command of Colonel James A. Mulligan, and General Sterling Price. The Official Records Of Both Parties to the Conflict; to which is added Memoirs of Participants; by Lexington Historical Society

Published: The Intelligencer Printing Company, Lexington, MO, May 1903

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The Lexington Historical Society, organized in September, 1897, for the "collection and preservation of the original sources of the history of Lexington and vicinity," as the phrase runs in the charter of its incorporation, has been pursuing the purposes of its organization quietly but with encouraging success. It is chiefly for the purpose of stimulating interest in the work of this society that this little pamphlet is printed. It will be found to contain exact reprints of many official reports and dispatches relating to the battle of Lexington, Missouri, which have failed to get into the Rebellion Records. In fact, the Rebellion Records contain no official reports except those of Price and his two division commanders, Rains and Harris.

Colonel Mulligan, we are assured by Mrs. Mulligan in a letter of March 12th, 1903, made an official report which seems never to have reached headquarters. At least it has never been published. A newspaper report of a lecture by Colonel Mulligan is the best that can be offered in this pamphlet. To these reports and certain dispatches immediately preceding the siege and battle, we have added the personal recollections of two gentlemen whose names will be a guarantee of the truth of their accounts as nearly as memory serves them--Colonel R. T. Van Horn, then of the United States Army, and Captain Joseph A. Wilson, then of the Missouri State Guard.

With the exception of these accounts, which were written within the last few months, we have endeavored to present the history of the siege and battle of Lexington from original sources, making use of only a few interpretative headlines and foot notes.

In the preparation of this pamphlet great difficulty was

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experienced in obtaining photographs of officers. In some cases, after long correspondence, photographs were located, but it was impossible to borrow them. Wood cuts of many of the men whose pictures should have found place here might have been taken from the files of Harpers Weekly and other illustrated papers of the time, but no satisfactory way of reproducing them appeared in harmony with the general design. Besides, many of the old wood cuts are hideous caricatures.

Among those who have lent encouragement and aid in the preparation of these pages, especial thanks are due to Cadet J. B. Raymond, of the Wentworth Military Academy, who furnished for the engraver the India ink drawing of the battlefield--a copy of a faded drawing by Captain J. A. Wilson, made for the McNulta Court of Inquiry in 1872.

E. N. HOPKINS, PRESIDENT,
JOHN CHAMBERLAIN, SECRETARY,
Lexington Historical Society.
LEXINGTON, Mo., APRIL 20th, 1903.

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KANSAS CITY, MO., APRIL 3, 1903.
E. N. HOPKINS, ESQ.,-- Pres't Historical Society:
DEAR SIR: In response to your request for a brief article for your book about the siege of Lexington, for it was a siege rather than a mere battle--lasting for twelve days from first to last--I will endeavor to comply. As the official report of Gen. Sterling Price and the interview with Col. Mulligan will no doubt appear in your book, I shall not attempt a history by dates or detail, but confine myself to incidents and events within my personal knowledge and recollection, and such criticism as subsequent experience may suggest.

[image: Col. R. T. Van Horn]

Col. Everett Peabody, with an incomplete regiment he was forming at St. Joseph, landed at Kansas City about the 1st of September, 1861, with an order for Col. R. T. Van Horn me to join him with part of my command, leaving one company with Maj. Berry's mounted men to garrison the post. I reported to him with two companies, B and C of my battalion, leaving at once for Lexington. About the 6th Col. Peabody received an order from the commanding officer at Fort Leavenworth, his immediate superior, to "proceed by forced marches to the aid of Gen. Lane, taking the route either direct from Lexington or via the river and Kansas City." Gen. Lane was between Lexington and Fort Scott, somewhere. This will explain the movement to Warrensburg, where Gen. Price, not meeting Lane, arrived about the same time we did, with his whole army. Col. Peabody hastily fell back to Lexington without important incident.

Arriving at Lexington we met there Col. James A. Mulligan, 23rd Illinois Infantry, Col. Marshall, with about 700 cavalry, and the command of Col. Grover and Lieut.-Col. White, some 300 or 400 strong. A conference of the colonels was held, and it being

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ascertained that Col. Mulligan had the oldest commission, he took command.

The first mistake (and a fatal one) was that Col. Marshall's cavalry, which had not received its carbines, being armed only with sabres and some old holster pistols, was not sent over the river by the boats yet under our control. It was those horses, the finest I ever saw together--owned by the men who rode them--that exhausted our water supply and weakened our lines of defense, necessarily extended to protect them.

The fighting began in earnest on the 12th, the first severe firing being in what was called "the fight in the lane." As the Union force was under my own command I can speak more knowingly. Col. Mulligan is reported as saying there were "six companies of Missourians and calvary met them in Lexington cemetery, and the fight raged furiously over the dead." There were no cavalry present in the fighting. Gen. Price refers to it as "the enemy attempted to make a stand." The facts were that his whole army was moving from the fair grounds, where they had camped, and the small force in the lane held them in check by an effective fire until the men in the earthworks had rallied and prevented an assault upon our position.

For nine days the investment lasted with but little respite for those within the Union works. The vastly superior numbers of the besiegers rendered the vigilance of the small force of the besieged constant. Col. Mulligan gives the troops under his command at 2,700, and over 700 of these were the unarmed cavalry referred to. The effective fighting men were not over 2,000. An acquaintance who called to see me the morning after the surrender said that to Gen. Price's army there had that day been issued 30,000 rations. Of course, these were not all efficient soldiers, but as most of the able-bodied men of that portion of Missouri were there, and they all had something to shoot with, the statement was a very reasonable and, no doubt, truthful one.

Considering, as Gen. Price states, that the surrender was preceded by "fifty-two hours of continuous firing," the fact, in view of the numbers and condition of the Union soldiers, discloses a courage, fortitude and endurance that will compare with any incident of the war. As an evidence of the character of the defense this fact will suffice: The colonels in command of

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the infantry were Mulligan, Peabody, White and Grover. At the surrender Peabody, Grover and White were in the hospital, wounded, along with the writer and Adjutant Graff. All five were together in the parlor of Dr. Franklin Cooley, who took all he could find room for and gave them his skill as a surgeon, while his good wife, and the wife of Dr. Alexander supplied them with the attendance and care that woman alone knows how to provide. The action of Dr. Cooley and the noble women who aided him was not only humane, but in view of surroundings, was heroic, requiring a courage and self-sacrifice in no degree inferior to the men who stood behind the breast-works.

There were two incidents of the siege that, so far as my observation has extended, have not been truly explained--the burning of the Wallace and Fleming houses. As I was a witness to both, it may as well be given here. The residence of Mr. Wallace was but a short distance infront of the college and earth-works, and was made a shelter for sharp-shooters. A consultation of our commanding officers was held and the decision made to burn it. A detail of men was ordered to do the work, and I saw them go on the errand and return after the fire had been started. In the case of the Fleming house, it was further from the earth-works, with a ravine between, and was used as a shelter for men manning a section of a battery, and was harrassing the Union garrison very much. The order was given to use red-hot shot to set it on fire, and the attempt succeeded. These are the facts as to the two cases.

As this is not a report, but confined to incidents, I must refer to one singular omission in the report as given in Col. Mulligan's account of the Anderson house hospital affair. That account is evidently from an interview, as I have never seen an official report from the Colonel. The omission must be attributed to the reporter--for surely so gallant a soldier as Col. Mulligan could not have omitted it. In re-taking the hospital he is made to say: "Capt. Gleason with his company" was ordered to make the attack, which he did. Capt. Gleason is entitled to all the credit and honor that can be given, for the charge was in fact a forlorn hope. But as I was an eye witness it must be said that there were two companies: Capt. Gleason, of the 23d Illinois, and Capt. Joseph Schmitz, of Co. B, Col. Peabody's commandor, as it was called, the German company--all from St.

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Joseph. I was present when the two companies were drawn up to receive their orders, saw them start on a run for the hospital, saw them enter it and met them on their return. I never saw a more gallant charge or a more desperate venture--and it is due to the now dead that the facts be given. As said, the omission must have been by the reporter--for Col. Mulligan could not have forgotten the memorable scene, and the picture of Capt. Schmitz waving his sword and charging at the head of his men is to-day as vivid in memory as it was the day I saw it enacted. Again, Col. Mulligan is made to say it was 800 yards to the hospital. This is evidently another mistake of the reporter, for it could not have been over 200 or 250 yards at most from the point of starting to the hospital. But this is not so important as the other. The charge was made, and one of the most desperate, and at an enemy sheltered inside a house and using the windows as port holes It is due also to Col. Mulligan that the notes and recollection of an interviewer should not go into history as if it was his own report.

[image: Col. Robert Adams U.S.A.]

I will recite another occurrence illustrative of personal coolness and bravery--this time in a boy not over 12 or 14 years old. I happened to be in command of that part of our lines including the college building, in which were stationed sharp--Col. Robert Adams shooters. Bledsoe's battery was stationed U.S.A. some blocks away, and fronting the building. One of the sharp-shooters called to me, saying that red-hot shot was being used to fire it. On going into the building on the second floor I saw the smoke rising from where a six-pound ball had fallen. As the tools for throwing up the breast-works were near I took a shovel and threw the ball out of the window. Just then a boy came up and said: "I can do that." I looked at the lad, a mere "kid," as we call the small boy, and said to him: "Do you think you can?" Of course he was confident. By this time another shot came crashing through the front wall and fell in on the floor. He at once grasped the shovel and threw it out. As I was needed other-wise, I showed him how to shelter himself and watch the flash

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at the battery and wait for the ball to strike, and gave him the job. As long as the shot were fired he threw them out, cheeringly calling attention to each as he did the work. Being in the hospital at the surrender I was unable to find him, or to know where he belonged, and did not even know his name--and I regretted that I was not to know who he was or where my little hero belonged.

Some five or six years ago I got a letter from a place in Southern California, telling me the writer had seen my name in some proceeding, as from Kansas City, and he wrote to ask if I was the major of that name that was at Lexington. If so, he wanted to know if I remembered the boy that threw the hot cannon balls out of the college building in that battle. If I was, he wanted me to write to him and state the facts. For, he said: "I have told the story until I have got the reputation of being the greatest liar in California," and he wanted his character vindicated. Of course, I was more than glad to be the vindicator, and for the first time thus learned his name--Linthicum. As the act was one of the coolest and most efficient in results of the many deeds that characterized danger, I have thought it deserved to be in the record of the doings at Lexington.

As to the hoisting of the white flag: It seems to have been the act of a subordinate officer, and unauthorized, but before discovered had so controlled the action of both armies as to make it a necessity. I have read the accounts of both Gen. Price and Col. Mulligan, and they agree in this respect. It was given out on the Union side as the act of an officer by the name of Becker. I know of no one now living who can give a clearer account as to this than Capt. Henry Tieman, of Concordia, a most reliable gentleman. Being in the hospital myself at the time, I was not in a position to know the steps that led to a surrender that was not intended, but had to come sooner or later.

As to the exchange of prisoners: Gen. Price not being at that time in the Confederate service but in chief command of the "State Guard," a cartel could be arranged without going to Richmond, so the Lexington prisoners were exchanged for those of Camp Jackson.

Of the five officers at Dr. Cooley's I am the only survivor. Col. Grover's wound proved to be mortal, Col. Peabody was killed at Shiloh, Adjutant Graff died in the advance on Corinth,

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and Col. White was a cripple and invalid for all his after life.

The fact, once suggested, is now in the light of the documentary history of the war, conclusive: That had Gen. Fremont and Gen. Lane acted with any promptness or made any effort with the information they had, Gen. Price would never have reached Lexington. No military experience is needed to see this fact--plain as it is from the record.
R. T. VAN HORN.

MR. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN--Secretary Historical Society:
DEAR SIR: Complying with your request I submit the following as my recollections of the important features of the siege and battle of Lexington:

On Sept. 10 Price moved from Rose Hill to Warrensburg by a night march to intercept a force of Federals, who, Price says in his report, were going to rob the bank there, as they had the Farmers' Bank of Lexington. Others say they were trying to evade Price's army and get to St. Louis with the money, something over $900,000, taken at Lexington. However this may be, they were intercepted and driven back to Lexington, burning the bridges behind them. On the 12th Price reached Lexington, moving from the Warrensburg road Capt. Jos. A. Wilson through the lane in front of General Shields' house, to the old Independence road at Edenview church.

[image: Capt. Jos. A. Wilson]

Near this place a small party of cavalry were encountered by our advance guard and driven to town. A regiment of infantry posted near the cemetery gave our advance guard a warm reception, and stood their ground until Price sent forward a

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force of infantry and Bledsoe's battery. The Federals were forced to return to the works around the college. Bledsoe's battery was posted on the ground where Wentworth Military Academy now stands, and fired several rounds into the works.

The attack was repelled with vigor, although we expected that we should be led right on to the works. We retired to camp at the Fair Grounds, where we remained until the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 18. We were constantly engaged in desultory skirmishes with pickets and foraging parties, but nothing of a serious nature.

Price was constantly receiving re-enforcements, until his army amounted to about 12,000 men. An effort was made to re-enforce the Federals from the north of the river, but a detachment from our army drove them back, and Mulligan prepared to resist to the utmost the siege he now saw would begin.

He seized large quantities of provisions, clothing and horses from the Southern citizens, taking also all private arms and amunition he could find.

On the 18th of September our army marched out with colors flying and a full band of field music in front. Before getting in sight of the enemy, however, the music was "side-tracked," and we marched to our positions as silently as possible. Rain's division passed through Mrs. John Aull's meadow, and near the ground where now stands the Missouri Pacific depot, through Mrs. Beck's (now Captain Ryland Todhunter's) front yard, thence north back of the old Tutt place, and formed with its right resting on the hill where Maj. Fred Neet now lives, its left a little east of north from W. M. A.

Clark's division was on the left of Rain's, and Parsons', on Clark's left, extended west along Main Street about to the Court House. Green's and Steen's divisions extended along the west side of Tenth, then Pine Street, to and across Third Street on the bluff west of the gas house. Harris and McBride were on Water Street, along the river, and extending up the hill, so as to join Rain's right flank. Thus the Federal works were completely invested. One column marched down Third Street, one along the alley and through back yards on the bluff, and one down Water Street from the Rock bridge.

Bledsoe's three-gun battery was posted about 100 yards southeast of Maj. Neet's residence; two guns of Guibor's bat-

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tery on the ground where now stand the artillery shed and out-buildings of W. M. A., and one of Guibor's guns, commanded by Serg. A. A. Lesueur, stood where John Major now lives, just behind the Traders' Bank.

Guibor lent his fourth gun to Capt. Churchill Clark, who posted it on South Street, at the end of Sixteenth or College Street, where he fired hot shot into the front of the college. The first day Clark had two of Guibor's guns and opened on the works from the old Tutt place, on the east.

Kneisley's battery of four six-pounders was under the hill with Harris' division. Price's headquarters were in the Meng building, north side of Main, one door west of Tenth Street. The first day Harris' men captured the steamer Sunshine, just below the levee, with a large quantity of stores, especially sugar, of which I remember we had double rations for some time after. The first day was mainly devoted to artillery practice, with some skirmishes, but we were too far off to effect much with our shot guns and squirrel rifles, a large number of which were flint-locks. A few companies were armed with old fashioned U. S. muskets and bayonets, captured at Wilson's Creek. That night we slept in line of battle without blankets or rations.

The second day a column from Parsons' division attempted an assault on the works in front, just west of College Street, but was repulsed.

On that day, by Gen. Price's orders, Col. Thomas Hinkle, a wagon boss, hauled a lot of hemp bales from Wellington and they were dumped all along the streets but not taken to the lines until the third day and last day. At the time everybody seemed to give Gen. Price credit for the idea of a movable breast-works, and I think it probable that the idea of rolling them along was Gen. Price's, even if the whole business was not. Gen. Thomas A. Harris, who afterwards became very unfriendly to Price, claimed to have originated the matter. Col. C. Franklin wrote to Gen. Price from Little Rock, in 1863, that Harris claimed it. Col Thomas L. Snead, Price's Adjtutan General, heard it suggested by a private in the General's body-guard. Several others claimed it. At first some bales were dipped in the river to protect them from hot shot, but after losing some in the water and trying to roll the wet bales, which

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drenched men and guns, they used them "dry so."

Two or three men would get behind a bale, roll it awhile, then stop and shoot awhile. A line would be advanced in this way as close as was thought proper, and while the men lay behind and fired, a second line would be rolled up and placed on top of the first. They were not so extensively used as is commonly thought--only in front of the hospital, Anderson's house, and for about two hundred yards on the north. They were very effective in approaching the house, which has heavy brick walls. At Jackson, Mississippi, Gen. Joe Johnson used cotton bales.

[image: Col. John Reid]

On the third day a party from Harris' division assaulted a small out-work, a lunette, which can still be seen on the Col. John Reid northwest of the college, which contained one gun and a supporting force of infantry. The Federals did not wait the attack but leaped over the parapet and met our men half way. After a short conflict they were driven in with considerable loss, and the assaulting party withdrew a short distance but did not retire. A number of Federals were left outside, killed and wounded. Soon those inside raised a white handkerchief and asked the Confederates to let them bring in their wounded. After a short parley the request was granted The white flag was seen from other parts of the Confederate lines, and the firing, which had, until now, been incessant, suddenly ceased.

Soon another white flag appeared in the Home Guard Camp, just west of the college building. Gen. Price, seeing one or both flags from the third story of his headquarters building, sent Col. Thomas L. Snead, A. A. G., to the fort to inquire their object. Mulligan, who had just been informed of the flag raising, replied: "I don't know, unless you fellows have surrendered, for I have no idea of giving up," or words to that effect.

This account of the episode was current in the army and generally believed, whether true or not. However, negotiations were opened, officers from both sides met and arranged terms of capitulation as honorable to the vanquished as to the victor.

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Officers and men, as prisoners of war, gave parole not to take arms against the Confederate government until regularly exchanged. Arms were stacked within the works and the men marched out and returned to their homes under their own officers, retaining private property, such as clothing, etc. Officers retained private horses and side arms. All provisions, stores, ammunition, tents, wagons, arms and other public proper were turned over to the victorious army.

There were provisions and other stores within the works to last through a seige of six months, but water had become very scarce. This was undoubtedly a potent factor in leading to the surrender.

Indeed, the Federals claim that they would have held out until relieved, but for the want of water This is, to say the least, doubtful, as they were outnumbered nearly four to one and the place could have been taken by storm at any time. The Confederates fully expected to storm the works, but Gen. Price, bold and audacious as he was, yet knew when wariness and patience would win. Unwilling to sacrifice the lives of his men without need, he sat down before the place, confident in his ability to carry it at any time. The Federals numbered about 3,500 men.

Col. John Reid, Price's chief commissary, said that he issued rations for that number of prisoners. There were not more than 10,000 or 12,000 Confederates. Federal writers claim that there were 18,000 or 20,000. They largely overestimate our force. There was a large number of unarmed recruits about the camp, and a great crowd of citizens came in on the day of the surrender. The citizens mixed with the soldiers who wore no uniforms, and it looked like an immense army.

The taking of the Anderson house (hospital) by our men led to a controversy which was kept up after the war. Federals charged us with perfidy in attacking a hospital. We replied that they had fired from the building or under its cover. This they strenuously denied. At a friendly court of inquiry, sometime in the 70's, it was proven and admitted that they did fire from a point so near the building, if not actually under its cover, as to justify our men in the attack. It was also admitted that it was, at least, improper to locate the hospital at an important strategic point, just outside the works. We first

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took the hospital when but few armed men were in it. The Federals, in strong force, stormed and retook it. We then approached it with our rolling breast-works of hemp, captured and held it with a number of prisoners.

Perhaps the greatest loss, at any point, was in these three attacks. Gen. Price reports his casualties at 25 killed, 72 wounded. The Federals had 250 to 300 killed and wounded. There were more killed than wounded, which is very unusual, and is accounted for by the good marksmanship of our riflemen, who could see nothing but the enemies' heads above the works.

The Union authorities were at first disposed to disregard the parole given by their men at Lexington, Missouri not being out of the Union and not recognized by the Confederate government nor Price's army yet in the regular Confederate service. Some of them were forced into the service at once and were exposed to the death penalty if recaptured. They gave a great deal of trouble and some were granted discharges. Mulligan remained with our army on its march southward for some time, traveling in his own ambulance and camping near Price's headquarters. He was treated as a guest rather than a prisoner, and it was the impression among our men that he voluntarily remained with us until the status of the paroled men was settled by his government.

As to the bank matter: Gen. Price restored the money to the directors of the bank, but it was short $15,000. That amount had been stolen while it was in the Federals' hands, by cutting open one of the tin boxes which contained it. Detectives were employed, who traced the money to Chicago, where most of Mulligan's men had gone, thence to Milwaukee or Detroit. It was nearly all recovered, converted into gold and finally restored to the bank, with the exception of about $2,000, which was paid out in expenses, rewards, etc.

There was a large number of Union men in Lexington, among them several skilled surgeons. These asked Gen. Price's permission to go into the works and assist in taking care of the wounded Federals. This was granted, and on the second day, about dusk, the doctors were escorted through the lines, under a flag, after giving parole not to convey information of a military character.

In passing the lines, however, one of them managed to

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whisper to a Federal officer, "Look out, the rebels will make an assault on this part of your works to-night." This was at the west sally port, looking towards the Anderson house. The hint was taken, the works on that side strengthened, and a large quantity of telegraph wire stretched and tangled in front. (Barbed wire was then unknown). The other out-works were already protected by "trous de loup," pits three or four feet deep with sharp stakes in the bottom and mounds between, disposed in quincunx order. Our men must have discovered the extra preparations, for no assault was made.

Mulligan's famous "Irish Brigade," after the capitulation was agreed upon and while its terms were being carried out, made some trouble about laying down arms and surrendering their flag. It was the typical harp of Erin, gold on a field of green, and was presented to them by some organization of ladies before leaving Chicago. They marched round the inner side of the Fort with colors and music, to the great disgust of Capt. Bledsoe and others, who threatened to resume firing; then forming in hollow square they stacked arms, furled the flag and were paroled with the others. Gen. Price and staff were all this time sitting on their horses, in or near the outer sally port, on the south side, the soldiers were swarming over the out-works, and had resistance been resumed then, the garrison would have been destroyed in a few minutes.

I never learned what became of that beautiful flag. It would be an interesting relic now.
JOSEPH A. WILSON.

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[image: Colonel James A. Mulligan.]

Colonel James A. Mulligan was born in the city of Utica, New York, in the year 1829, and is consequently in his thirty-second year. His parents were natives of Ireland. His mother, after the death of his father, which took place when he was a child, removed to Chicago, where she has resided with her son for the past twenty-three years. She married an Irish-American in Chicago named Michael Lantry, who has steadily watched with a father's solicitude the expanding mind of the brave young soldier. He was educated at the Catholic College of North Chicago. He is a strict member of the Catholic Churcb. In 1852, 1853 and 1854 he read law in the office of the Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, Congressman from the Chicago District. In 1856 he was admitted an attorney-at-law in Chicago. At the time he held the position of Second Lieutenant in the Chicago Shields Guards, one of the companies attached to the Irish Brigade now in Missouri, and which has done so well at Lexington.--Harper's Weekly.

Col. Mulligan is over six feet in height, and as straight as a lance. A strong, wiry, muscular frame, an open, frank Celtic face, a dark hazel eye as lustrous as that of an eagle, long, glossy hair plentifully mixed with threads of gray, a heavy dark moustache, and a nervous, energetic look, indicative of the dash, the abandon, which characterizes the nervous, sanguine temperament, complete the personal of James A. Mulligan, the defender of Lexington, Missouri.--Detroit Free Press.

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[image: General Sterling Price.]

Sterling Price is a native of Virginia and resided for some time in Prince William County in that State. From thence he removed to Missouri where he has resided for the last twenty years. He is by profession a lawyer, has occupied several important positions in the State service, and has also represented it in Congress. He was Governor before Robert Stewart. During the Mexican war he served in the Volunteers and rose to the rank of Colonel of Cavalry, and subsequently to that of Brigadier-General of Volunteers. When the Rebellion broke out he avowed himself a traitor, and was appointed by ex-Governor Claiborne Jackson Major-General of the State Militia of Missouri.--Harper's Weekly.

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JEFFERSON CITY, SEPT. 12, 1861.
I have just received the following, latest from Col. Mulligan, at Lexington: "Ten or fifteen thousand men, under Price, Jackson & Co., are reported near Warrensburg, moving on to this post. We will hold out. Strengthen us; we will require it."
JEFF. C. DAVIS, Colonel, Commanding.
General Fremont.

JEFFERSON CITY, SEPT. 12, 1861.
Lieut. Pease, a very intelligent officer, arrived last night with dispatches from Col. Mulligan, at Lexington, and reports all quiet there. They had not heard of Price's advance, but the colonel informed me that he had secured the money in the bank at that place and was taking steps to secure that of other banks, in obedience to my orders. I also ordered him, immediately after his arrival, to commence fortifying Lexington, which he informs me he is doing. No troops from Kansas, except about 300 had arrived. Nothing was known there of Gen. Pope's movements. Affairs south of this, and in Calloway County, are being vigorously straightened out by some detachments I sent out some days ago.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JEFF. C. DAVIS, Colonel, Commanding.
Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, Saint Louis, Mo.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
SAINT LOUIS, SEPT. 14, 1861.
Re-enforcements will be sent you to-day. The Eighth Indiana left at 6 a. m. this morning for Jefferson City. Other regiments will follow to-day. Sturgis will move forward. We will telegraph you further respecting his movements. Gen. Pope, with some force, is at or near Saint Joseph.
J. C FREMONT, Major-General, Commanding.
Col. Jefferson C. Davis, Jefferson City.

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SAINT LOUIS, SEPT. 14, 1861.
SIR: You are hereby directed to move by way of Utica, with all practicable speed, to Lexington, on the Missouri River, with your force of infantry and artillery. You will send back the three companies of the Fremont Hussars, under Capt. Bloom, to Saint Louis. The most practicable route from Utica to Lexington for you will be by Austinville, Grove, and Morton.
J. C. FREMONT, Major-General, Commanding.
Brigadier-General Sturgis.

JEFFERSON CITY, SEPT. 15, 1861.
MAJOR-GENERAL FREMONT:
Reliable information from the vicinity of Price's column shows his force to be 11,000 at Warrensburg and 4,000 at Georgetown, with pickets extending in the direction of Syracuse. Green is making for Boonville.
JEFF. C. DAVIS.

SAINT LOUIS, SEPT. 20, 1861.
COL. JEFFERSON C. DAVIS, JEFFERSON CITY:
Concentrate a force strong enough, in your judgment, at Georgetown, and push forward to relieve Mulligan. I trust that you can take provisions for two days with the means of transportation which you have. Order back your boats to Jefferson City, and send provisions and troops by them to Lexingington. Two hundred wagons will be sent from here to-night to Syracuse. which will follow you. Troops are going from here. Answer.
J. C. FREMONT, Major-General, Commanding.

SAINT LOUIS. SEPT 23, 1861.
I have telegram from Brookfield that Lexington has fallen into Price's hands,* he having cut off Mulligan's supply of water. Re-enforcements 4,000 strong, under Sturgis, by capture of ferry-boats, had no means of crossing the river in time. Lane's force from the southwest and Davis' from the southeast, up-

[The following newspaper report (not stenographic) of a lecture by Col. Mulligan was kindly furnished by Mrs. Marian Mulligan, who assures us that the Colonel's official report never reached Washington.--THE EDITORS].

On the 30th of August, 1861, the Irish brigade of Chicago lay encamped just outside of Jefferson City. That night an order came from the General, at Jefferson City, for them to report at headquarters. Upon reaching headquarters the commanding officer said that the regiment of Col. Marshall, which had left for the southeast some days before, had reached Tipton, where they were hemmed in, and could neither advance or return, and that he wished me to go to Tipton, join Col. Marshall, take command of the combined forces, cut my way through the enemy, return to Lexington and hold it at all hazards. The next morning the Irish brigade started, with one six pounder, forty rounds of ammunition, and three days' rations for each man. Thus we marched on for nine days without meeting an enemy, foraging upon the country roundabout in the meantime for support.

We reached Tipton, but found neither Col. Marshall nor the enemy. The brigade passed on to a pleasant spot within two miles of Lexington, where we sat down, and made preparations to enter the town. We washed our faces, burnished up our arms, brushed the travel stain from our uniforms, and went gaily in with our little six pounder. Indeed, the trouble was not so

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much in getting into Lexington as in getting out. At Lexington we found Col. Marshall's cavalry regiment and about 350 men of a regiment of Home Guards. On the 10th we received a letter from Col. Peabody, of the Thirteenth Missouri regiment, saying that he was retreating from Warrensburg, twenty-five miles distant, and that the rebel general, Price, was in full pursuit, with an army of ten thousand men.

A few hours later and Col. Peabody joined us. There were then at this point the Irish brigade, Col. Marshall's Illinois cavalry regiment, full, Col. Peabody's regiment, and a part of the Fourteenth Missouri--in all about 2,780 men, with one six pounder, forty rounds of ammunition, and but few rations. We then dispatched a courier to Jefferson City, informing the commanding officer at that post of our condition, and praying for re-enforcements or even rations, when we would hold out to the last.

At noon of the llth we commenced throwing up entrenchments. We had selected college hill, an eminence overlooking Lexington and the broad Missouri. All day long the men worked untiringly with the shovel. That evening, but six or eight hours after we had commenced throwing up earth-works, our pickets were driven in and intimation given that the enemy were upon us. Col. Peabody was ordered out to meet them, two six pounders were planted in a position to command a covered bridge by which the enemy were obliged to enter the town, and so we were prepared. That night the enemy, seeing our preparations, remained on the other side of the bridge, but it was a night of fearful anxiety. None knew at what moment the enemy would be upon our devoted little band, and the hours passed in silence and anxious waiting Thus we waited until morning vigilantly and without sleep, when some one rushed in saying: "Colonel, the enemy are pushing across the bridge in overwhelming force."

With a glass we could see them as they came. Gen. Price upon his horse, riding up and down through his lines, urging his men on. Two companies of the Missouri Thirteenth were ordered out, and with Co. K of the Irish brigade quickly checked the enemy, drove them back, burned the bridge, and gallantly ended their day's work before breakfast. The enemy made a detour, and approached the town once more by the Independence road. Six companies of the Missouri regiment were ordered

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out to meet them in the Lexington cemetery, just outside the town, and the fight raged furiously over the dead. We succeeded in keeping the enemy in check, and in the meantime the work with the shovel went bravely on, the diggers sometimes pausing in their work to cast anxious looks toward the graveyard where their comrades were engaged in the deadly strife, and yet the shovel was swiftly plied.

This work was continued during the night, our outposts keeping the enemy in check, so that in the morning we had thrown up breast-works three or four feet in height. At 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon of the 12th the engagement opened with artillery. A volley of grape from the enemy was directed at a group of our officers who were outside the breast-works, which had an amusing effect. Every officer immediately sought the protection of the breast-works, and gained the inside of the lines of men. But this movement was attributed by them to the terror of their horses, not from any desire to contemplate the enemy from a less exposed position. Our men had returned the volley and a scene of the wildest confusion commenced. Each man evidently believed that he who made the most noise was doing the most shooting. Those who were not shooting at the moon were shooting above it, into the earth, or elsewhere at random, in the wildest, most reckless manner. This could not continue long with forty rounds of ammunition, and the men were ordered to cease firing, and were then arranged in ranks and instructed to fire with more precision, and carefully; and soon everything was in order and moved on as cleverly as a Yankee clock. This contest raged about an hour and a half, when we had the satisfaction, by a lucky shot, of knocking over the enemy's big gun, exploding a powder caisson, and otherwise creating a vast amount of damage, which was received with great shouts by our brave men. The fight was continued until dusk, and as the moon rose that great army of 10,000 men were in full and precipitate retreat, and Lexington was our own again. We resumed the shoveling and worked unceasingly through the night. Next morning Gen. Parsons, with 10,000 men at his back, sent in a flag of truce to a little garrison of 2,700, asking permission to enter the town to take care of his wounded and bury his dead, claiming that when the noblest soldier of them all, the lion-hearted Lyon, had fallen, he had granted every privilege to the Federal

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officers who had sought his corpse.

It was not necessary to quote any precedent to the Irish brigade for an act of humanity, and friend and foe met above the slain and together performed the last rites over the fallen.

On Friday, though a drenching rain set in, the work of throwing up the entrenchments went on, and the men stood almost knee deep in mud and water at their work. We had taken the basement of the Masonic college, an edifice from which the eminence took its name. A quantity of powder was obtained and the men commenced making cartridges. A foundry was fitted up, and 150 rounds of shot-grape and canister were cast for each of our six pounders. We had found no provisions at Lexington, and our 2,700 men were getting short of rations. Sunday had now arrived. Father Butler, our chaplain, celebrated mass upon the hillside, and all were considerably strengthened and encouraged by his words, and after services were over we went back to the works, actively casting shot and stealing provisions from the inhabitants round-about. Our pickets were all the time skirmishing with the enemy, and we were casting shot and making preparations for defense against the enemy's attack, which was expected on the morrow.

At 9:00 o'clock on the morning of the 18th the enemy was seen approaching. His force had been strengthened to 28,000 men, with thirteen pieces of cannon. They came as one dark, moving mass, their polished guns gleaming in the sunlight, their banners waving, and their drums beating--everywhere, as far as we could see were men, men, men--approaching grandly. Our earth-works covered an area of about eighteen acres, surrounded by a ditch, and protected in front by what were called "confusion pits," and by mines, to embarrass their approach. Our men stood firm behind the breast-works, none trembling or pale, and the whole place was solemn and silent. As Father Butler went around among them they asked his blessing and received it uncovered; then turned and sternly cocked their muskets. The enemy came, 28,000 men, upon my poor, devoted little band, and opened a terrible fire with thirteen pieces of cannon, on the right and on the left, and in the rear, which we answered with determination and spirit. Our spies had brought intelligence, and had all agreed that it was the intention of the enemy to make a grand rush, overwhelm us, and bury us in the trenches

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of Lexington. The fight commenced at 9:00 o'clock, and for three days they never ceased to pour upon us a deadly fire. At noon word was brought that the enemy had taken the hospital. We had not fortified that. It was situated outside the entrenchments, and I had supposed that the little white flag was a sufficient protection for the wounded and dying soldier who had finished his service and who was powerless for harm--our chaplain, our surgeon, and 150 wounded men. The enemy took it without opposition, filled it with their sharp-shooters, and from every window, from the scuttles on the roof, poured right into our entrenchments a deadly drift of lead.

Several companies were ordered to re-take the hospital, but failed to do so. The Montgomery guard of the Irish brigade was ordered to a company which we knew would go through. Their captain admonished them that they were called upon to go where the others dared not, and they were implored to uphold the gallant name which they bore, and the word was given to "charge!" The distance across the plain from the hospital to the entrenchments was about 800 yards; they started at first quick, then double quick, then on a run, then faster-still the deadly drift of lead poured upon them, but on they went--a wild line of steel, and what is better than steel, irresistible human will. They marched up to the hospital, first opened the door without shot or shout--until they encountered the enemy within, whom they hurled out and far down the hill beyond. The captain, twice wounded, came back with his brave band, through a path strewn with forty-five of the eighty lions who had gone out upon the field of death. We were now in the most terrible situation. The fire had hesitated for a little while, and the rebel commander had at once sent word to us that we must at once surrender, or they would hoist the black flag and show no quarter. Word was sent back that it would be time to settle that question when we asked for quarter, and then the terrible fire was resumed. Our surgeon was held by the enemy against all rules of war, and that, too, when we had released a surgeon of the enemy on his mere pledge that he was such. It was a terrible thing to see those brave fellows mangled and wounded, with-out skillful hands to bind their ghastly wounds. Capt. Moriarity, of the Irish brigade, who had been in civil life a physician, was ordered to lay aside his sword and go into the hospital. He

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went, and through all the siege worked among the wounded with no other instrument than a razor. The suffering in the hospital was horrible--the wounded and mangled men dying for thirst, frenziedly wrestling for water in which the bleeding stumps of mangled limbs had been washed, and drinking it with a horrid avidity.

On the morning of the 19th the firing was resumed and continued all day. The officers had told our men that if we could hold out to the 19th we would be re-inforced, and all through the day the men watched anxiously for the appearance of a friendly flag under which aid was to reach them, and listened eagerly for the sound of friendly cannon. But they looked and listened in vain, and all day long they fought without water, their parched lips cracking, their tongues swollen, and the blood running down their chins when they bit their cartridges, and the saltpeter entered their cracked and blistered lips, but not a word of murmuring. The morning of the 20th broke, but no re-enforcements had come; still the men fought on. The rebels appeared that day with an artifice that was destined to overreach us and secure to them the possession of our entrenchments. They had constructed a movable breast-work of hemp bales, rolling them before their lines up the hill, and advanced their artillery under this cover. All our efforts could not retard the advance of these bales. Round shot and bullets were poured against them but they would only rock a little, and then settle back. Heated shots were fired with the hope of setting them on fire, but the enemy had taken the precaution to soak the bales in the Missouri and they would not burn. Thus for hours the fight continued, we striving to knock down or burn their hemp bales, and they striving to knock down our breast-works. Finally the rush came. The enemy left the protection of their bales and with a wild yell swept over our earth-works and against our lines, and a deadly struggle commenced. Many heroic deeds were done in that encounter. Our men were encouraged by being told that if we succeeded in keeping them in check this time we had them whipped; the lines stood firm. At this juncture we ordered up Capt. Fitzgerald, of the Irish brigade, with his company, to sustain the wavering line. Our cartridges were now nearly used up, many of our brave fellows had fallen, and it was evident that the fight must soon cease, when at 3:00 o'clock an orderly came,

[unnumbered page]

[image: (map) Battle Field of Lexington Mo. Showing plan of Earth-Work defended by Federal and State Troops under command of Col. James A. Mulligan U.S.A. during the 18th, 19th and 20th Sep 1861. Surrendered to Genl. Sterling Price C.S.A. Sept 20th 1861.]

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saying that the enemy had sent a flag of truce. With the flag came a note from Gen. Price asking why the firing had ceased. I returned it, with the reply written on the back, saying: "General, I hardly know, unless you have surrendered." He at once took pains to assure me that such was not the case. I afterwards discovered what the trouble was. A lily-livered man, a major by courtesy, ensconsed under the earth-works, out of sight, had raised a white flag. Twice he had been threatened with death if he did not take that cursed thing down; but the third time his fears overcame his discretion and made for a moment a brave man of him, and he hoisted the flag over the breast-works on a ramrod.

The ammunition was about gone, there was no water, we were out of rations, and many of the men felt like giving up the post, which it seemed impossible to hold any longer. They were ordered back to the earth-works and told to use up all their powder, and then defend themselves as best they could, but to hold their place. They obeyed, silently and grim. Without a murmur they went back and stood at their post, only praying that the enemy would approach so near that they might use the soldier's weapon, when his powder fails--the bayonet. Then a council of war was held in the college and the question of surrender put to the officers, and a ballot was taken--only two of the six votes were cast in favor of fighting on, and when the flag of truce was sent out. With our surrender many of the brave fellows shed tears. And so the place was lost.

The enemy undertook to haul down our flag, and at first found the halyard cut; they climbed to the top and found it nailed. Their only resource was to cut down the pole, which was done while we turned our faces away. Gathering up the prisoners, the colonel in front, we were taken down to their camp and brought before a man in authority, who said we must promise not to "run away." We told him that we had not been in the habit of doing much of that business of late. Refusing to give our parole not to "aid or abet the United States," we were marched off prisoners, with Gen. Price, and thus ended the siege of Lexington.

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HDQRS. IN THE FIELD, SECOND DIVISION MO. S. G.,
NEAR LEXINGTON, SEPT. 23, 1861.
SIR: In compliance with instructions, I beg leave to submit the following report of the part taken by the forces under my command in the capture of the Federal forces occupying the city of Lexington on the 18th, 19th, and 20th instants:

[image: Col. Emmett MacDonald]

Leaving 200 men to act as camp guard, at 9:00 o'clock a. m. of the 18th instant my command, in pursuance to your order, took, up the line of march for Lexington. The whole command, acting as infantry, moved by flank, the battery of artillery bringing up the rear. I had proceeded about one mile en route when my advance touched upon the rear of General Parsons' division, and I soon after received your order to take the road to the left and support the movements of that division. An order to bring my artillery to the advance caused delay of Col. Emmett MacDonald some fifteen or twenty minutes, as the infantry had to give way for its passage along the road. My command arrived at precisely 10:00 o'clock a. m., and I ordered Capt. Kneisley, who was in command of the battery, to take position at an elevated point of intersection of two streets, and to open his fire and imitate the movements of the battery of Gen. Parsons' division, which was already in action I detached Capt. Davis' company, armed with minie rifles, to act as an intermediate covering party for the battery, whilst my whole command, protected by the houses, was held in readiness to support the battery if required. Capt. Kneisley served his battery very satisfactorily, only suspending his fire from the exhaustion of his men, induced by the excessive heat and from want of sufficient ammunition. The effect of the fire upon the enemy was very efficient and destructive. At one or

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two positions occupied by my command the enemy annoyed us slightly with both round shot and grape, but a slight change in position sufficed to afford adequate protection against his missiles.

At 11:15 o'clock I received the order from yourself in person to move my command along the bank of the river to the support of Gen. McBride's command and Gen. Slack's division, under command of Col. Rives. At the same time you gave me instructions to capture the brick house outside of the enemy's line of defense, known as the Anderson house or hospital, provided, that if upon my arrival there I was of opinion I could carry it without too severe a loss. My battery of artillery you suggested to remain in its then effective position, saying that you would look to its security.

Immediately upon the receipt of the foregoing instruction, I moved my command along to the line of the river, causing the different battalions to debouch to the right and ascend the elevations which protected our movement from the fire of the enemy. I directed the men to crawl to the crests of the hills and annoy the enemy as he should expose himself above his breast-works. Lieut.-Col. Brace's battalion I held to occupy the main road for several hours as a reserve. The active skirmishing of my men from the crests of the hills visibly had an annoying effect upon the enemy, and he responded throughout the day and night with great spirit and industry.

Upon my reaching the point known as the hospital I dismounted and ascended the hill on foot. Upon my arrival I found Col. Rives' command, supported by a portion of Lieut.-Col. Hull's and Maj. Milton's (Callaway's) command of my division. From a personal inspection of the position occupied by the hospital I became satisfied that it was invaluable to me as a point of annoyance and mask for my approach to the enemy. I at the same time received your communication as to the result of your reconnaissance through your glass. I therefore immediately ordered an assault upon the position, in which I was promptly and gallantly seconded by Col. Rives and his command. together with Col. Hull and Maj. Milton and their commands, of my own division. The hospital was promptly carried and occupied by our troops, but during the evening the enemy re-took it, and were again driven out by our men with some loss.

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Leaving a sufficient force at the hospital to hold it, I descended the hill and moved along the left wing of my command, which, under Col. Green, had united with Gen. McBride's command, and had gallantly driven the enemy back from an advanced position, and was occupying an advantageous point in common with Gen. McBride's command, in a trench taken from the enemy near a mine which had [been] sprung. Upon reconnoitering the position of the enemy I directed Col. Green to deploy his line to the left, which he promptly did, and directed that his riflemen should continue to skirmish with the enemy, whilst his shot-gun men, being out of range, should protect themselves beneath the crest of the hill and be in readiness if an assault from the enemy's lines should be attempted. I then directed Lieut.-Cols. Brace and Hull to move with their commands to the support of Green's position, and to extend the flank to the left on Col. Green's front extended.

This was the position of my command on the night of the 18th instant, the men maintaining a brisk skirmishing, with decided effect upon the enemy. Climbing the rugged and precipitous heights during the excessive heat of the day caused the men to suffer greatly for water, but nothing appeared to daunt their resolution, endurance and valor. They had neither blankets nor food, but they remained steadfastly at their posts during the entire night. In repelling these assaults I had the pleasure to recognize the gallant co-operation of Gen. McBride and his command and the timely assistance of the batteries of Gens. Rains and Parsons.

At 7:30 o'clock on the evening of the 18th instant, when a sally was anticipated from the enemy through the hospital position, designed to make a diversion favorable to the landing of anticipated Federal re-enforcements and to burn steamers captured by us during the day, you were kind enough to afford me the valuable re-enforcements from Gen. Steen's division, commanded by Majs. Thornton and Winston, and the battery of Capt. Kelley. The infantry I posted to strengthen the hospital position, and the artillery was so disposed as to command the wharf and the river. Col. Congreve Jackson politely loaned me the use of a battalion commanded by Col. Bevier, which I posted to cover the artillery. During the night I visited frequently the various positions of my command, and found both

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men and officers fully resolved and capable of maintaining themselves until morning.

On the 19th instant I moved Col. MacDonald's command to the extreme left, thus perfecting my connection with Gen. Rains' right flank. I directed a desultory fire to be kept up during the day by my sharp-shooters along my entire front, and directed the line of some rude field fortifications. The commands of Col. Green and Lieut.-Cols. Hull and Brace, poorly provided with intrenching implements, perfected their defense with astonishing perseverance. None contributed more to the zealous and efficient prosecution of the work than Lieut.-Col. Porter, of Col. Green's regiment, who, although severely wounded in the head by a ball, continued to afford the most untiring example to the men by his zeal and self-sacrificing services. Where timber could be had as a shelter these field works could be constructed only at the expense of great physical exertion; but where the enemy had removed the means necessary for construction, to extend the lines of defense involved great hazard of life. By a reconnaissance of the hospital position I became satisfied that the construction of flank defenses would afford greatly increased facilities for the annoyance of the enemy, while it would materially lessen the exposure of our men; but such had been the great exhaustion of our men that I feared their power of endurance would be over-taxed should I impose this new task upon them. Capt. Robinson, commanding the Callaway infantry, however, offered to attempt the task. I then directed Capt. George A. Turner, of my staff, to request of you one hundred and thirty-two bales of hemp, which you promptly accorded. Capt. Turner was intrusted with the general superintendence of transporting it to the points designated. To the extraordinary zeal, activity, and persevering industry of Capt. Turner I feel under the greatest obligations. His services were invaluable to me during the entire engagement. I directed the bales to be wet in the river to protect them against the casualties of fire of our troops and of the enemy, but it was soon found that the wetting so materially increased the weight as to prevent our men in their exhausted condition from rolling them to the crest of the hill. I then adopted the idea of wetting the hemp after it had been transported to its position. In the arduous and extremely trying duty of transporting the

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hemp I cannot neglect to recognize the active and cordial cooperation of the commands of Cols. Rives and Hughes, Majs. Winston and Thornton, Capts. Mitchell, Grooms, and Spratt, and Adjt. Flowerree, of General Steen's division, Maj. Peacher, of Gen. Clark's division, and Maj. Welton, and the officers and men of Gen. McBride's division.

At 5:00 o'clock p. m. on the 19th instant a truce was granted by you to the enemy to enable them to remove their sick and wounded from the hospital which had been captured by us the day previous. This afforded me the opportunity to make final and complete arrangements for defense of the hospital position during the day, notwithstanding the active skirmishing along the entire line. Lieut.-Cols. Hull and Brace had been enabled materially to improve and extend their defenses, composed of earth-work and timber. During the day and entire night of the 19th I was almost continually in the saddle, visiting the various positions and giving detailed instructions to all grades. The extreme exhaustion and fatigues which I suffered taught me to appreciate fully the heroic patriotism and endurance of those brave men who had been exposed with me for forty-eight hours continuously, without comparatively either food, water, or blankets, and encountering the severest physical trials.

At 8:00 o'clock a. m. on the 20th inst., I ordered up additional hemp to extend the defenses at the position occupied by Col. Green and Lieut.-Cols. Hull and Brace. The activity and zeal of these commands in putting the bales in position reflect the greatest honor upon them. I directed them to be used as portable breast-works, to be pushed forward towards the enemy's lines in parallel approaches. The disclosure of the hemp defenses, or approaches as they might be called, elicited the obstinate resentment of the enemy, who was profuse in the bestowal of round and grape shot, and was not at all economical of his minie balls; but our men, gallantly led by their officers, continued to approach the enemy, pouring in upon him a most destructive fire until about 2:00 o'clock p. m., when he surrendered. The loss sustained by my division in the entire engagement was: Killed 10; severely wounded, 18; slightly wounded, 26; making a total of casualties, 55.* I regret to state that among

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH DIVISION M. S. G.,
CAMP NEAR LEXINGTON, SEPT. 23, 1861.
MAJ.-GEN. PRICE, Commanding the Forces of Missouri:
I have the honor to report to you the participation of my division in the siege at Lexington. On Thursday, the 12th, I received your orders for an advance upon Lexington. Putting my division in order of march I at once proceeded to the City of Lexington by one of its southeastern approaches. About 4:00 o'clock p. m. I received intelligence, through Col. Dyer, that the enemy was immediately in your front, and I ordered Col. McCulloch's regiment of cavalry forward to act as skirmishers. In a few minutes he reported to me that he had engaged the enemy in force. Following up the orders you had delivered me in the morning, I immediately marched with my infantry and artillery to the colonel's relief, being supported in the meantime by Gen. Clark's infantry, under the command of Col. Jackson and Col. Price. When I arrived on the suburbs of the town I found that my advance, together with other troops of your army, had engaged the enemy, who had selected the cornfields and hedges to the right of the road as hiding places. Forming Col. Dill's infantry on my left; Col. Kelly's infantry (Capt. Champion,

[image: Dr. A. V. Small]

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commanding), upon my immediate right; Col. Jackson, of Gen. Clark's division, with his infantry supporting my extreme right; and my artillery, under Capt. Guibor, commanded the center. Capt. Champion, on my right, led the Kelly infantry, supported by Gen. Clark's infantry, immediately forward after the formation of the line of battle and engaged the enemy in the corn-field, and after a short conflict the enemy were dislodged and retired in the direction of the city. I again advanced my whole line, when I received an order from you to take position with my battery on the left of the road in an orchard. Occupying this position with my forces, with those of Gen. Clark in the same position as above mentioned, I looked about for the position of the enemy, and finding that he had retired in the direction of his fortifications I ordered my columns forward, and with my battery took position on the southeast of the fort, six hundred yards distant, my right being supported by Gen. Clark's infantry and my left by my own. Col. McCulloch in the mean-time had made a detour to the right and advanced below the fortifications of the enemy.

From this position Capt. Guibor opened his batteries upon the College building and the entrenchments in front, doing them serious injury and causing the enemy to abandon them and hide within their trenches My cannonade was responded to vigorously by that of the enemy, together with irregular firing from their skirmishers. This was kept up until twilight, when I received your order to withdraw my division and return to our encampment at the fair grounds, which was done in the following order: Capt. Guibor's battery, leading; Capt. Champion's, Col. Dill's, and Col. Alexander's regiments following, and Col. McCulloch's bringing up my entire rear.

On Wednesday morning, September 18, my division was ordered forward, diverging to the left and to the east of the city, along the coal bank road. Nothing of importance occurred until I had reached the summit of the hill near the city. By your order I sent my battery to the front, Capt. Champion's company acting as skirmishers. Feeling satisfied that we were in the neighborhood of the enemy I ordered up the remainder of my infantry to support my battery, at the same time requesting Col. Jackson, who was commanding Gen. Clark's division, to support me, which he did very promptly. Scarcely had the

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order been given when the enemy's pickets opened fire upon my guns. Not knowing their exact locality, Capt. Guibor fired three shots down the streets as a feeler for the enemy. As the enemy's pickets were driven in I advanced, and after occupying several unimportant positions I finally established my battery on Cedar Street, to the north of North Street, within 500 yards of the enemy's works; Col. Kelly's infantry occupying my right; Col. Alexander my left; Col. McCulloch across the street in my rear, and Gen. Clark's infantry at the Court House, ready to support me if their services were needed. From this point Capt. Guibor opened a galling fire from his guns upon the enemy's works, which he kept up during the day and at intervals during the night.

Gens. Harris and McBride, having occupied the important position between the enemy's works and the river, and seeing from time to time the heavy charges made by the enemy's infantry to dislodge them, I endeavored to cooperate with those brave commands to force the enemy back to their trenches by throwing grape and spherical case shot upon them whenever they showed themselves.

On the next morning I received your order to march with my whole division to the river. On arriving at the bank I ascertained that it was your desire that I should cross the river with a force of 3,000 men to repel the re-inforcements of the enemy advancing from that quarter. After crossing over I ascertained that the enemy had heard of my approach and retired in confusion, leaving 200 of their tents upon the road. Having communicated to you this state of facts, I received from you orders to re cross the river and occupy my former position, which I reached about 12:00 m. of that day. I immediately opened my fires upon the enemy's works. My skirmishers, Col. Kelly's regiment, under Capts. Champion and Hill and Lieut. Cuniff, advanced within 150 yards of the enemy's works and succeeded in firmly establishing themselves on College Street, from which point they kept up a murderous fire upon the enemy as they would show themselves upon the entrenchments.

About 8:00 o'clock at night Gen. Harris and myself received a deputation of the enemy's surgeons asking the privilege of removing their sick and wounded from their fortifications into the city. We were compelled for the time to decline granting this

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request for the reason that the commander of the fortress had not himself made it of you in your official character. We allowed the surgeons one hour to return to the fort for the purpose of rectifying this delinquency. In the meantime I ordered my batteries to cease firing. Within the time allowed the surgeons returned with the required note directed to you in your official capacity from Col. Mulligan, commander of the fortress. Gen. Harris and myself then consented that the enemy should remove sick and wounded from the hospital into the city, out of the range of the guns of either army, and that they should send any number of surgeons that they deemed necessary to attend their wounded, and that such surgeons should not be considered prisoners of war. I am gratified to state, for the sake of humanity, that this arrangement released from the cellars of the fort 122 sick and wounded soldiers who were, in the time allowed, conveyed to the rear of my position, and were comfortably cared for.

As soon as the sick and wounded of the enemy were thus cared for my batteries again opened upon the enemy's fortifications. The fire was immediately directed upon them whenever they attempted to charge the lines of Gens. Harris and McBride.

On the next day the enemy, having suffered long from want of water, made several desperate efforts to drive the divisions of Gens. Harris and McBride from their position, during which time Capt. Guibor brought his guns to bear upon them with his usual effect. He having called my attention to the fact that there was a better position down Cedar Street, nearer the enemy's works, and being only about 200 yards distant from them, I went down with him to examine, and after doing so, ordered him to occupy it, which he did instantly. From this he again opened volleys of grape on the enemy's works with decided effect. In moving the battery to its last position, Capt. Champion, of the Kelly infantry, had occupied Turner's Hall, immediately in rear of my guns. I ordered McCulloch down North Street, to the church, with directions to advance from that point to the left and take possession of a brick building within 80 yards of the enemy's lines, which order the colonel executed most gallantly, receiving a heavy volley of the enemy's fire, and also a fire upon his rear from one of our own batteries, which had mistaken him for the enemy. Fortunately, however, he

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sustained no loss from this. In the meantime, I had ordered up Col. Dill's regiment, Maj. Lindsay, commanding, and also Col. Alexander's regiment to the support of Col. McCulloch. These two regiments promptly moved forward to the positions assigned them, with instructions from me to hold themselves in readiness for a general charge of the enemy's works.

Not long after, a white flag appeared within the enemy's fortifications, whereupon I ordered the firing to cease. In a few minutes after, I received your orders to march my division within the enemy's works, which I did, and found that they had surrendered.

It gives me great pleasure to indorse the intrepidity and gallantry of the commanding officers of my regiments, and also of their officers and soldiers during the whole siege; and also Capt. Champion and the officers and soldiers of the Kelly infantry who rendered most efficient and precious services as skirmishers.

Capt. Guibor, of the battery, and his officers and men acquitted themselves with their usual gallantry.

Lieut. Barlow, of the battery, was confined to the country by sickness at the commencement of the siege, but hearing the cannonading he left his bed, and resuming his post, rendered the most efficient service.

My staff officers are entitled to my thanks for their coolness and gallantry and studied attention to their duties while on the field.

Not having sufficient men to work all my guns I loaned two of them to Capt. Clark, who worked them during the siege with admirable precision and efficiency.

To Col. Jackson, Col. Price and Maj. Clark, and to their division, I tender my acknowledgements for efficient support of my division and battery during the greater part of the siege.

My casualties are as follows: Col. Dill, in the first engagement, was severely wounded by an accidental discharge, while gallantly leading his regiment. I am pleased to state, however, that this valuable officer is in a fair way of recovery. In Col. Dill's regiment of infantry Capt. Boyd English and Archie Wendleton, of Capt. Rogers' company, were wounded.

In Col. McCulloch's regiment of cavalry, (Capt. Sutherlin's company), Charles Miner, killed; Private Salston Stall, wound-

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ed. Capt. McCulloch's company--J. H. H. Mahan, killed; R. E. Williams, A. J. Ritters, wounded. Captain Butler's company--W. H. Hough, killed. Captain Taylor's company--William Johnson, wounded.

Col. Alexander's regiment of cavalry, (Capt. Zollinger's company), Samuel Shepard, Capt. John W. Young, killed; John Shepard, wounded. Capt. McGoffin's company--Henry Johnson, wounded.

In Col. Kelly's regiment of infantry, (Capt. Champion's company), John Fleming, killed. Capt. Livingston's company--William Kindrick, killed.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. M. PARSONS, Brigadier-General.

LEXINGTON, MO., SEPT. 20, 1861.
GENERAL: On the 12th instant as we approached this place, and when about three miles distant, I received an order from you to proceed without delay and regardless of the artillery, in the rear of which we had been marching during the day. We immediately passed Gen. Parsons' command and several others, and passing the fair grounds reached the suburbs of the city. We filed off to the right through an open field in the rear of another column. Before the rear of my command had entered the field the enemy, who were on or near the road ahead of us, in ambush, discharged a Capt. Churchill S. Clark heavy volley of musketry, severely wounding one of my men in the head. We halted, faced to the enemy and returned their fire, when they broke

[image: Capt. Churchill S. Clark]

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and fled. As they were concealed from us by intervening trees and a patch of corn, I was uncertain as to the exact direction they had taken. Finding the enemy had fled I immediately countermarched my column, crossed the road, passed through an orchard and corn patch into the cemetery, passed through this in the direction of the town, and entered into a street which led us into an open piece of ground. Here our line was necessarily broken by the many obstacles encountered. I halted the men and was in the act of forming the line when the enemy, from a hollow ahead of us where they had halted and concealed themselves, opened on us again, doing little or no damage, except wounding Col. Wingo. The colonel was badly, but I am pleased to say not dangerously wounded in the shoulder. Upon returning their fire the enemy again fled like rats and did not halt until safely landed within their entrenchments. We proceeded to the town and occupied, during the rest of the evening, a position to the left and in support of the battery commanded by Capt. MacDonald. In this skirmish the enemy lost three killed and seventeen wounded, as appears by a private paper of a citizen of Pettis County which fell into my hands to-day. So much for the skirmish of the 12th.

I now come up to the events of the last three days. On the morning of the 18th we left camp near the fair grounds, in the entire rear of the army, and at a distance of half or three-quarters of a mile took a left hand road which led us to the upper end of town. I here received an order from you by Col. Snead to move forward to the support of Cols. Rives and Hughes, who were going down the river to attack the enemy's steam-boat, which was lying at the foot of a point on this side of the river, three-fourths of a mile below the ferry. One column moved forward and came up with the rear of Col. Rives' command at the foundry. Col. Hughes had the boat taken and run up to the ferry with but little difficulty, and his regiment and Col. Rives' force filed off to the right and took position near the brow of the bluff, about a quarter above where the boat was captured. My command followed the enemy up the bluff, each party keeping up a running fire. At the summit of the bluff they had three mines prepared, two of which they sprang upon us, wounding several of our men severely, but fortunately killing none. The enemy had now reached his entrenchments and

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kept up from noon until night a halting fire of musketry, enlivened by an occasional discharge of grape. Upon gaining the summit of the bluff I was immediately impressed with its importance and much surprised that it was yielded so readily by the enemy. I dispatched my volunteer aide, Maj. Welton, to you for assistance. He returned, informing me that assistance would be promptly rendered. In a short time Col. Green appeared with several companies of Gen. Harris' command. Gen. Harris shortly after appeared and these officers and their men co-operated with me, rendering signal service. About dark a party of the enemy raised the shout and charged within a short distance of the brow of the bluff, but were quickly repulsed, doubtless with some loss. I lost no men. Occasional firing was kept up during the night on both sides.

The next day, 19th, passed off without any particular incident in our quarters. Being still more strongly impressed with the importance of our position, I sent to you for cannon and hemp, which was furnished us this morning, 20th. The cannon was taken up by hand, and a good breast-work formed with the hemp within 100 yards of the enemy's cannon. During the time we were constructing the breast-work a galling fire was kept up on both sides, in which, I am sure, the enemy suffered severely. Some of Gen. Harris' men and some of ours were killed and wounded. The enemy seemed only on this morning to be fully conscious of the importance of the occupation of this point by us, and fought with much energy and determination until driven from two of their pieces nearest the breast-work, when they ran up the white flag, which terminated the contest.

During the action of the last three days Maj. Welton, one of my aides, rendered me prompt and efficient service. Gen. Harris' men, as far as my observation extended, behaved very gallantly. Col. Green was personally present and bore himself with coolness and intrepidity. Of the officers and men under my command it is only necessary to say that on this, as on all former occasions, they have proved themselves equal to every emergency. Lieut.-Col. Twigg, of the First regiment, was with me from beginning to end and rendered every desired assistance. The men who stole away from their homes in the presence of the enemy and marched 600 miles without tents, half clad, and many

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of them unshod, can be safely relied on in the hour of danger.

In the action detailed above, of my command two were killed upon the ground, one was mortally wounded, four severely wounded, and seven slightly.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. H. McBRIDE, Brig.-Gen., 7th Division M. S. G.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION M. S. G.,
CAMP AT LEXINGTON, SEPT. 23, 1861.
To COL. H. LITTLE, Adjt.-Gen., Missouri forces.
SIR: In obedience to instructions I herewith submit the reports of the several commands of my division that took a part in the siege of Lexington on the 18th, 19th, and 20th inst. I was prevented by ill health from leading my division, only being able to be present at the closing hour. It is a proud pleasure to know that the troops of the Fifth division did their duty as became patriots and soldiers. Most of my command came in under forced marches, from the extreme northern portion of the district. On their way they encountered a force of Federalists under Lieut.-Col. Scott, which they completely routed; and leaving that field in victory they rushed on to this point to participate in this memorable conflict, and many of them were among those that received the brunt of the battle. To my whole command, officers and soldiers, I must return my thanks for the manner in which they behaved.
I have the honor to be,
Your very obedient servant,
A. E. STEEN, Brig.-Gen., Fifth Division M. S. G.

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HDQRS. OF FIRST INFANTRY, FOURTH DIV. M. S. G.,
LEXINGTON, MO., SEPT. 21, 1861.
COL. B. A. RIVES, Commanding Division:
SIR: I have the honor of reporting to you the operations of that portion of your troops under my command in the action of the 12th, before reaching Lexington, and also in the battles of the 18th, 19th and 20th in and about the fortification and entrenchments of the enemy.

[image: Col. Hiram Bledsoe]

In the action of the 12th, whilst advancing with my regiment on the extreme right wing, and in front of the advancing and attacking column, we were fired upon by a heavy body of the enemy concealed in the grass, standing corn and hedge, severely wounding several of my troops. We returned the fire very vigorously for half an hour, when the enemy gave way, falling back towards their entrenchments. During this engagement your cavalry regiment, having been dismounted, and being under your command and that of Lieut.-Col. Bohannon, joined me and very gallantly repulsed the enemy. Gen. Parsons' battery contributed very greatly towards dislodging the enemy at this point. The whole brigade then under your immediate command followed up the success already gained and moved briskly upon the retreating foe through gardens, orchard, and corn field on the right of the enemy's left, taking position on the east side of the enemy's breast-works. Here a heavy fire was poured in upon us, until night put a stop to the firing on both sides and we received orders to withdraw to the fair grounds.

In the action of the 12th I had two men severely wounded, William Hall, of Co. K, from Clinton County, (Capt. Webb's company), and John F. Simms, Co. G, (Capt. Smace), from Livingston County, and three slightly wounded, to-wit: Sergt. A.

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J. Tartar, Co. K, (Capt. Webb), from DeKalb County; Monroe Williams, Co. G, (Capt. Smace), Livingston County; and Linington Hill, Co. H, (Capt. Thompson), Caldwell County. At night- fall we were ordered back to the fair grounds and encamped for the night. Here we awaited re-inforcements and a full supply of ammunition, which soon arrived from Springfield.

In the action of the 18th I have to state that my right, under your direction, proceeded upon Lexington, on the left wing, next the river. Part of Gen. Steen's division were placed in the front until we arrived up into the central part of town. After some considerable cannonading on both sides my command and that of Lieut.-Col. Bohannon were directed by you to file down to the ferry and thence down the river, with the view of attacking the enemy on the north side of his entrenchments, and thereby cut off his connection with the river. In executing this order my column led the way down the river, the right bank of the Missouri river. The enemy opened a sharp fire upon us from the iron foundry, the steam mill, and other buildings in that vicinity, but we continued to dislodge them and drive them towards the trenches. The Clara Bell steamboat and steam ferryboat were lying near by, and the enemy kept up a sharp fire from these and from the bluffs, upon my column. At this stage of the action Gen. Parsons and his battery came up and opened fire upon them, soon driving them from their hiding places in the bluffs and from behind houses and piles of lumber near by. My column then quickly advanced and under your order took possession of both the steamboats and moved them to the upper landing for our own use. I placed them under command of Capt. William Mirrick and his company, who immediately and promptly moved on board the same. We carried off a good number of the enemy's horses and other valuable property, all of which were promptly turned over to the State. My column then advanced up to the bluffs upon the northwest angle of the enemy's fortifications, and by the aid of a portion of Gen. Harris' men and part of your own regiment took possession of Col. Anderson's large brick building then occupied by the enemy, from which they galled us severely. The lower part of this building was used by the enemy as a hospital and had in it 130 sick and wounded, which were all removed on the evening of the 19th. A very sharp conflict ensued and my loss here was

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three killed: John Wilkerson, of Capt. Goodwin's Co. A, extra battalion, and William Cox and M. J. Brooks, of Co. B, Capt. Coleman, extra battalion, all of Grundy County, Missouri. This battalion was commanded by Maj. Hansard. Severely wounded: William H. Webster, of Co. B, extra battalion, Capt. Goodwin, Grundy County; and William C. Crouch, Co. G, Capt. Small, Livingston County. Slightly wounded: Thomas Woodhouse, Co. A, Capt. Dyes, of Livingston; James Marquan, William Steel and Albert Edwards, all of Co. H, Capt. Thompson, Caldwell County; and John Flinis, Co. F, Capt. Powell, Ray County. I was slightly wounded by a minie ball or grape shot, but soon recovered from the shock and did not leave the field.

I will add that during the evening several very sharp conflicts took place on that part of the field, and with varied success. The enemy by a bold assault regained the hospital buildings, brutally killing several of our men after they had surrendered as prisoners of war; but in a short time we made a very vigorous attack upon them and recovered the hospital buildings from the enemy and re-established ourselves so that we could not again be dislodged. The firing was quite spirited on all sides of the entrenchments during the evening and throughout the entire night. Several attacks were made during the night.

On the morning of the 19th we arose from our bivouac upon the hills to renew the attack. This day we continued the fighting vigorously all day, holding possession of the hospital buildings and throwing large wings from both sides of the house, built up of bales of hemp saturated with water to keep them from taking fire. These portable hemp bales were extended like the wings of a partridge net, so as to cover and protect several hundred men at a time, and a most terrible, galling and deadly fire was kept up from them upon the works of the enemy by my men. I divided my forces into reliefs and kept some 300 of them pouring in a heavy fire incessantly upon the enemy, supplying the places of the weary with fresh troops. On the night of the 19th we enlarged and advanced our defensive works very near to the enemy's entrenchments, and at daybreak opened upon their line with most fatal effect. During the night we captured several of the enemy who were seeking for water outside the fortifications. Some thirty of the enemy were killed

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by the men under my command in their efforts to procure water at the hospital well and spring near by.

On the 20th the attack became general and our men rivaled the gallant soldiers under Gens. McBride and Harris on our left. The rivalry and enthusiasm became irrepressible and the conflict exceedingly sharp, whilst very rapid advance was made on the works of the enemy. Our gallant and brave boys picked off every Federal that attempted to show his head above the breast works. Never was there more dauntless courage exhibited by any soldiers than was shown by the troops under my command. Officers and private soldiers alike deserve the highest praise. In this short report I cannot name all those who took part in the action, but I promise a more extended report in future. I must say that Lieut.-Col. Twigg and his men, of Gen. McBride's division, and Col. Green and his forces, of Gen. Harris' division, in the last assault which put the enemy to rout and compelled them to think of a surrender, won my admiration. These forces were co-operating with me on my left wing. I never saw better fighting done on any field. My own men were so fired up with enthusiastic courage that it was almost impossible to prevent them from leaping over the bales of hemp and scaling the enemy's entrenchments, and plunging right into the ditches. I think I may say with truth that the troops under my command, co-operating with those under Gens. McBride and Harris and Capt. Bledsoe's gallant battery, brought about a speedy surrender.

The enemy finding it impossible to hold out longer raised a white flag and advanced towards my headquarters, and another towards Gen. Harris' lines at the same time, offering to surrender as prisoners of war. The principal officers on both sides, yourself included, were soon assembled in front of my lines and the terms of the surrender agreed upon. Col. Marshall, of the Federal forces, came forward and greeted you in a friendly manner. Meanwhile the booming of the cannon died away and the firing of small arms had ceased all along the extended lines, and all was peace. Friendly greetings took place between Federals and Confederates who but a few moments before had been engaged in deadly conflict.

In this short report I desire to express my thanks to all my men, and especially my commissioned officers, the captains and

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lieutenants, for their gallantry and good conduct during the protracted and toilsome siege of Lexington. I cannot forget to acknowledge the valuable assistance rendered me by Lieut.-Col. J. A. Pritchard, of my regiment, and Maj. Hansard, of the extra battalion. Nor can I overlook the valuable services of Capt. Robinson and the three companies of soldiers with him from Gen. Harris' division, then acting under my orders and commanded by Col. Wilfull. In concluding this imperfect report of the operations of the men under my command in the attack of the 12th, and also in the siege of Lexington on the 18th, 19th and 20th, all the officers and soldiers behaved with great gallantry and deserve all praise. I will further add that during the siege several citizens and amateur fighters fell into the ranks under my command and rendered efficient service with their rifles and double-barreled shot guns, obeying my orders and advancing gallantly upon the enemy. To all these and to my own brave soldiers, I publicly tender my thanks for their noble behavior. I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
J. T. HUGHES, Col. First Regiment Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION M. S. G.,
LEXINGTON, Mo., SEPT. 13th, 1861.
TO MAJ.-GEN. S. PRICE, Commanding Missouri State Guards:
SIR: In obedience to your orders I herewith transmit a report of the participation of the Fourth division of the army in the battle before Lexington on the 12th instant, at about 3:00 o'clock p. m.:

I was ordered to direct Col. Hughes' regiment of infantry to deploy on the right of the road leading from the fair grounds to Lexington, and scour the corn field with skirmishers to ascertain if the enemy was there posted. I was also ordered to dismount my regiment of cavalry, under command of Lieut.-

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Col. Bohannon, and direct him to perform the same service on the left of the road. The two columns thus advanced until they reached the house of Dr. Higgins, when I ordered Lieut.-Col. Bohannon to cross his column over to the right of the road and join the regiment of Col. Hughes. We had advanced but a short distance in the direction of the city when the enemy, concealed behind a hedge and some fences, opened a galling fire upon a regiment of cavalry which had by this time been thrown in front. They returned the fire gallantly but their horses becoming unmanagable they were compelled to retire and dismount. I immediately advanced my column, opened a fire upon the enemy and compelled them to retreat in the direction of the city. We pursued as fast as the obstacles presented by a number of fences would permit, and with the co-operation of other portions of the army, drove the enemy before us into their entrenchments around the college buildings. I then took a position on the east of the fortifications and remained until dark, when I was ordered into camp.

My loss in killed and wounded is as follows: In Col. Hughes' regiment, four wounded and none killed. In Lieut.-Col. Bohannon's regiment, James G. Brown, of Co. D, Livingston County, killed on the field; Capt. Rives, of Co. E, Ray County, shot through both thighs while leading his company into the thickest of the fight; Rufus Chadwick, of Co. G, Davis County, mortally wounded--a brave man, who, when dying, remarked: "Tell my wife that I died like a brave man for Missouri, and only regret that I had not another life to give her." George McNeil, of Co. B, Davis County, was killed while on picket.

For a more detailed account of the operations of the First regiment of infantry I refer you to Col. Hughes' report, which I herewith enclose. To all the officers under my command I am indebted for their gallantry and assistance in this action, as well as to the brave men who have conducted themselves as only men can who are conscious that they are fighting in a righteous cause. I take pleasure also in acknowledging my obligations to Captain Hubbell and Colonel Conrow of my staff, as well as to Captain Harris, who acted as a volunteer aid during the battle. All of which respectfully submitted.
Very respectfully your ob't servant,
B. A. RIVES, Col. Commanding 4th Divisional M. S. G.

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HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION M. S. G,
September 23rd, 1861.
To MAJOR GENERAL PRICE,
SIR: In obedience to your orders I have the honor to report the action of the Fourth division of the army in the siege of Lexington.

On the morning of the 18th, my command, consisting of a regiment of infantry under Colonel Hughes and a regiment of cavalry dismounted, under Lieutenant Colonel Bohannon, was ordered to take up the line of march in the direction of Lexington. When we reached the city you ordered me to take a position on the west of the enemy's fortifications on the bluff above Anderson's warehouse. When I arrived there the enemy opened a fire upon my lines from their entrenchments, and also from a building occupied by them as a hospital, and from which was floating a white flag. I immediately ordered First Lieut. F. G. Bransford, commanding Company A of Lieutenant Colonel Bohannon's regiment, to storm the building, which was most successfully and gallantly accomplished. As soon as the building was secured, I found concealed in the cellar a number of negro slaves, owned in various sections of the surrounding country, some as far north as Utica, which I caused to be placed under guard and delivered to their owners. That being accomplished, and feeling secure in my position, I ordered Capt. Wm. Merrick, commanding Company A of Colonel Hughes' regiment, to march his command down to the river and take possession of a steamboat and a steam ferryboat that were in the employ of the enemy, and on which was found a large amount of stores useful to the army. The boats were captured and taken to the main wharf of the city and turned over to the quartermaster. In the meantime, a number of horses, mules, and harness were taken from the enemy and sent to camp. The firing was almost constantly kept up from the enemy's entrenchments, and as promptly returned by my men from our position on the bluff and at the hospital. Our sharpshooters from the hospital so annoyed

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the enemy that they determined to retake the building, which I am forced to say was bravely accomplished, and would have elicited our admiration had not the act been tarnished by the murder of three of my men, who, being overpowered in a room of the building, laid down their arms and surrendered as prisoners. Another only escaped through the kind-heartedness of a sick man, a member of the Illinois regiment of cavalry, who kindly furnished him a place on his bed and a portion of his blanket, by which he escaped the observation of the bloodthirsty soldiers whose bayonets were reeking with the blood of defenceless men. The enemy's occupation of the building, however, was brief. Captain Peniston, of Company F of Lieutenant Colonel Bohannon's regiment, appreciating its importance, immediately led his command to the charge, and being assisted by individual members of other commands, retook the building, leaving nine of the enemy dead in the yard and orchard adjoining the house. This position we held until the surrender, notwithstanding various attempts were made to retake it by a large force of the enemy, assisted by well directed shots from their batteries, which almost demolished the building. I take pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to Brigadier General McBride and Brigadier General Harris, who were posted on my left and who rendered me invaluable aid in holding this important position by ordering a well directed cross fire into the ranks of the enemy whenever they attempted to charge my front.

On the evening of the 19th inst., at the suggestion of Brigadier General Harris and by his assistance, we brought up a large number of bales of hemp and constructed temporary breastworks on each side of the hospital building to shelter our men, and from which they could fire with greater precision at the enemy whenever they made their appearance above their fortifications. This portable protection was advanced from time to time until we were within about one hundred yards of the entrenchments of the enemy, when on the evening of the 20th inst. a white flag was raised and sent to my post by the enemy. I immediately dispatched a messenger to your headquarters to inform you of the fact, and to request that hostilities be suspended in other portions of our line. I advanced to the position of the enemy, accompanied by my staff, and awaited the arrival of Colonel Snead, your acting adjutant general, who negotiated

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with the Federal officers for a surrender of their forces, by which an immense effusion of blood was spared.

In this laborious seige, by which the men under my command were kept constantly under arms for three days and two nights, many individual acts of bravery were exhibited, which my prescribed limits will not permit me to mention.

My especial thanks are due to Colonel Hughes, Lieutenant Colonel Pritchard, of the First regiment infantry, and to Lieutenant Colonel Bohannon and Major Comer, of the First regiment cavalry, also to Captain Scott of St. Joseph, who acted as aid to me and who could always be seen where the danger was most imminent, Captain Hubbell and Colonel Conrow, of my staff, and Captain Harris of St. Joseph, who volunteered his services as aid. I take pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to Major Winston, of Brigadier General Stein's division, and Major Milton, of Brigadier General Harris' division, each of whom, with a force under their command, rendered me valuable assistance throughout a greater portion of the seige.

My entire loss in killed and wounded is as follows: In the extra battalion attached to Colonel Hughes' regiment and under command of Major Hansard, three killed on the field and one wounded; in Colonel Hughes' regiment, eight killed and none wounded; in Lieutenant Colonel Bohannon's regiment, Lafayette Quarles, James 0. K. Walker and Robert Caldwell, all of Company A, Ray county, killed in hospital, and Jerry Frasier wounded; in Company C, same regiment, Charles Desher and Peter Ray, of Carroll county, wounded; in Company B, Capt. J. H. McNeill, of Davis county, wounded; in Company F, Geo S. Thompson and Lafayette Warmouth, Grundy county, wounded.

In extra battalion attached to Colonel Hughes' regiment and under command of Major Hanson, 3 killed and 1 wounded; in Colonel Hughes' regiment, 8 wounded; in Lieutenant Colonel Bohannon's regiment, 8 wounded, 3 killed. Total killed and wounded, 21.

For a more detailed account of the action of the First regiment infantry, I refer to the report of Colonel Hughes, which is herewith transmitted. All of which is respectfully submitted.
B. A. RIVES, Col. Commanding 4th Division M. S. G.

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HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION M. S. G.
LEXINGTON, September 23, 1861.
To COL. THOMAS L SNEAD, Acting Adj. Gen. Army Corps.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the forces of the Third division in the several days' engagement at Lexington, the same having been temporarily placed under my command during the absence of their gallant and legitimate commander, Brig. Gen. John B. Clark, who some short time before was specially detailed on business for the army and necessarily preventing his presence with his command.

On the morning of the 18th inst., in pursuance of the orders of the major general commanding, my forces were got in readiness and marched to the fair grounds near Lexington for the purpose of taking their position in the line of battle. My forces consisted of the First regiment of infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. Edwin Price and Maj. John B. Clarke, jr.; the First batallion of cavalry, commanded by Lieut. Col. J. P. Major and Maj. A. H. Chalmer; the Second regiment of infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. John H. White and Maj. Joseph Vaughan; the Second battalion of infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. M. G. Singleton and Maj. Q. Peacher: the First battalion of infantry, commanded by Maj. R. S. Brevier, and several independent companies under command of Capt. J. A. Poindexter, the whole amounting to twelve hundred and thirty men.

The position assigned me was upon the left of the battery of Brigadier General Parsons, with directions to support the same. It was now 9 o'clock A. M., and in this position the line of march was commenced and continued down the main road until getting into the city, when a detour was made to the left and we arrived in front of the court house. Near this point the battery was placed upon a commanding eminence and commenced a brisk fire upon the fortification, at the distance of four or five hundred yards, which was continued during the day

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and at intervals during the night. On the morning of the 19th, by direction of the commanding general, my forces were moved from this position across the river, and marched about a mile and a half in a northern direction for the purpose of meeting and resisting the advance of reinforcements for the enemy, which were reported to be coming from that direction under the command of General Sturgis. Learning from satisfactory sources that the reported forces had turned back, and that no danger was to be apprehended from any force on that side of river, I returned with my forces, again crossing the river by one o'clock on the same day, and took a position on the east side of the college building, and within four hundred and fifty yards of the same. This position I held until the capitulation was made by the enemy. During this time parties of skirmishers were continually thrown out from my line, who with unerring aim poured their fire upon the enemy behind his entrencements, which at times told with such wonderful effect as to silence his fire several times on that portion of the fortification.

I am gratified at being able to report not one of my forces as killed, and but two persons very slightly wounded. Though mostly acting as a reserve corps, my forces were frequently exposed to the fire of the enemy, but I am gratified to be able to state that both officers and men behaved in the most gallant manner. I was attended upon the field by Lieut. Col. Wm. O. Burton, Lieut. Col. R. B. Walton, Lieut. Col. Wm. Woodson, Lieut. Col. S. Farrington, Lieut. Col. R H. Musser, Capt. Joseph Fink, Capt. James Collins, who acted as aides for me and to whom I make acknowledgements for efficient and gallant services. I desire also to make my acknowledgements to Col. C. W. Bell, assistant adjutant general, who was detailed by me on duty from the field, who, though painfully afflicted, performed efficient service in the duty assigned him. I also desire to make my acknowledgements to the surgeons of my command for their prompt attention to duties, and efficient service they rendered at their posts.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
CONGRAVE JACKSON,
Colonel Commanding Third Division, M. S. G.

[unnumbered page]

[image: The spring which was Col. Mulligan's main dependance for water after the cisterns gave out]

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CAMP AT LEXINGTON MO September 22, 1861.
Lt. Col. D. W. FLOWERREL, Acting Ass't Adj. General,
Permit me to make the following report of the part sustained by the forces under my command in the battle of Lexington on the 20th inst.

My command, consisting of six companies of cavalry, dismounted, under Captains Wells, Gibson, Robinson, Bostic, Bennett, and Lieutenant Moore, three companies of infantry, Captains Minter. Smith, Stout, and three pieces of artillery under Capt. E. V. Kelley, numbering in all 400 men, were stationed on the morning of the 19th inst. in and around the court house yard. At eight o'clock A. M. on the 20th inst., Captain Kelley was ordered with the battery to take position opposite northwest face of the enemy's entrenchments, and opened fire at a quarter past nine, within about 100 yards of same, which was kept up during the remainder of the day with the most telling effect, silencing one of their guns at the fifth round, which resumed fire in a short time and was silenced again at several intervals during the day. At ten o'clock A. M. I was ordered to take position in the rear of the battery as reserve. This I did with the whole of my command, with the exception of Captain Well's company, which was not in the engagement, and Captains Bostic and Robinson, who since report that they became detached and were engaged to the right of General Parson's battery At eleven A. M. my command took position according to order at right and left of our battery and commenced approaching the enemy under cover of bales of hemp, rolling them before us, which formed most effective protection and saved many valuable lives Under this protection we moved forward until within fifty paces of the enemy's fortification with but little loss. After gaining our position, and an incessant firing for several hours, the white flag was displayed upon the enemy's embankments opposite my command. Our men sustained a constant fire from both artillery

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and small arms, but they stood their ground like veterans and answered not only shot for shot but two for one with most destructive aim. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon our noble recruits. The officers above named, who were under my personal observation, together with Maj. J. J. Hash and Lieut. E. W. Toole, acting adjutant of my command, fought like free Missourians who knew their rights and dared defend them.

The following is the list of killed and wounded in my command: Killed: F. M. Breman. private, Kelly's artillery; Jeff Warren and Win. Wren, privates, Minter's company. Wounded: Lieut. H. H Moss, in arm, Privates Fays, W. A. Chesnah, slightly, Minter's company, Buchanan county; G. H. H. Brand, in neck, G. R. Smith, in arm, A. J. Rucker,