nent and patriotic services of the late sure you that it is my firm determination Brigadier-General Nathaniel Lyon. The to protect every peaceable citizen in the country to whose service he devoted his full enjoyment of all his rights, whatever life, will guard and preserve his fame as may have been his sympathies in the a part of its own glory. That the thanks present unhappy struggle, if he has not of Congress are hereby given to the taken an active part in the cruel warfare brave officers and soldiers who, under which has been waged against the good the command of the late General Lyon, people of this State by the ruthless ensustained the honor of the flag and emies whom we have just defeated. I achieved victory against overwhelming therefore invite all good citizens to return numbers at the battle of Springfield in to their homes and the practice of their Missouri; and that in order to commem- ordinary avocations, with the full assurorate an event so honorable to the coun-ance that they, their families, their homes try and themselves, it is ordered that and their property shall be carefully each regiment engaged shall be author-protected. I, at the same time, warn all ized to bear upon its colors the word evil-disposed persons, who may support 'Springfield,' embroidered in letters of the usurpations of any one claiming to gold. And the President of the United be provisional or temporary Governor of States is hereby requested to cause these Missouri, or who shall in any other way resolutions to be read at the head of every give aid or comfort to the enemy, that regiment in the army of the United States." they will be held as enemies, and treated General Price, the commander of the accordingly." The Confederate Congress Missouri State Guard, issued a Proclama- at Richmond presently, on the 21st of tion after the battle, addressed to the August, on motion of Mr. Ochiltree of People of Missouri. Declaring that the Texas, passed the following resolution: army under his command "had been or- "Whereas it has pleased Almighty God ganized under the laws of the State for to vouchsafe to the arms of the Confederthe protection of their homes and fire- ate States another glorious and importsides, and for the maintenance of the ant victory in a portion of the country rights, dignity and honor of Missouri," where a reverse would have been disashe added that it was "kept in the field trous, by exposing the families of the for these purposes alone, and to aid in good people of the State of Missouri to accomplishing them, our gallant Southern the unbridled license of the brutal solbrethren have come into our State with diery of an unscrupulous enemy; therethese. We have just achieved a glorious fore, be it resolved: That the thanks of victory over the foe, and scattered far Congress are cordially tendered to Brigand wide the well-appointed army which adier-General Ben McCulloch and the the usurper at Washington has been officers and soldiers of his brave commore than six months gathering for your mand, for their gallant conduct in defeatsubjugation and enslavement. This vic-ing, after a battle of six and a half hours, tory frees a large portion of the State from the power of the invaders, and restores it to the protection of its army. It consequently becomes my duty to as a force of the enemy equal in numbers, and greatly superior in all their appointments, thus proving that a right cause nerves the hearts and strengthens the DEFENCE OF LEXINGTON. 531 ters of the motives and conduct of the Federal army, raised at such cost and self-sacrifice for the preservation of the Union and the old liberties and prosper arms of the Southern people, fighting, as THE DEFENCE OF LEXINGTON, SEPTEMBER 12-20, 1861. the 1st Illinois regiment of cavalry, Colonel Marshall, five hundred Missouri Home Guards, and the 23d regiment of the Irish brigade, a body of stalwart men raised in Illinois, who were led by Colonel James A. Mulligan of Chicago. This gentleman, of Irish parentage, was born in Utica, New York, in 1829. He was educated at the Catholic College at Chicago, had studied law, and edited the Western Tablet in that city, been admitted to the bar, employed as a clerk in the Department of the Interior at Washington, and at the outbreak of the present war was Captain of a militia company, "Shields' Guards," at Chicago. With such antecedents, it was a natural step to a Colonelcy of the Irish Brigade raised in that city in 1861. The youth, enthusiasm, and energy of this officer proved important qualifications for the military career upon which he had entered, and which his command was destined successfully to illustrate. We have now to turn our attention to a position in western Missouri which became the scene of one of the most interesting episodes of the war. The town of Lexington, the capital of Lafayette county, situated on the southern bank of the Missouri river, three hundred miles above St. Louis, occupies an important frontier position, commanding the approach by water to Fort Leavenworth, and the direct communication with Independence and the great overland route to Santa Fé. It was a prosperous town, lying in a fertile region, and one of the most thriving settlements of the West. Its inhabitants were understood to be tainted with secession sentiments, and the place afforded, of course, a favorable opportunity for the operations of the insurgents. As the danger of its occupation became imminent, a small force was sent forward by order of General Fremont to take charge of the money in the banks, and protect the region from spoliation in aid of the rebellion. With these Colonel Mulligan, while encamped with and several accessions of troops, there his regiment at Jefferson City, at the end were collected at this place, early in Sep- of August, received an order to march to tember, a body of about twenty-seven the relief of Colonel Marshall's cavalry hundred men, composed of the 13th Mis- at Lexington, one hundred and twenty souri regiment under Colonel Peabody, miles by the road to the westward. Starting with forty rounds of ammuni- to the enemy with the exaggeration usual under such circumstances, undoubtedly tended to keep them at a distance and prolong the siege. Works like these, of course, were not the labor of a day. They were performed under many disadvantages, with the foe close at hand, with the prospect of a fierce and deadly encounter with superior numbers, and under circumstances which, to less brave and spirited men, would have counseled, without dishonor, a prudent and safe retreat. It would seem that this gallant band were actuated by the single motive of setting before their countrymen an inspiring example of ennobling toil and indomitable valor. tion and three days' rations, foraging by the way, they accomplished the march in nine days, reaching Lexington on the 9th of September, when Colonel Mulligan, as senior officer, took the command of the troops assembled there-Colonel Marshall's cavalry and the Home Guard, already mentioned. Colonel Peabody's Missouri regiment came in the next day in full retreat from Warrensburg, before the forces of General Price. Colonel Mulligan then immediately began the work of intrenchment, having chosen a favorable position for the purpose on an elevation high above the river, at a distance of about half a mile from it, and commanding the lower inland approaches. Their preparations were barely comThe spot selected bore the name Masonic menced when, the third day after the Hill, and was intermediate between the arrival of Colonel Mulligan, the enemy, new and old town. A solid brick edifice, in large numbers, led by General Price, built for a college, was upon it, and by the were announced at hand. Their first side of this the first lines of defence were design was evidently an immediate atdrawn. The whole circuit of the fortifi- tack. The pickets were driven in, but cation was made to include an area capa- further onset was steadily repulsed. ble of receiving ten thousand men. This There was some sharp and brave work was defended by a heavy earthwork, on that day, the 12th, driving the rebels raised with great labor by Colonel Mul- backward over a bridge which they had ligan's force, breast high, some ten feet crossed, and encountering them with in width at the base and five feet at the deadly resolution in a struggle at another summit. Outside of this was a ditch point in a graveyard. The result of the eight feet broad, while in the open space, day's fighting, which included a cannonfor several hundred feet beyond, the ading of the college defences, was the ground was perforated by a series of withdrawal of General Price to a safe skillfully contrived pits, and heaped up position, where he awaited reinforcewith mounds which, though extempore ments, while the little band of Lexington works, suggested more by mother wit gathered to their arduous labors at the than military experience, were well cal- intrenchments. At these works were culated to baffle the efforts of any assail-mounted a scant supply of artillery, conants on foot or on horseback. Beside sisting of but five 6-pounders, with which these ingenious devices, the ground was the honors of a siege were to be mainalso carefully mined, and a good supply tained against the batteries of the enemy, of gunpowder, with suitable trains laid numbering thirteen guns. in it, a fact which, subsequently reported Having been strongly reinforced—his THE ATTACK AND DEFENCE. 533 wounded of the Union troops, one hundred and fifty in number, and situated outside of their entrenchments. This edifice, a large dwelling-house, on the summit of the bluffs, commanded the fort and its defenders at a distance of a few hundred yards. It was seized upon by a portion of General Price's command, about noon, his troops, he alleges, having been fired upon from the building; and became, with the adjoining grounds, in the hands of the sharpshooters of his troops now numbering, it is calculated, a struggle for the possession of the hostwenty-seven thousand men-General pital building, occupied by the sick and Price began to close in upon the works. The number appears large. The troops gathered by the rebels in Missouri, it should be remembered, however, did not always turn out for a campaign, but came with their hunting rifles for the occasion. They may thus, very probably, have greatly exceeded in number the volunteers regularly enlisted for the war. On the 17th, the defenders were cut off from the town, upon which they were mainly dependent for a supply of water. The work was now stoutly invested. On the army--men expert in the use of their 18th the final attack was begun. The trusty rifles-a most serious annoyance extensive preparations for it are related to the defenders of the fort. In this in the official report of General Price to strait Colonel Mulligan, after two parties Governor Jackson. Brigadier-General of the Missouri troops shrank from the Rains' division," he states, "occupied a task, sent forth a devoted band of his strong position on the east and north- brigade, Captain Gleason's company of east of the fortifications, from which an Montgomery Guards, to regain the buildeffective cannonading was kept up by ing and repel the assailants. The men Bledsoe's battery and another command- whom he selected were a single comed by Captain Churchill Clark of St. pany, eighty in number. Onward they Louis. General Parsons took a position marched, silent, unflinching, twice reon the west of the works, whence his ceiving the volleys of the insurgents battery, under command of Captain Gui- from the building, and making no reply. bor, poured a steady fire. Skirmishers When they charged, the onset was terand sharpshooters were also sent for- rific. They quickly drove the enemy ward from both of these divisions to har- before them, and took possession of the ass and fatigue the enemy, and to cut building. Fifty only of the gallant party them off from the water on the north, returned, quietly to resume their labors east and south of the college, and did in- at the trenches; the rest were offered a estimable service in the accomplishment sacrifice in a deed of glory. of these purposes. Colonel Congreve, Jackson's division, and a part of General Steen's were posted as a reserve, at all times vigilant and ready to rush upon the enemy." The position was, however, soon regained by the insurgents. The heights to the left of the hospital, to resume the narrative of General Price, were fortified by his soldiers, "who threw up breastOne of the severest passages of arms works as well as they could with their beyond the limits of the fort during these slender means." Thus the siege went on days of bombardment, illustrates the for three prolonged days, the bright barbarity of this unnatural war. It was moonlight rendering the night as service field." able as the day for the work of assault, honor in the bloody battle of Springwhich was never intermitted. The The supply of food and ammunition was rapidly From statements like these of the failing within the fort, and water, that assailants, we may judge of the vigor indispensable craving of the wounded, of the defence. We have heard Colonel was quite cut off. Yet the garrison Mulligan himself, in a popular address held out; its thin ranks manfully fight- to the citizens of New York, recount the ing the guns, and ready to repel, hand incidents of these eventful days of perto hand, any near approach of the sistent courage and endurance. He fillinvaders. At length a prudent expe- ed up with animated adventure that tale dient was hit upon by the assailants, of war, which, in the best written diswhich saved them the necessity of a patches, is little better than a barren dangerous assault. On the morning of formula, but which, to the participants, the 20th," says General Price, "I caused is intensified with lofty purpose, and a number of hemp bales to be trans-glowing action-a sum of life which ported to the river heights, where mov- crowds the sensations of years into days. able breastworks were speedily con- He told of the toil and exposure, the structed out of them by Generals Har- ignominious hard labor, made honorable ris and McBride, Colonel Rivers and by the lofty motive, the patience and Major Winston, and their respective resolution with which wounds were commands. Captain Kelley's battery, braved, and death encountered among attached to General Steen's division, was ordered at the same time to the position occupied by General Harris' force, and quickly opened a very effective fire. These demonstrations, and particularly the continued advance of the hempen breastworks, which were as efficient as the cotton bales at New Orleans, quickly attracted the attention and excited the alarm of the enemy, who made many daring attempts to drive us back. They were, however, repulsed in every instance by the unflinching courage and fixed determination of our men. In these desperate encounters, the veterans of McBride's and Slack's divisions fully sustained their proud reputation, while Colonel Martin Green, and his command, and Colonel Boyd and Major Winston, and their commands, proved themselves worthy to fight by the side of the men who had, by their courage and valor. won imperishable the shattered and the dying; of the hospital sufferings, when the enemy having barbarously made captives of the surgeons, the only aid for mangled limbs. was from the scant service of a soldier, who had been at one time a physician, who was called from the ranks for this unwonted duty, who cut, lopped and hacked perforce, his only instrument a razor; of the dying agonies of men calling for water, and drinking the scant refuse mingled with blood, with which the whole place was dabbled and oozy; of the death-dealing of the enemy, when they for a short time only gained a portion of the works; of the strange touches of good humor and good fellowship which seemed to relieve, and yet enhanced the terrors of this grim scene. By the testimony of friend and foe it was an extremity which justified surrender, which, in the eyes of policy and military discretion, might have justified |