Lexington. |
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which was found evacuated.
Thence, advancing north by east unopposed, he reached Warrensburg on the 10th of September, and, on the 11th, drew up before Lexington.1 Here Col. Mulligan, of the Irish (Chicago) Brigade, at the head of 2,780 Union soldiers, with barely forty rounds of ammunition, and eight small guns, had taken post on a hill northeast of the city, and, in confident expectation of being soon relieved, awaited and defied the overwhelming numbers of the Rebels, who were rapidly swelled by the arrival of Gen. Harris from the north side of the river, and by reenforcements and volunteers from all quarters, until they numbered not less than 25,000, with 13 guns.
Col. Mulligan's position, naturally
strong, included a large college and its grounds, comprising an area of at least fifteen acres, and had been hastily but effectively fortified by earthworks, which were somewhat strengthened after the commencement of the siege.
An industrious cannonade was opened from four different points on the beleaguered Unionists, but with little effect.
Some outer works were taken, and some Rebel sharpshooters took possession of a dwelling which overlooked our intrenchments, but were readily driven out by an intrepid charge.
No general, determined assault was made-Gen. Price not caring to rush his raw levies upon substantial breastworks, and evidently perceiving that the garrison must soon be forced to surrender.
Gen. Fremont, at St. Louis, was apprised, on the 13th, of Mulligan's arrival at Lexington; and another dispatch on the same day informed him that Price was reported near Warrensburg with 5,000 to 15,000 men; also that Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, commanding, at Jefferson City, a district which included Lexington, was
1 A young city of five or six thousand inhabitants, the capital of Lafayette County, situated on the south bank of the Missouri, 240 miles west of St. Louis, and 50 or 60 from the nearest point on the North Missouri Railroad, or on that portion of the Pacific Road yet completed. Tile river was then at so low a stage as to be navigable only by boats of an inferior class.
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