Latest Northern and European news
[by special Express.]
The Battle at Lexington--Position of the Contending Forces — The Surrender — European Advices — The London Press on Recent American.
Events — A European Coalition Mexico — Etc., Etc.
We have received, through a special source the New York Herald of the 25th inst. containing the following intelligence respecting the disaster to the Federal forces at Lexington, Missouri, and the several articles following from the London press, respecting American affairs.
We gave on Saturday the news of the battle at Lexington, from the Herald of the 24th.
The particulars given below corroborate those given in that issue, and include the official report of Gen. Fremont.
From the dainty manner in which the Herald deals with the details of the battle, it may be justly surmised that the defeat of the Federals was not only most disastrous, but humiliating in the extreme;
Fremont's official report of the disaster.
Washington, Sept. 24
--The following dispatch was received at the War Department this morning from the headquarters of the Western Military Department.
It follows the announcement by Gen. Fremont of the fall of Lexington: ‘
St. Louis, Sept. 23, 1861.
Nothing since my dispatch this morning announcing the surrender of Lexington.
Our loss is thirty-nine killed, and one hundred and twenty wounded.
The loss of the enemy was 1,400 killed and wounded.
Our non-commissioned officers and privates were sworn not to bear arms against the rebels and released.
The commissioned officers are held as prisoners.
Our troops are gathering around the enemy.
"I will send you from the field more details in a few days"
[The above, in regard to the Federal loss, does not, of course, comprehend the loss in prisoners, and is at best a most unlikely story as to their loss in killed and wounded.--Eds.
Dis.] ’
The situation of Lexington.
The general direction of the Missouri river at the city of Lexington is from East to West, the city lying on the South bank. Old Lexington is the early settlement, situated back on the hill. It has been superseded by New Lexington, further up the river, where the steamboat landing now is. New Lexington is the main city. There are scattering houses along the bluff between the two, and both are now united under the name of Lexington. Colonel Mulligan's fortifications were between the two locations, consisting of heavy earthworks, ten feet in height, with a ditch eight feet in width. These fortifications surrounded a college building, which was used as quarters for the Union soldiers, and had been strengthened to resist an artillery attack. The lines of the fortifications were extensive and capable of containing a force of 10,000 men. The main body of the army of Gen. Price was located at Old Lexington, from which point the attack was made, though the fort was assailed on all sides. The occupants of the fort had a skirmish on Thursday of last week with a party of rebels — not, however, under Price at the time — who sheltered themselves in the houses in Old Lexington. To deprive them of this advantage, the old town was afterwards shelled and burned, by order of Col. Mulligan. New Lexington, or Lexington proper, was in possession of the rebels, but the city was not the theatre of the conflict. Col. Mulligan could easily have shelled and destroyed it; but this, of course, he would not do. The line of the fortifications run down to the river bluff, and from the bluff to the water's edge there is a wide, sheaving beach.--The boats reported to be captured laid at the water's edge, within the direction of the lines of the fort, and on this beach is where a severe struggle ensued on Tuesday for the possession of the boats.The Federal force.
Col. Mulligan's forces consisted of his own regiment, Col. Marshall's cavalry regiment, and Peabody's command of about six hundred Home Guards and Kansas troops, the whole amounting to from 2,500 to 3,000 men. As to their supplies of provisions and ammunition, little was known. Gen. Price's strength is not ascertained, but may be put down anywhere between 15,000 and 30,000 men. He had plenty of artillery, but was short of powder and shot, for he had had no adequate stores to draw upon since the Springfield battle.The siege and the surrender.
The following accounts of the siege of Lexington, (says the Herald,) is furnished to the St. Louis Republican, by Henry Broadburn, one of Col. Mulligan's soldiers, who left Lexington on Saturday morning. The fort was surrendered on Friday afternoon. The men fought for fifty-nine hours without water, and had only three barrels of vinegar to quench their thirst. During all that time there were no springs or wells of water in the camp ground, as has been stated. The supply of water was entirely from the river. There were breastworks all around the camp, with the exception of the portion next the river. It was here that the hardest fighting took place. The rebels procured a large number of hemp bales and rolled them in advance, and under this cover gradually succeeded in securing a position in the rear. They then cut off the supply of water, and had the fort entirely surrounded. They made but few charges upon the breast-works during the entire siege. Their object seemed to be to surround the fort and cut off the supply of water, and having succeeded in this, they waited until Col. Mulligan was compelled to yield to a foe more terrible than the 27,000 rebels who surrounded him. After the surrender the rebels mounted the breast works and seemed mad with joy and delight. After the surrender the rebels took down the Union flag and trailed it in the dust. An immense amount of gold, supposed to be about a quarter of a million of dollars, fell into the possession of the rebels. It was taken from the banks and buried by Col. Mulligan in the camp ground some time ago, but the rebels speedily discovered and unearthed it. Col. Mulligan wept like a child when he found himself compelled to surrender. The morning after, the men were all released on parole and sent across the river. The officers were retained. The first attack of the rebels proved more disastrous to them than the long siege that followed. For a day or two previous to the last attack they were busily engaged in burying their dead. Latest.--Gen. Price had, on Saturday, 14th, given Col. (Acting General) Mulligan until Monday to surrender, or take the alternative of battle. The object of Gen. Price was not so much in giving the Union troops a chance to surrender as to enable Gen. Rains and his rebel forces, together with a number of smaller bodies of marauders under Martin Green and others, all of whom were marching from various sources, to join him.--Price's force must, therefore, have been enlarged to about 17,000. In the commencement of the siege the had about 8,000. The Union force consisted certainly of about 3,500.Rout of the rebels at Martatown.
Leavenworth, Sept. 20.
--The Times, of this morning learns that a fight took place at Mariatown, Mo., on Tuesday morning, between six hundred Union troops under Cols. Montgomery and Johnston, and four hundred rebels, in which the latter were completely routed, with the loss of seven killed. One hundred horses and all their tents and supplies were captured.
Col. Johnston, while riding at the head of his column, was pierced by nine balls and instantly killed.
Two bullets took effect in his head, two buck shot in the neck, one bullet in the left shoulder, one in the right hand and one in the left.
He died urging his men to fight for the ‘"stars and stripes."’
Arrest of a St. Louis editor.
St. Louis, Sept. 23
--Charles G. Ramsay, the proprietor of the Evening News, was arrested this afternoon by order of the Provost Marshal, and taken to headquarters for examination.
His offence was publishing an editorial article to-day entitled ‘"Fall of Lexington,"’ reflecting in bitter terms upon the campaign of the military authorities in the Department of the West.
His paper was suppressed, and all the manuscripts found in the office seized, and the building is now in the possession of the provost guard.
The name of the author of the article was divulged, and it is thought that the publication of the paper will be allowed to continue.
