THE FINAL SURRENDER. surrender long before. Not until the ammunition was exhausted, the privations of thirst become excessive, and all hope of timely relief departed, was a council of officers held, and the delivery of the fort agreed upon. The surrender was unconditional. This occurred on the afternoon of the 20th, the third day of the incessant siege, when the work was taken possession of by General Price, who already held the town; the officers were kept as prisoners, and the rank and file dismissed on their parole, pledging themselves not to take up arms against the Confederate States or the State of Missouri. Thus," in the words of an eye-witness of the scene, "ended the siege of Lexington. Of the defence I need scarcely speak in terms of eulogy; a plain statement of the circumstances carries its own conclusion to every mind. For seventy-two hours was a mere handful of men exposed, without cessation, to a literal shower of iron and leaden hail; and to this was added the more terrible enemy, thirst. For forty-eight hours did the Union forces labor beneath a melting sun, grimy with powder, choked by sulphurous smoke, worn out by labor, to which the cooling shades of night brought no intermission, tortured by a terrible thirst, which was mocked by the turgid waters of the Missouri, that flowed lazily along just beneath their eager eyes-out of provisions, out of ammunition, despairing of help, certain of ultimate extinction, they yet fought on. The gallant Mulligan was always where bullets and dangers were thickest-leading now a desperate charge against a hempen breastwork-passing from trench to trench, encouraging the men to resistance-crying like a broken-hearted chil 535 when forced by stern necessity to yield up his command-and, last of all, groaning upon a sick bed, to which he was driven by the workings of a gallant but sensitive soul over his 'great misfortunes.'"* The loss of the Union troops during the siege has been stated at about one hundred and thirty in killed and wounded; that of the assailants is set down in the report of General Price as twentyfive killed and seventy-two wounded. "The visible fruits of this almost bloodless victory," adds this Confederate commander, "are great-about 3,500 prisoners, among whom are Colonels Mulligan, Marshall, Peabody, White, Grover, Major Van Horn, and 118 other commissioned officers, five pieces of artillery and two mortars, over 3,000 stand of infantry arms, a large number of sabres, about 750 horses, many sets of cavalry equipments, wagons, teams, ammunition, more than $100,000 worth of Commissary stores, and a large amount of other property. In addition to all this, I obtained the restoration of the great seal of the State and the public records, which had been stolen from their proper custodian, and about $900,000 in money, of which the bank at this place had been robbed, and which I have caused to be returned to it. This victory has demonstrated the fitness of our citizen soldiery for the tedious operations of a siege, as well as for a dashing charge. They lay for fifty-two hours in the open air, without tents or covering, regardless of the sun and rain, and in the very presence of a watchful and desperate foe, manfully repelling every assault, and patiently awaiting my orders to storm the fortifi *Correspondence of the New York Times. Squier's Pictorial History of the War, p. 155. cations. No general ever commanded a braver or a better army. It is composed of the best blood and the bravest men of Missouri."* The question was asked, why was not Lexington relieved. Colonel Mulligan had sent for aid, and though his messenger was captured, his position was known, and the tenacity of his defence could only be understood on the supposition that he expected succor. The official announcement of Major-General Fremont of the event, in his despatch to Colonel Townsend, AdjutantGeneral at Washington, dated St. Louis, September 23, in these few words, says something in explanation of the apparent neglect: "I have a telegram from Brookfield that Lexington has fallen into Price's hands, he having cut off Mulligan's supply of water. Reinforcements, four thousand strong, under Sturgis, by the capture of the ferry-boats, had no means of crossing the river in time. Lane's force from the south-west, and Davis' from the south-east, upward of eleven thousand in all, could also not get there in time. I am taking the field myself, and hope to destroy the enemy either before or after the junction of the forces under McCulloch." Great disappointment was felt on this disaster of Lexington, following close upon the defeat at Springfield, and fears were entertained of a permanent occupation of western Missouri, with inroads into the northern region across the river. Nothing of this, however, occurred. Conscious of his inability to hold the position against the forces marshalling at St. Louis, General Price soon determined to abandon the place. As Fremont made prepara * General Sterling Price to the Hon. Claiborne F. Jackson, Governor of the State of Missouri, Camp Wallace, Lexington, Sept. 23, 1861. tions to advance toward him he retreated. The rebels took their course toward the southern portion of the State, leaving a guard behind them in possession of Lexington. The following month (Oct. 16th) a brilliant attack was made upon the town by Major Frank J. White, a gallant young officer of General Fremont's staff, at the head of a scouting cavalry squadron which he had organized for special service under direction of his commander. Setting out from Georgetown at 9 o'clock in the evening with two hundred and twenty men, he reached Lexington early the following morning by a severe forced march of nearly sixty miles. Driving in the rebel pickets without loss, he took possession of the town, made from sixty to seventy prisoners, to whom he administered the oath of allegiance, captured a quantity of arms and provisions, released a number of Federal officers and men who had been taken and imprisoned by Price, and seized a steamer which came up to the town during his visit. The place was held for thirty-six hours before the rebels, who had fled in every direction, mustered in force to surround it."* Colonel Mulligan, after following the insurgent forces for awhile in their marches as a prisoner, recovered his freedom by exchange. An agreement was made on the 26th October at Neosho, between Generals Fremont and Price, arranging terms of exchange of the prisoners taken at Lexington and those who were captured by General Lyon at Camp Jackson. The exchange was to be effected grade for grade, or two officers of a lower grade as an equivalent * Major White, Com. 1st Squadron Prairie Scouts, to Major-General Fremont, Oct. 24, 1861. COLONEL MULLIGAN'S RETURN HOME. in rank for one of a higher grade; the exchange to embrace prisoners on parole, as also those held in custody. The number of prisoners enumerated in the agreement for exchange was five hundred and thirty, mostly, if not all, paroled. Of these, there were about seventy officers on each side. In making this exchange, General Price reiterated the protest of the officers and men made at Camp Jackson, against the legality of their capture and the exaction of parole when released. 537 as I said to them, 'Men of the brigade, you must take that hospital,' there stood Captain Gleason, pale as marblepale, not with fear, but from sicknessready to meet death at any moment; to the gallant Fitzgerald, worthy the name of the illustrious Edward; and to all who have lain with me upon the steel and flinty couch of war, and personally offer it to those brave hearts. I was besieged at Lexington, but never so besieged as now, and coming, as I do, from the land of Price and of 'Dixie,' such a welcome is indeed pleasant, as it is again to stand in the land of 'Hail Columbia' and Yankee Doodle.' Coming to, as I do, with the experience gained in those trying hours, I pledge myself, and the whole Irish Brigade, that while there is endangered, their lives will cheerfully be given in defence of that fireside and home. I am for the Union now, and for the Union until death, and, in conclusion, let me say, that when I again meet you, I hope it will be at the head of my old brigade, with my face set toward Missouri and against rebellion." On his return soon after to Chicago, Colonel Mulligan was welcomed by a public reception, when he acknowledged the salutations of his fellow-citizens in the following appropriate speech: "How deeply and profoundly I am impressed with this honor, let my future conduct a fireside here threatened, or a house détermine. It stirs me with a deep emotion. I take it as intended, not for myself, but that I may tender it to those brave men who, with arms that never failed, and hearts that never faltered, hedged me round for those nine wild, trying days at Lexington. I take it that I may tender it to the brave Major Moore; to my gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Quirk; to the chivalric Captain Moriarty, that brave old soldier who laid down the sword in the trenches for the scalpel in the hospital, and the scalpel again for the sword, to wield it bravely in the trenches till the last moment; to that noble Captain Montgomery who, when I ordered him on the bloodiest charge of the battle, drew up his company in readiness four deep, and At the meeting of Congress in December, a resolution, introduced by Mr. Arnold of Illinois, was adopted, thanking Colonel Mulligan and his command for their heroic defence of Lexington, and authorizing the 23d regiment of Illinois to wear on their colors the name of "Lexington." For this and other services, Colonel Mulligan was promoted to a Brigadier-Generalship. 68 CHAPTER XXXV. HATTERAS ISLAND. TOWARD the end of August a military manded by Captain Nixon, and sixty of the 2d United States Artillery, under Lieutenant Larned. The naval force, under the command of Commodore Silas H. Stringham, a native of New York, who had been in the service for more than half a century, honorably employed in its active duties, was composed of the flag-ship Minnesota, Captain G. A. Van Brunt, having in company the United States steamers Wabash, Captain Samuel Mercer; Monticello, Commander John P. Gillis; Pawnee, Commander S. C. Rowan; Harriet Lane, Captain John Faunce ; the chartered transport steamers Adelaide, Commander Henry S. Stellwagen ; George Peabody, Lieutenant R. B. Lowry; and the chartered tug Fanny, an armed propeller of light draft, commanded by Lieutenant Crosby - all of the United States navy. The fleet was well provided with surf-boats for landing. and naval expedition was in preparation at Fortress Monroe obviously intended to act on some point of the Southern coast. The secret of its destination was well kept, and it was not till the speedy return of its commander, bearing news of its success, that its plan and objects were known to the public. It was of importance, not so much by its magnitude or any immediate grand results, as by the demonstration which it afforded of the power of our ships in operations against forts on the land, and of the comparative ease with which the coast territory of the rebels might be occupied and controlled. Hitherto the Navy had been confined to the tedious manoeuvering and police work of the blockade; it was now to have an opportunity to test the skill of its gunners, the seamanship of its sailors, and the spirit and efficiency of its officers. The result proved that, whatever lagging or need of further preparation there might be in the army, this portion of the service was in every re-gable waters on the river coast of North spect ready for its work. The destination of the expedition was Hatteras Inlet, one of the most important entrances to the extensive series of navi Carolina, through the long range of sand The command of the land force of islands which here serve as a barrier this expedition was held by Major-Gen- against the wild waves of the Atlantic. eral Butler, who had been recently suc- There were several of these passagesceeded at Fortress Monroe by General a shallow one above at New Inlet, a near Wool. He had with him about nine approach to Albemarle Sound, another hundred troops, consisting of five hun- of more consequence below at Ocracoke, dred of Colonel Max Weber's 20th regi- but this at Hatteras, hard by the lightment New York Volunteers, two hun-house at the Cape, was evidently of most dred and twenty of Colonel Hawkins' value. It was guarded by two protect9th New York Zouave regiment, one ing forts-Hatteras and Clark-recently hundred of the Union Coast Guard, com- erected by the rebels, and its deep har THE HATTERAS EXPEDITION. 539 bor was notorious as a refuge for priva- ust, reached Cape Hatteras the next day, teers and an entrance for various trading and were anchored off the Inlet in the vessels running the blockade. Its value afternoon. The surf-boats were hoisted to the secessionists in this respect may out, and preparations made for landing be estimated from the following passage troops in the morning. The Wabash, from a letter written by Major W. Bever- with the Cumberland, Captain John how Thompson, the constructing engineer Marston, in tow, this frigate having joinof the rebels at Fort Hatteras, to Colonel ed the expedition from her cruisingWarren Winslow, Military Secretary. ground off the coast, led in toward Fort This epistle is dated at the end of July, Clark, the outermost of the two forts at about a month preceding the arrival of the entrance, and at 10 o'clock opened the Burnside Expedition, and was found fire, which was returned from the fort. at the capture of the forts. After calling The Minnesota presently passed inside for additional troops for the defence of of the attacking vessels just named and the place, and urging its importance as delivered her fire. At 11 Captain John "the key to Albemarle Sound," he notes Chauncey arrived with the Susquehanna these incidents of the day: "We now from the Delaware, and added his heavy have two privateers in this harbor, be- guns with admirable precision to the sides the war steamers Winslow, the bombardment. In the words of CommoGordon of Charleston, Captain Lockwood, dore Stringham, in his report describing armed with three guns, a fine large steam- the method of the action, "the vessels She returned this morning with a continued passing and repassing the fort prize brig laden with three hundred and until it was abandoned by the enemy." sixty hogsheads of molasses. We have While the fire from the squadron was also a saucy-looking little pilot-schooner, most effective, that from the fort fell the Florida, mounting one 6-pound rifle short or passed the ships. At half-past cannon. She captured a prize two days 12 the flags were down on both forts, and since, took her crew out, and sent her in the signal was given by the Commodore with her own men. A United States to cease firing. Government steamer gave chase to the prize, and they were obliged to beach her near Nag's Head. She, of course, is a total loss." Were it only to relieve the commerce of the country of so convenient a piratical resort, the capture of the position would have been worth attempting. Its possession would control a large part of the trade of North Carolina, and cut off from Virginia a very ready means of supply in numerous essential articles of foreign production. er. Meanwhile General Butler, on board the Harriet Lane, was busily engaged in directing the disembarkation of his troops on the open beach, a proceeding, as it proved, of no little difficulty, in consequence of a heavy surf which had been excited by the recent gales from the south-west. The landing commenced at 10 o'clock, and was only partially successful, being broken up by the increasing violence of the wind and surf, and the injuries to the means of transThe expedition to accomplish this de- portation. Both the iron boats, upon sirable result set sail from Hampton which dependence were placed, were Roads after midday of the 26th of Aug- swamped in the surf, and both the flat |