h unstinted praise
for his own regiment and Irish valor generally, much condemnation for
the Germans, between whom and the Irish there was at that time a great
deal of feeling, and absolutely ignoring all the rest who participated
in the defense. This was particularly unjust to the 1st ID. Cav. While
the 23d 111. had taken the best and strongest part of the line, the 1st
111. Cav. had defended the weakest and most exposed part, that, too,
with only pistols and sabers, and had captured the only flag taken
during the siege.

216

The total loss of the garrison is usually given as 39 killed and 120
wounded.

Probably Gen. Price in his report only mentioned the losses in his
organized forces. If his wounded did not exceed 72, his men showed
unusual ability in keeping under cover.

While the loss did not approach that of the desperate fight at Wilson's
Creek, yet it was respectably large according to European standards, the
garrison having lost about six per cent before surrendering.

Gen. Fremont announced this calamity to Washington in the following
telegrams:

Headquarters Western Department, St. Louis, Sept. 28, 1861.
I have a telegram from Brookfleld that Lexington has fallen
into Price's hands, he having cut off Mulligan's supply of
water. Reinforcements 4,000 strong, under Sturgis, by
capture of ferryboats, had no means of crossing the river in
time. Lane's force from the southwest and Davis's from the
southeast upwards of 11,000, could not get there in time. I
am taking the field myself, and hope to destroy the enemy
either before or after the junction of forces under
McCulloch. Please notify the President immediately.

J. C. FREMONT,

Major-General Commanding. Col. E. D. Townsend, Assistant
Adjutant-General, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D.C.

Headquarters Western Department, Sept 23, 1861. Nothing
since my dispatch of this morning. Our loss 39 killed, 120
wounded. Loss of enemy, 1,400 killed and wounded. Our non-
commissioned officers and privates sworn and released.
Commissioned officers held as prisoners. Our troops are
gathering around the enemy. I will send you from the field
more details in a few days.

JOHN C. FREMONT, Major-General Commanding. Hon. S.
Cameron, Secretary of War.

The patient and much enduring President answered as follows:

Headquarters of the Ar