hension as to the fate of Mulligan, and made no serious effort to
relieve him. The force at Jefferson City remained there. The troops at
St. Louis were not moved. General Pope, who, under orders from General
Fremont, had advanced from Hannibal to St. Joseph along the line of the
railroad, driving off depredators, repairing the road, and stationing
permanent guards, heard on September 16th, at Palmyra on his return,
something of the condition of affairs at Lexington. He had sent his
troops then in the western part of the State toward the Missouri River
in pursuit of a depredating body of the enemy. He immediately despatched
an order to these troops to hasten to Lexington upon completing their
present business. They were not able, however, to arrive in time.

Price, having organized his command into five divisions, each commanded
by a general officer, did not push his siege vigorously till the 18th.
On that day, a force proceeding through the city of Lexington and under
cover of the river-bank, seized the ferry-boats, cut Mulligan off from
his water-supply, and carried a mansion close to Mulligan's works and
overlooking them. A sortie and a desperate struggle regained possession
of the house. Another assault and another desperate struggle finally
dispossessed the garrison of the house. Price closed in upon the
beleaguered works and firing became continuous and uninterrupted. On the
20th, Price, having a footing on the plateau, carried up numbers of
bales of hemp and used them as a movable entrenchment. By rolling these
forward, he pushed his line close to Mulligan's works. The besieged were
already suffering from want of water, and surrender could be no longer
postponed.

Fremont, hearing of the surrender on September 22d, began to bestir
himself to look after Price. He left St. Louis for Jefferson City on the
27th, and sent thither the regiments that had been kept at St. Louis.
Price on the same day moved out of Lexington and marched deliberately to
the southwest corner of the State. On September 24th, Fremont published
an order constructing an army for the field of five divisions, entitled
right wing, centre, left wing, advance, and reserve--under the command,
respectively, of Generals Pope, McKinstry, Hunter, Sigel, and Ashboth;
headquarters being respectively at Booneville, Syracuse, Versailles,
Georgetown, and Tipton. The regiments and batteries assigned to the
respective divisions were scattered all over the State,