THE SIEGE OF LEXINGTON.
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SEPT 18,19.20.1861.
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Captain Joseph A. Wilson, of Lexington, thus describes the Union posi-tion: “ The college is on a bluff about 200 feet above low-water mark, andfrom 15 to 30 feet higher than North or Main street. Third street runs alongthe top of the bluff. Close to and .surrounding the college building was arectangular fort of sods and earth about 12 feet thick and 12 feet high; withbastions at the angles and embrasures for guns. At a distance of 200 to800 feet was an irregular line of earthworks protected by numerous trav-erses, occasional redoubts, a good ditch, trous-de-loup, wires, etc., etc. Stillfarther on the west and north were rifle-pits. The works would have re-quired 10,000 or 15,000 men to occupy them fully. All the ground from t-hofortifications to the river was then covered with scattering timber. Thespring just north and outside of fortifications, was in a deep wooded ra-vine, and was the scene of some sharp skirmishing at night, owing to theattempts of the garrison to get water there when their cisterns gave out.”
Explanation of the Diagram of the Hospital Position: “ a is the Anderson house or hospital; b a smaller brickhouse back of it; c an outlying low earthwork, projecting down nearly into the ravine, represented by the dottedline, while the inclosed earthwork was built up around the head of the ravine, as shown by the plain line; d thesally-port in the earthworks, about one hundred yards from the hospital; e a canal-like carriageway leadingup to the house, and in which the sharp-shooters lay secure, only about eighty feet from the front door of thehospital; the brackets represent Federal picket-guard stations with a little dirt thrown up for protection; thedotted line sss shows deep gorge or ravine which was full of Confederate sharp-shooters.”
Sunday had now arrived. We had found no provisions at Lexington, andour 2700 men were getting short of rations. Father Thaddeus J. Butler, ourchaplain, celebrated mass on the hillside, and all were considerably strength-ened and encouraged by his words, and after services were over we went hackto work, actively casting shot and stealing provisions from the inhabitantsround about. Our pickets were all the time skirmishing with the enemy,while we were making preparations for defense against the enemy’s attack,which was expected on the morrow.
At 9 o’clock on the morning of the 18th the enemy were seen approach-ing. The Confederate force had been increased to 18,000 men with 16 piecesof cannon. They came as one dark moving mass, their guns beaming inthe sun, their banners waving, and their drums heating — everywhere, asfar as we could see, were men, men, men, approaching grandly. Our earth-works covered an area of about eighteen acres, surrounded by a ditch, andprotected in front by what were called “ confusion pits,” and by mines. 0ru-men stood firm behind the breastworks, none trembled or paled, and a solemn