Lexington Lafayette Missouri United States
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The Confederate Missouri State Guard, having consolidated forces in the northern and central part of the state, marches, under the command of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, on the unionist stronghold of Lexington, Missouri, where Col. James A. Mulligan commands the entrenched Union garrison of about thirty-five hundred men.
Price's men first encounter Union skirmishers on September 13 south of town and push them back into the fortifications.
Price, having bottled the Union troops up in Lexington, decides to await his ammunition wagons, other supplies, and reinforcements before assaulting the fortifications.
By the 18th, Price is ready and orders an assault.
The Missouri State Guard moves forward in the face of heavy Union artillery fire and pushes the enemy back into their inner works.
On the 19th, the Rebels consolidate their positions, keep the Yankees under heavy artillery fire and prepare for the final attack.
Early on the morning of the 20th, Price's men advance behind mobile breastworks, made of hemp, close enough to take the Union works at the Anderson House in a final rush.
Mulligan requests surrender terms after noon, and by 2:00 PM, his men have vacated their works and stacked their arms.
Union casualties are 1,774 to the Confederates' 100.
The capture of Lexington further bolsters Southern sentiment and consolidates Confederate control in the Missouri Valley west of Arrow Rock.