Price's army was sufficiently large to make a complete investment of the fortifications occupied by Colonel Mulligan, and thus cut off all access to the river.

The hemp warehouses in Lexington were drawn upon to construct movable breast-works for the besieging force.

Rolling the bales of hemp before them, the Rebel sharp-shooters could get very near the fort without placing themselves in great danger.
The defense was gallant, but as no garrisons can exist without water, Colonel Mulligan was forced to capitulate.

It afterward became known that Price's army had almost exhausted its stock of percussion-caps--it having less than two thousand when the surrender was made.

General Fremont was highly censured by the Press and people for not re-enforcing the garrison, when it was known that Price was moving upon Lexington.