The  news  reached  Baltimore  in  six  days,  when
the  people  seized  the  provincial  magazine,  con-
taining about  fifteen  hundred  stand  of  arms,
aud  stopped  all  exports  to  the  fishiug-islauds,
to  such  of  the  islands  as  had  not  joined  the  con-
federacy, and  to  the  British  army  and  navy  at
Boston.  In  Virgiuia  a  prorincial  convention
was  held  (see  Virginia  Convention),  which  took
measures  for  the  defence  of  the  colouy.
Lexington  (Mo.),  Siege  of  (1861).  After  the
drawn  battle  at  Wilson's  Creek  (which  see).
General  McCulloch  found  his  assumption  of  au-
thority so  ofiensive  to  the  Missonrians  that  he
left  the  state.  General  Price  called  upon  the
Secessionists  to  fill  np  his  shattered  ranks.  They
responded  with  alacrity,  and  at  the  middle  of
August  he  moved  northward,  in  the  direction  of
Lexington,  which  is  situated  on  a  curve  of  the
Missouri  River.  It  occupied  an  important  po-
sition, and  was  garrisoned  with  less  than  3000
troops,  under  Colonel  James  A.  Mulligan.  His
trbops,  unfortunately,  had  only  forty  rounds  of
cartridges  each,  six  small  brass  cannons,  and
two  howitzers.  The  latter  were  useless,  because
there  were  no  shells.  On  the  morning  of  Sept.
11  Price  appeared  at  a  point  three  miles  from
Lexington.     Hourly  expectiug  reiuforcemeuts.
he  expected  some  of  these  troops  every  moment.
Day  after  day  and  night  after  night  his  men
worked  to  strengthen  the  xiosition,  and  Price's
20,000  men  were  kept  at  bay.  Finally,  on  the
17th,  the  Confederates  were  reinforced,  and  their,
number  was  swelled  to  25,000.  Then  Price  cut
off  the  communication  of  the  garrison  with  the
town,  their  chief  source  of  water  supply.  The
uext  day  he  took  possession  of  the  town,  closed
up  the  garrison,  and  began  a  vigorous  siege.
