the Arkansas was fighting her battery, till her
fast burning off, she floated into the middle of the
river, where in a little while she blew up. Let
no credulous or unbelieving rebel flatter his soul
that this was not the Arkansas that was sunk
and destroyed. So much for the naval part of
the affair important, as enabling the gunboats
to act without impediment with the land forces.

The battle of Baton Rouge may be character-
ized as one of the most soldier-like, skilfully-
planned fights of this war. Gen. Williams, with
his well-known abilities as a leader, scorned to
rally behind houses and fences, and taking in with
one glance the plan of the enemy s attack, made
all his preparations to resist and oppose them.

Two highways run out of Baton Rouge one
above and one below on each side of the town.
About a mile and a half, a road cuts these two
roads at right angles, while extending from road
to road is a large cemetery, facing towards the
city, and looking directly into the camps of the
Indiana, Massachusetts and Connecticut regi
ments. The front fOf this cemetery is fenced
with paling, while the cemetery is thickly strewn
with large tombs, and overgrown with high rank
weeds. This was the position of the rebel centre.
Our centre was composed of the Indiana Twenty-
first, the Massachusetts and Connecticut, drawn
up on the opposite side of the roads, and not
more than forty - five rods distant. The rebel
right approached, through corn-fields and over
a rolling country, attacked with great impetuosi
ty the Fourteenth Maine s camp, and drove them
oat, burning and pillaging the camp in a few min-



DOCUMENTS.



307



utes. The Fourteenth Maine rallied, and sup
ported by the Massachusetts and Nim s battery,
returned to the attack, and drove the enemy back
with great slaughter. The fiercest part of the
conflict at this tide of the battle occurred before
and within a house which the rebels obstinately
determined to get possession of. The most con
spicuous of the rebels at this place was a huge
negro, armed and equipped with knapsack, mus
ket and uniform. He led the rebels, and met his
death at the hands of one of our men. Pressed
back by our left, and our ground regained, the
battle raged in front with desperate tierceness.
So silently did the rebels approach, and so well
were they concealed, that they were in the cem-
tery and drawn up in battle array without our
knowing it. With a yell they rushed up to the
fence, dashed through it and across the road,
bearing every thing before them. At one time
the opposing forces were hand to hand, and our
handful of men were driven out of their camps
and back into the town ; but rallied on every
hand by their officers and the cool daring of Gen.
Williams, assisted by the gunboats that began to
fire shell on each flank with perfect accuracy and
deadly effect, our troops bravely rushed to the
front and down the entire rebel centre, back
across the road into and beyond the cemeteiy,
from which they were not able again to emerge.
Four times they made desperate efforts to come
out from behind the tombs and cross the road,
but each time t-hey were driven back, until finally
they were in full panic retreat. Our own men
were too much exhausted to pursue. On our
right, in the mean time, the rebels under General
Clarke made a desperate effort to flank us, and
get in our rear. It was here that the admirable
generalship of Williams displayed itself. Antici
pating this very movement, he had placed Man
ning s battery of six pieces, supported by the
Wisconsin and Vermont regiments, while the
Michigan regiment was strongly posted at the
crossing of the roads, and commanding the en
tire approach of the enemy s left. Here the bat
tle raged fiercely, and after the rebels flank
movement was repulsed and driven back, not to
return. Here it was that the gallant General fell
at the head of the Indiana and Michigan regi
ments ; but not before victory had lighted up
that fine manly face with its glow of triumph. I
am convinced that had Williams not fallen, he
would have destroyed the whole of the rebel
forces. By ten A.M. all firing had ceased, and
the enemy had retired with haste, and left over
three hundred of his dead on the field of battle.
Every one of his dead was buried by our men,
except many who died in the retreat, or were
killed by the long-reaching shells of our gun
boats. The field presented evidences of the des
peration of the combats at the crossing of the
roads, where the rebels had endeavored to flank
us, and where they were met by the Indiana and
Michigan regiments. The men fought hard. Those
who had lost their arms tore up the rails from
the fences. More than one rebel was found dead
who had been killed in this way. In one spot



behind a beautiful tomb, with effigies of infant
children kneeling 1 , twelve dead rebels were found
in one heap. Every where they strewed the
earth, and made ghastly the quiet graveyard un
der which they soon lay, victims to a madness
which, if much longer persisted in, will make the
entire land red with blood ; for the rebellion
must be crushed, if we have to use the last,
most certain, but most fatal weapon left us. Let
us pray that they will not force us to this last
dread alternative that they will return to reason
in time, and dismiss the bitter hatred \vhich they
nourish in their hearts against us. Let them re
member that as " love begets love," so do scorn
and hatred beget their like ; and let them be as
sured that it will be a sorry day for Southern
homes when the fierce fires of rage and hate be
gin to burn in the Northern heart. I am con
vinced that as 3 r et there is little of that feeling
existing ; but it will come.

To return to our feeble account of this battle.
The enemy were repulsed ; their short-lived Ar
kansas blown to atoms, in retreat and discomfit
ure they have returned to Camp Moore ay,
this time, those who have been practising guer
rilla warfare and assassinating defenceless wound
ed soldiers, have been punished. The inhabit
ants of certain villages, who sit listless on the
levee as a man-of-war passes up or down,
spring into life and bring out the murderous dou
ble-shot gun to fire upon the hospital-ships
these gentry will find that they can be made to
suffer and "feel. Our gallant army at Baton
Rouge, in their first battle, have behaved like
veterans. Let us praise the living and mourn
the dead, and cry : " Long live the Republic !
Death to traitors and aristocrats ! Death to the
man who stabs our common mother, the Union! 7
If she must die, let us all die with her. Let not
a man, woman or child live after her.

WEBSTER.

A SOLDIER S ACCOUNT.

NEW-ORLEANS, August 9, 1862.

The troops were posted as follows, from right
to left : Thirtieth regiment Massachusetts, Sixth
Michigan, Twenty -first Indiana, Seventh Vermont,
Fourteenth Maine, Ninth Connecticut, Fourth
Wisconsin and Fourth Massachusetts battery-
posted on the left, supported by Ninth Connecti
cut, and Fourth Wisconsin ; Everett s battery,
Sixth Massachusetts, supported by Fourteenth
Maine and Seventh Vermont ; Second Massachu
setts battery, Captain Nim, supported by Twen
ty-first Indiana ; battery, supported by

Sixth Wisconsin and Thirtieth Massachusetts.

The Fourteenth Maine, Twenty-first Indiana
and Sixth Wisconsin, were the first regiments
engaged. They held in check about eight thou
sand confederates for about one hour, when they
were forced back a quarter of a mile, the confede
rates occupying their camps, which " they de
stroyed. (On account of a heavy fog, the Sev
enth Vermont, Ninth Connecticut and Fourtb
Wisconsin were not able to ascertain the exact
position of the enemy, and were of but very



308



REBELLION RECORD, 1862.



little service until the new line was formed.) | soldiers and a Colonel that were not yet buried,
Capt. Nim, Capt. Everett, and the battery on , some twenty hours after the engagement. Prison-
the right, and two pieces of the Fourth Massa- ers taken report their force at from six thousand
chusetts on the extreme left, opened a murderous ; to ten thousand, while our force did not exceed
fire from their batteries, which was returned j two thousand five hundred.

with spirit by the confederates. The battle raged j The field-officers of the Fourth Wisconsin regi-
vrithout a moment s intermission, and with great : ment showed great personal bravery. Lieut-
severity, for two hours. During this time noth- j Colonel S. E. Bean, acting Colonel, retained his
ing but a continual roar of artilleiy, the rattle ; position at the head of his regiment during the
of musketry, the shouts of the combatants, and l entire battle. While standing with his hand on
the groans of the wounded and dying, was to be j a fence, in a perfect shower of grape, a cannon-
heard. Capt. Nim s battery was compelled to , ball- passed between him and the fence, and under
fall back, his guns being so hot it was impossi- ! his arm, but he did not change his position.



ble to use them. He took his position on the
left of the Twenty-first Indiana, and ordered
water to be brought to cool his guns. While
thus engaged, three regiments of the confederates
charged the Twenty-first Indiana, and one regi
ment charged Capt. Nims. General Williams,
perceiving the perilous position of the regiment,
and knowing the consequences of having the
centre broken, took his position at the head of
the regiment, and gave the command to prepare
to charge. The regiment fired three volleys, (the
battalion having breech-loading rifles,) and allow
ed the confederates to approach within a few
rods. General Williams then gave the com
mand, "Forward! double-quick!" and with a
deafening cheer they rushed to the charge. The
shock of two such masses advancing, shook the
entire field.

The struggle was fierce, and the killed and
wounded on both sides numerous. General Wil
liams fell, shot through the heart. This was the
signal for a general onset on both sides. Capt.
Xim lost two of his guns, but charged with his



G. W. PORTER,

Corporal Fourth Wisconsin Regiment*

REBEL REPORTS AND NARRATIVES.
GENERAL BRECKINRIDGE S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, )
NEAR COMITE RIVER, August 6, 1S62. f

To the Officers and Soldiers under my Com
mand:

I desire to express to you briefly my sense of
your gallant conduct in the late operations.
Baton Rouge, from the character of the ground,
could not be taken and held while the enemy
commanded the river. Accordingly the Arkansas
was to engage the gunboats and floating-battery,
while you were to whip the enemy on land.
Unfortunately the machinery of the Arkansas
became so injured that she could not reach the
scene of action. Your part of the work was no
bly done.

After marching all night through a country
destitute of water, 3*011 attacked an enemy supe
rior to you in numbers, admirably posted, and



sabres and revolvers and retook them. The : supported by the fire of their fleet, you forced
Twenty-first regiment repulsed three times their them from their positions, taking prisoners and



own number, and drove them back in confusion.



several flags ; killing and wounding many ; de-



I was at this time detached with the first platoon \ stroying most of their camps, and large quanti-
of our company, (Fourth regiment Wisconsin,) ties of public stores, and driving them to the
to skirmish on the extreme left of the line, to bank of the river, under cover of the guns of their
prevent a surprise on our flank. I took a posi- fleet. The inability of the Arkansas to reach the
tion one mile outside the old picket-lines, in true < scene of conflict prevented the victory from being
Yankee style behind stumps and trees. The complete ; but you have given the enemy a se-
rebels did not think it safe to honor us with a vere and salutary lesson.

shot. We were fired at, however, by some of And now those who so lately were ravaging
our pickets, who were driven in from the front, j and plundering this region, do not care to extend
ihey mistaking us for rebels. They also report- ! their pickets beyond the sight of their fleet,
ed us to the gunboat Essex as rebels, and she | You have proved again what has been so often
commenced shelling our lines. In riding in to i demonstrated in this war, that the soldiers of the



correct the mistake, a shell burst directly behind
me ; my horse taking fright, I broke my stirrup,
and fell heavily to the ground, and consequently
was obliged to retire from the field.

The rebels were forced back one mile and a
naif, our forces occupying their original position.
Our men lay on their arms during the day and
night.

The confederate loss was heavy in killed and
wounded. Our loss was about two hundred



confederate States, fighting in a just cause, are
superior to their enemies.

JOHN C. BRECKIXRIDGE,

Major-General Commanding.

(Official.) JOHN A. BUCKNER, A.A.G.

LIEUTENANT REED S ACCOUNT.

Lieut. Reed, of the ram Arkansas, gives tho
following particulars :

The Arkansas left Vicksburgh at two o clock



killed and wounded. Among them were several Sunday morning, August third, and steamed

distinguished officers, whose names I did not

learn.



leisurely down the river, having ample time to
j reach Baton Rouge at the appointed hour. When

On visiting a portion of the field on the morn- she arrived within fifteen miles of Baton Rouge,
ing of the sixth, I counted sixty-four confederate her starboard engine broke down. Repairs were



DOCUMENTS.



309



immediately commenced, and at eight o clock were
partially completed, though she was not in a con
dition to engage many of the Yankee vessels on
account of the injury received.

At four o clock, almost to a minute, General
Breckinridge opened the attack on Baton Rouge.
A messenger was despatched at eight o clock to
ascertain the strength of the enemy s fleet, and
the Arkansas proceeded to a point five miles
above Baton Rouge, when she was cleared for
action.

We learned from the guerrillas on shore that
there were only three gunboats. On rounding
the point the starboard engine again broke down,
and the ship drifted ashore in sight of Baton
Rouge, on the Arkansas side. Repairs were im
mediately commenced, and the ship got afloat at
five o clock the same evening. The engineer re
ported that the engines were unreliable. It was
determined to make a trial trip up the river to
ascertain the strength of the engines proceeded
some five hundred yards up the river when her
engines again broke down more seriously than
ever. The crew were engaged all night in re
pairs.

Next morning at eight o clock the lookouts re
ported the Federal fleet coming up. The ship
was moored head down-stream, and cleared for
action, and in this condition was determined to
fight to the last. At nine o clock the Essex
came round the point and opened fire. At this
moment the engineers reported the engines ready,
and that they would last half a day.

The lines were cut, and the Arkansas started
for the Essex with the intention of running her
down. Proceeded about three hundred yards in
the direction of the Essex, and the larboard en
gine suddenly stopped. She then makes for the
bank, her stern down, the Essex pouring a hot
fire into her. In this condition we opened fire
with the stern.

The Essex continued to advance, and when
within four hundred } T ards the crew of the Ar
kansas were ordered ashore, and the vessel fired.
After all hands were ashore the Essex fired upon
the disabled vessel most furiously. In an hour
after her abandonment the fire communicated to
her magazine, and all that remained of the noble
Arkansas was blown up.

Lieut. Stevens was in command of the Arkan
sas, and displayed remarkable coolness under the
most perilous and distressing misfortunes. Our
informant, Lieut. Reed, states that but for the
misfortune to her engines the expedition would
have been a most brilliant success, and the Yan
kees would have been driven from New-Orleans
in a few days. Jackson Mississippian.

GRENADA "APPEAL" NARRATIVE.

CAMP ox COMITE RIVER, Thursday, Aug. 7, 1S62.
On Saturday, July twenty-sixth, we received
marching orders, and on Sunday the train left
for Jackson. Thence by the New-Orleans Rail
road, we were quickly spirited to Tangipanoa, in
Louisiana, seventy-eight miles from the Crescent
City, and sixty from Baton Rouge. This point



one of those railroad mushroom towns, located
in the pine woods of St. Helena parish was to
be the base of our operations. Camp Moore was
in the immediate vicinity, where for several
months the Louisiana troops had been fitted for
active duty in the field. It was now occupied
by a regiment or two, with one battery, and
some odds and ends of cavalry, the whole under
the command of Ruggles. Upon the arrival of
Gen. Breckinridge, he assumed chief command,
and the troops were separated into two divisions.
To Gen. Clarke were assigned Gen. Ben. Hardin
Helm s brigade, consisting of the Fourth and
Fifth Kentucky, Fourth Alabama battalions and
Thirty-first Mississippi regiment, Col. Strat-
ham s brigade of Tennessee and Mississippi
troops, and Cobb s Kentucky and Hudson s Mis
sissippi batteries. To Gen. Ruggles were given
his old force, the Fourth Louisiana, Col. Allen;
Louisiana battalion, Col. Boyd ; the Partisan
Rangers, and Semmes battery, together with
Preston s brigade, commanded by Colonel A. P.
Thompson, of the Third Kentucky, composed cf
the Third, Sixth and Seventh Kentucky, and
Twenty- sixth Alabama regiments. These troops
were mostly war-worn veterans, but their long
marches and the arduous picket-duty at Vicks-
burgh had nearly decimated their ranks, so that
they were but skeletons of regiments.

It was now announced that a descent upon
Baton Rouge, and the possession of the Missis
sippi River was contemplated. The plan was a
very feasible one, notwithstanding our limited
land forces. Gen. Breckinridge was to attack
the enemy in the rear of the town, and destroy
or capture his troops, while the ram Arkansas
would engage the gunboats, and prevent their
rendering any assistance to their comrades on
shore. The Arkansas had been repaired, her
crew renewed, and she was again ready for ac
tion. We waited at Tangipanoa several days to
ascertain definitely that she was prepared. In
the mean while the quartermasters were busy
hiring teams, and engaging transportation. But
with all their endeavors, their success was in no
way commensurate with the wants of the army.

At last we were off. Gen. Van Dorn had tele
graphed Gen. Breckinridge that the Arkansas
was ready, and there was no obstacle to our suc
cess but the long, sandy, blazing road of sixty
miles. The boys stepped gayly away to the
sound of music s inspiriting strains, their battle-
flags streaming proudly, and their hearts pulsat
ing quickly at the prospect of punishing the foe.
Yet one third of the small number with which
we had left Vicksburgh were prostrate with sick
ness, and it appeared as if more troops remained
than went forward. The heat was terrible, and
the men fell out of ranks rapidly. Almost every
farm-house on the roadside was converted into
a hospital.

On Sunday, the third inst., Gen. Breckinridge
advised Gen. Van Dorn that he would be pre
pared to attack Baton Rouge at daylight the fol
lowing morning. Gen. Van Dorn replied that
the Arkansas would not reach a position where



310



REBELLION RECORD, 1862.



she could participate in the fight until Tuesday
morning. It was then definitely determined that
the attack should be made at daylight on the
morning of the fifth, the ram Arkansas, of whose
steady and uninterrupted progress down the river
we had constantly been advised, cooperating with
the troops.

At ten o clock, Monday night, August fourth,
the troops, about two thousand four hundred in
all, advanced from their camp on Comite River.
The men were in the finest spirits and confident
of accomplishing their purpose before breakfast-
time. The march of ten miles over a smooth,
sandy road, between well-cultivated plantations,
was conducted with quiet and order.

But about dawn there occurred one of those
terrible misadventures that are frequently the
harbingers of disasters and gloom. While the
column was advancing about three miles from
the city, the road skirted on one side by a dense
piece of woodland, and the other by a field of
sugar-cane, there came a terrible volley of mus
ketry from the woods where a party of Partisan
Rangers had been posted. It was evident at once
that there was a mistake, but the confusion inci
dent upon the alarm could not be obviated, and
several casualties occurred. Brig. -Gen. Helm s
horse fell into a ditch and disabled that gallant
3 r oung officer, his leg being badly mashed. The
troops were thus deprived of his valuable services
in the field, and he was compelled to remain rest
ive away from the scene of action, while his bold
boys were winning fresh laurels. Capt. Alexan
der A. Todd, (a brother of Mrs. Lincoln,) of Gen.
Helm s staff, was instantly killed, and Captain
Willis S. Roberts, commanding the Fourth Ken
tucky, dangerously wounded. Capt. Todd was a
young gentleman of fine accomplishments, great
personal daring, exceeding amiability, and the
warmest home affections. But the evening be
fore he wrote to his mother, and just before the
accident he was conversing with Lieut. L. E.
Payne, ordnance-officer of the brigade, communi
cating the messages he wished conveyed home in
case of his fall. Brave boy ! he met his end
serenely, and his body was interred with tender
and loving hands. Cobb s Kentuck3 r battery was
also rendered liors du combat, the gun-carriages
and caissons being broken, and the pieces ren
dered unmanageable. This was exceedingly un
fortunate from the great experience and intrepid
ity of Capt. Cobb and his cannoniers. At Shiloh
the battery was admirably manned, and at Vicks-
burgh, while in command of Lieut. Graces, it
successfully drove back one of the enemy s gun
boats.

Order being restored, the column advanced
and soon the line of battle was formed. General
Clarke s division occupied the right, and that of
Gen. Ruggles the left. The advance was made
in four lines, that of the left over a very rough
country, across ditches, through sugar-cane, over
fences a very fatiguing and exhausting march.
It was ten minutes of five o clock when we first
brushed the enemy. They were in good position,
under cover, and opened out upon our advance



with considerable precision and effect. It was,
however, but the work of a moment to dislodge
them. Like so many coveys of partridges, they
started up and flew rapidly before our advancing
columns, the boys giving vent to exulting cheers,
as with fixed bayonets they followed the retreat
ing Yankees. The morning was quite foggy, and
a heavy mist hung over the entire landscape,
rendering it difficult to plant our batteries so as
not to operate either upon one or the other of our
wings. Our town lines were then converging
toward a common centre, the enemy fleeing to
ward his camps. But it was not without loss
that we thus drove them in. They sought every
possible covert-place, and, rallying, gave a peppery
salute to our men. Their batteries were also
admirably handled, and belched forth devastating
columns of canister, grape, shrapnel, shell, and
solid shot. One by one, however, they were
forced to give back. Limber up, and to the rear
march, was the constant order, and had it not
been obeyed, all their guns would have fallen
into our possession.

As it was, the Fourth Louisiana charged a bat
tery twice, each time at considerable loss, and
were finally forced to lose their trophy, their
commander, Col. Allen, falling, shot through both
legs. This somewhat demoralized the regiment,
which had already been distinguished for its good
conduct. Capt. Hughes, commanding the Twen
ty-second Mississippi, fell dead while leading a
charge ; Col. Sam. Boyd, of the Louisiana bat
talion, was severely wounded in the arm ; the
gallant Thirty-first Mississippi, while charging
ahead, lost its colors, but the battle-flag was im
mediately grasped by a lieutenant, who, bearing
it aloft, was shot down, and a third man seized
it, receiving a death-wound. But onward went
the left. Gen. Ruggles was conspicuous for dar
ing, and his aid, Col. Charles Jones, of Louisiana,
while delivering an order, was struck down by a
shell and seriously wounded. Our troops were
now in the camps, and though tempting enough,
none stopped to pillage. The Third, Sixth, and
Seventh Kentucky regiments were going ahead