Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-19
The Battle at Baton Rouge.
The Rebels Badly De-
fSated.
FATE OF THE RAM ARKANSAS.

ASW IOTh, 1oW. lie steamers North Star
and Roanoke, from New Orleans 10th, have
arrived bringing the particulars of the defeat
of the rebels at Baton Rouge, and the des-
truction of the Arkansas. A letter from
Baton Rouge says Minis battery thrice re-
pulsed the foe, and did them great slaughter
breckenridge lost his right arm by cannon
ball. The tight took place in the edge of the
town, Gen. Williams being unwilling to ex-
pose the helpless women and children. We
captured large number of prisoners, inclnd-
ing Captain Blunt, breckenridge aid. Gen.
Williams, who was killed, behaved like
hero. Minis men are entitled to imperishable
glory. The loss of the enemy must have
been severe, as our men charged and re-
charged upon them. We have taken three
gnns.
Another account says the rebel troops were
variously estimated at from 5000 to l5,0O0;
under Generals Lowell and Breckenridge.
The combat was obstinate. Our loss was 250
killed, including a large proportion of Off
GERS. The rebel loss, according to the pris-
oners, was immense. Among the killed was
Gen. Lowell.
The ram Arkansas was just above Baton
Rouge, but dared not take part in the conflict.
Later accounts state that the Arkansas was
aground above Baton Rouge when the Essex
and the other gunbOats went to her and set
her on fire, when she soon after blew up.
The transport steamer Lewis Whiteman
ran into the gunboat Oneida, so miles above
New Orleans, on the night of the 9th. The
transport was sunk. She had the body of
Gen. Williams on board, with an escort of
six, his body guard, also 43 of our and con-
federate wounded soldiers. The body was
recovered and SO wounded soldiers and three
of the body guard were saved. The official
report of Col. Cahill, commanding the post
after the death of Gen. Williams states that
the rebel force was about ten regiments.
CATER fight of four hours, of great severi-
ty, the enemy were repulsed. Gen. Williams
was killed by rifle ball through the chest
During the battle, our forces were obliged to
retire about quarter of mile from their or
iginal position, and the enemy were able tenn
porarily to occupy the camps of the 21st In
DIANA 18th Vermont, and 10Th Maine regi-
ments, and to destroy much of the baggage
and camp equipage. They were, however,
driven out, but our number being much less
ened by sickness, and the men on the field
being much exhausted by fatigue and heat it
was not deemed eXpedient to pursue the reb-
els. The enemy has retired several miles,
and is still retiring. | am expecting it is pos
sible they may receive reinforcements, and l
am disposing of the New York troops in the
strongest positions.
''Our force engaged numbered less thar
2500. The enemy had at least 5000, with
twelve or fourteen field pieces and some cav
airy. The ram Arkansas approached with the
intention of engaging our gunboats, but
grounded at distance of six miles, and to-
day (the 9Th inst, was engaged by the Es-
sex and destroyed. Brig. Gen. Clark and his
aid, Lieut.. Terger, delivered themselves to
us as prisoners of war. | have also 20 wound
ed prisoners, and about 30 captured"
Breckenridge, on the 9Th, asked permission
in writing to bury his dead. Col. Cahill re-
piled that our men were engaged in the work,
which will soon be accomplished. A passen-
ger from Baton Rouge states that our loss was
20 killed and 215 wounded. Gen. Williams
had three horses shot under him. He was
killed while rallying the 2lst Indiana regi-
ment, which had just lost field piece. The
gun was retaken, but Gen. Williams fell
pierced by several bullets.
The wounded are about as follows :-2lst
Indiana regiment, 81; 4th Maine, 20; 4th
Wisconsin, 10; 9th Michigan, 25; 9TH Ver-
mont, 10; Both Massachusetts,, II; 9th Con
necticut, 2. Among the prisoners taken is
Gen. Allen of Mississippi, MORALLY wounded.
We CLEAN the following few names of the kill
ed and wounded from newspapers =
Killed-Col. Roberts, 9TH Vermont; Capt.
Kelley, 30th Massachusetts.
Wounded-Lieut. Col. Keith, 21st Indiana
Lieut.. Howe, Both Massachusetts,.
Gen. Butler has issued general order, an
nouncing in eloquent language the death Of
Gen. Williams. He has also issued con-
gratulatory order to the troops on their sue
cessful engagement, in which he says the enc
my lost three brigader generals, killed,
wounded and prisoners. and many colonies
and field officers. He has more than a thous-
and killed and wounded. You have captured
three pieces of artillery, six caissons, two
stand of colors, and large number of pris-
oners.
A letter from Baton Rouge states that the
fight between the Essex and Arkansas was a
fair stand up fight Porter lay three hundred
yards distant pouring solid 9-inch shot into
the Arkansas until breach was made, when
an incendiary shell was exploded in the breach
setting her ON fire. The rebel crew then left
her and she soon exploded.
The funeral of Gen. Williams occurred al
New Orleans on the Sth, and was very inn
pressive The body was brought north in the
steamer North Star. Most likely the Gen.
Lowell reported killed is Col. Lowell, and not
Mai. Gen. Mansfield Lowell, who is under
stood to be at Richmond.
New YORK, Aug. lS.-A letter from sur
geon reports that he saw SO deadreb in one
small corn field at Baton Rouge. Lieut.
Norcross of the Both Massachusetts, arose
from sick bed, joined his company in the
thickest of the fight, and with his own hands
saved field piece about to be taken. The
rebel wounded state that Gen. Ruggles was
killed. One rebel stated that their loss was
800. Minis battery saved the day when two
thirds of its members were on the sick list.
The secessionists in Baton Rouge fired on
our wounded as they were being brought i'll
consequently their houses were being pulled
down. Breckenridge, on the morning of the
fight, made speech promising his men to
have a band playing in the State House at 8
A.
LETTER OF AN EYEWITNESS.
A surgeon from the field OF battle states
that the slaughter of the rebels was terrible.
He writes sketch of the engagement, from
which we extract the following;
"From five thousand to ten thousand rebels
under General Breckenridge, attacked about
three thousand Union soldiers stationed on
the outskirts of Baton Rouge, at four A. NJ,
on Tuesday, August 9th. The fight lasted
until ten, when the rebels were badly repulsed
and retreated in rout. General Williams
was shot through the heart while rallylng on
his right wing, which was being driven in by
superior numbers.
'The Vermont regiment behaved badly,
except its officers. The Colonel was killed
The Twenty-frst Indiana, Thirtieth Massa-
chusetts, Ninth Connecticut and Fourth Wis
consin did most of the fighting, and nobly too.
Iieutenant-C Colonel Keith, Twenty-trst Indi-
orc ,r,s sounded through the right shoulder.