The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-27
4 Letter from New Orleans.
CAMP PARAPET, NEAR CARRoLToN, La,
August III, 1862.


BROTHER " EBsrER 1t is but few DAYS
since that | wrote you last, but the events of
the past week have been of such charact ter as
to render them interesting and Of Importance
to all your readers, and hence the reason Of en-
crolchng pom the sanctty ot the day. Oar
small, sckIy forces at Baton Rouge were COW
ardiy artac&e1 ny much larger force OF rebels,
under the despicable traitor and coward Gen.
ID. I. Breckenridge, on Ch4 morning Of the 9TH
inst, 4s you WI, near before this reache YOU.
The enemy took advantage Of the condition Of
Cur men, OF winch they had probably been to
formed by some pre,entiou5 - / niOu,st" but at
heart real . Secesh, who had enjoyed the
protection OF our men, and privileges afforded
by them-and came ma.ly On, anticipating prob
ably sure success, aud re occupation Of the
Capital Of the State. But how soon they saw
otherwise. Our men, though just a few DAYS
down from Vlcksburgh, whore they had con
tracted disease 70 an alarming extent, taugued
and sick, were not to be thus cowardly as3aled
and inhumanly treated without showing Of what
" stuff they are. They matted not for the
enemy, but went out Of the city and met him
This was done as an act Of mercy by Cen " il.
liams towards the detenceltss women and child
rem. We say not aught against him, but per-
the best information | can get learned tine enc
my had from 10000 to $4,000 men, while we
had not over $500 on our side. There was
some OF the most desperate fighting OF the war,
considering the numbers engaged and 50 forth.
At ten clock, six hours after the commence
ment Of the fight, the enemy retreated in - hot
haste, but during tho action our men had los.
Gen Thomas Williams, Instantly killed, and
were without him to lead them, and besides.
were 10 no condition to follow them and did not
consequently pursue. Gen, W Williams was an
able officer and brave christian soldier. He died
like hero, being shot Instantly dead while
cheering and leading on his men. His funeral
was attended in New Orleans on Friday. a.
Chrlst's (Episcopalian) Church, by ten. Butler
and staff, and "a large representation of the army
and navy, besides the large concourse of citi-
zens. Vermont has paid dearly In the contest
Col. Roberts, commanding the 7th Vermont
Regiment, was mortally wounded, dying the
morning OF the It'll. His remains were brought
to New Orleans on Friday, and | suppose sent
out home on the North STAR leaving New Or
leans this afternoon with those of Gen. Will
llams. | was some acquainted with Col. Rob-
erts, and had formed good opinion of him
lie was much beloved by his reg iment, and the
loss Of him will be deeply felt. lie has sunk
to rest while in the discharge of duty, fighting
for the " maintenance of the Government, and
the enforcement of the Laws.'' He entered the
service as a Lieutenant In the Rutland Company
Of the LIST VT e monthsl Regiment recruited
the Rutland County Company of Cavalry, but
declined any office in it was offered a place
on the staff of the lst Vt. Cavalry, but did not
accept, owing, as he told me, to the condition
of his business matters. He resided in Rutland.
and was brothlr-in-law OF Gen Baxter of the
same place. Corporal Billings Of the Middle
bury Company was killed, Corporal Piper of
the same badly wounded; arm anputated in
way OF recovery. am not IN receipt of list
Of killed and wounded. The loss IN killed on
the rebel side is thought to be not far fir IN 1900
ours about 200. Many Of the prisoners. sic k
and wounded have been brought down to New
Orleans. The 18th Vt. is almost ruined. takino
in connection bis fight and their sickness prior
to it, 1T is said, but hope we have the worst
, phase OF it, and that they will soon recover
from 1t. | am IN possession of distressing ac.
counts of their sufferngs. Some of the sick
had been on boats three days without any care
at all. They had lost everything they had but