The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-08-26

e. 20 cafrts fondsns Qi the New Or
leans Delta, who witnessed thc bal,le
a Baton Rouge, ryss ID following
clear as8 eoneise arcsuny e q s..
"l'he battle q Baton Rouge may b
characterized as one Of The NEST sol
dicrIike, skilIfally planned ssb,s Of
this war Gen, Williams, with his
well kuswn ability as a leader, soorn-
I'd to rally behind houses and fences,
and taking in with enc glance the plan
Of the enemy's attack, made al bis
preparations to resist aud oppose them.
Two highways run out Of baton
Rouge--one above and one below, on
sach side Of the town about mile
aud half road cuts these two roads
at right angles, while extending from
road 10 road is large cemetery, fac
ing towards the city and looking d.
rectly into the camps Of the Indiana,
Massachusetts and Connecticut regi.
ments The front Of this cemetery Is
fenced with paling while the cemetery
is thickly firown with largo tombs and
overgrown with high, rank weeds
This was the position Of tho rebel CEN
ter. Our center was composed Of the
Indiana 9tu, the Massachusetts and
Connecticut, drawn up on the oppo.
site side Of the roads, and not more
than forty-fiye rods distant. The reb.
el right approached, through corn
fields and over rolling country, at
tackled with great impetuosity the eth
Names camp, and drove them out,
burning and pillaging the camp in q
few minutes. The 18th Maine rail-
lied, and supported by the Massachu-
setis and Minis battery, returned to
the attack and drove the enemy back
with great slaughter. The Gercest
part of the conflict at this tide OF the
battle occurred before and within q
house which the rebels obstinately de-
termined to get possession OF, The
most conspicuous Of the rebels at this
place was huge negro, armed aud
equipped with knapsack, musket and
uniform he led the rebels ard met
bis death al the hands Of one Of our
men. Pressed back by our left, and
our ground regained, the battle ragged
ID front with desperate tierceness. SO
silently did the rebels approach, and
so well were they concealed, that they
were in the cemetery and drawn up in
battle array, without our knowing it.
With a yell they rushed up 70 the
fence, dashed through il and across
the road, bearing everything before
them. AT one time the opposing for
ces were hand 10 hand, aud our hand
ful of men were driven out Of their
camps and back into the town but,
rallied on every hand by their officers,
and the ccol daring Of General Will
liams, 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 aud
down the entire rebel centre, back
across the road into and beyond the
cemetery, from which they we're 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 they 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 meantime, tho
rebels under Gen. Clarke made a des-
perate effort to flank US, and get in
our rear. II was here that the adj
mirable generalship Of Williams dis
played itself. Anticipating this very
moVfment, he had placed Mannings
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 entire ap-
proach Of the enemy's lef.
Here the battle ragged aercely and
after the rebels flank movement was
rspulsed and driven back, not 70 re-
il was that the gallant gen.
eral fell at the head of the Indiana
and Michigan regiments, but not be-
fore victory had lighted Up that Gne
manly face with It's glow Of triumph.
| am convinced that had Williams not
fallen, he would have destroyed the
whole Of the rebel forces. by l0s.m.
all firing had ceased, and the enemy
bad retired with haste, and left over
300 Of his dead On the field of battle