The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-08-26

Splendid Fighting or the Sixth
Michigan ut Baton Rouge.
Although we have in another place give,
copious accounts Of desperate fight at Bato'
Rouge, we sutjoin portion Of the correspon
dence of the N. Y. Times, which relates il
detail the conspicuous and gallant part borne
by our Michigan Sixth in the battle. II ha
fully sustanted the noble reputioa 70. cool
ness and bravery that our regiments have
achieved on every battle field. 4 a,i sf
N *aaf* y ~ -
About four o'clock in the morning, the FOG
resting heavily on tho landscape, the enemy
was heard approaching, not along the road
but across the fields, thus avoiding cur scouts
and giving only time for one or two OF ou
pickots to fire ere the enemy approached Al
double quick time, and in few minutes af
ter the alarm was given the action became
general. 4. 49,. .s
The enemy evidently we'll maneuvered, aod
in vastly superior numbers concentrated his
fire on our centre, the Indiana regiment which
regiment nobly contested every inch ofground
until, with tho Fourteenth Maine, they were
forced beyond their camp distance Of q hun
dred rods. This brought the enemy into not
only these, but that Of the Seventeenth Yer
mont, which were taken possession Of with
yells, and instantly plundercd and burnt. In
this repulse our troops lost one pieco of Ever
e,rs battery. The Sixth Michigan and its
artillery now opened on the Indiana camp oc-
cupied by the enemy. In the meantime the
Indianians rallied, and after a severe and brill
liant contest. retook their camp and the piece
of artillery. Gen. Williams, who had been On
the field from the commencement Of the ac-
ton everyw here in tho thickest of tho fight,
headed the charge of the Sixth Michigan and
Twenty first Indiana, remarking that he reli
ed upon them to save the day. He saw the
enemy retreat, aud at the same instant fell
from his horse, shot through the breast. AS
he was being carried off he noticed some
troops in tho rear, when he raised his arm,
and, though dying, said: Follow the exam
pie of those troops in front, and the day is
ours" -
The enemy, after being repulsod at the
Indiana camp, gallantly charge on the 9th
Michigan, killing all the horses of one piece
of the 4th Battery, which the Michiganders
defended at Tue point Of the bayonet, they
fighting tho enemy within ton or fifteen feet
of each other The pieco was finally drawn
off by hand by one company OF the Michigan
men, who grounded arms 10 accomplish the
work, their comrades guarding these tempor-
arily abandoned weapons until their owners
returned, which feats were greeted with
cheers. As the piece Of artillery was being
drawn off, the enemy attempted TO scale
high picket fence 10 flank our troops. This
movement was for some time contested By
Company I, Of the 6 h Michigan, who deploy-
ed along the fence, aud in so dong actually
put their muskets through The openings in
the pickets and fred through, the enemy re-
tuning the fire in the came way. This ,nur.
derous aud close conflict was carried on until
the enemy, a Kentucky regiment, tore off the
pickets aud made the fire so warm, tho com
pany had to fall back on the regiment, which
in turn drove back the Kentuckians.
In little less than an hour after the centre
was engaged, a force Of the enemy was dis
covered approaching the right, which was
held by Company A and F, Sixth Michigan.
aud two pieces of artillery, Company b being
at tho same dcployed as skirmshers to prevent
a flank movement % tho enemy. As the enc
my approached they were m staken for our
own troops, aud consequently reserved their
ure until tDay were Wltnln uity PAGES, Wneu
they were discovered to be two regiments,
afterwards knownt to be the Fourth and Sixth
louisiana. AT this moment the action be-
came fearful, th, enemy opened a murder
Gus fire, and charged upon the pieces. One
gun the enemy captured, the other was drag
ged away. Our small force of infantry was
obliged TO fall back to ditch, and small
piece of timber, where they rallied, and OPEN
ed in return a most destructive fire, killing
overy man that attempted to carry off the
piece they had captured. A co,or.bearer Of
the Fourth louisiana rushed out and called on
bis men to rally 10 the flag, when he was
killed; no less than four color bears were kill
ed in succession while attempting to ra'se the
rebel standard. AT the critical moment,
Company b. Sixth Michigan, employed as
skirmisbers, then rallied, aud with a trelnen
dous yell reinforced their comrades in the
ditch. At this moment the enemy were fall
ing literally like leaves, aud becoming paric
The whole line su ddenly reireated,
their flag, the piece Of artillery,
and number of prisoners. r -