Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-08-21
THE BATTLE AT BATON ROUGE.

An ofiser who participated in the fight st Baton
Rouge the 5th instant has communicated to the Jack
son hisesi2pian account of the engagement, from
which copy the following:
But for an unfortunate incident that occurred the
morning Of the attack just before day, the enemy would
have been taken by surprise, and most probably cap
tured the design was 70 cut him Of before he could
reach the gunboats.
Our cavalry of partisan rapgsrs advanced, rumor
says, to within short distance OF, aud, upon being
hailed by the pckets turned upon their heels and
tearing back pell NELL helterskelte right through the
second brigade Of this corps which, surprising TO be
the enemys cavalry, poured Iakng hrc into the al.
ready psnicsricken troops. The result Of this unioriu
sfir the klog Of several good soldiers, the
wounding OF Gen. Helm, commanding the brigade, and
the death Of Lieut.. Todd Of General H.s sta and,
by the way brother in Law of Abraham the First The
firing OF the whole brigade, Of course, Notified the enemy
Of our presence, and prepared him for an attack.
Immediately from a OF rune, the rapid beat OF
the long roll heard, and VIC approached, that
grand old air. The March OF Norma" could be easily
distinguished, yanly endeavorDg 10 inspire their
ardy hirlngs to resist the coming avalanche OF brave
South II 30 dlers. We soon formed line Of battle and
marched upon the concealed enemy. TAe attack COM
menced on the left by Gen. Rugges' division Toe enc
N.Y. after short resistance, Tell back toward the re-
followed closely by our troops In very little time al
terward Gen Clarks division engaged the enemys left
and centre. The attack the centre being fsnt,
the object was TO flank.
But the fog together with the smoke was so dense as
to obscure every thing We drove them from their first
encsmpment, which, filed the tents were with ali
kinds Of useful and comfortable things, boss TO
their credit be it said did not sop to plage We
nued 10 advance until the dense smoke hid yerything
from us, and we were compelled 70 halt.
During this time the enemy had drawn all Of his force
to splendid position among his tents and behind u
tcick skirt oil woods Here Gen. K. engaged the enemy
agaiu, and was REFUSED This division fell back behind
bank, made by excavation in the road and held the
enemy in check; the enemy standing II bravey at loug
taw, Gen. Helms Brigade, commanded by Col Hunt, OF
Kentucky, driving the enemy before them. IL was I'M
possible to keep up anythng like alignment in the
Id Of tall corn, and thrown together in
large masses, and being in the dark, as it were,
soon came upon the enemyB centre, where they had
all concentrated and having just repulsed Rlggles
line they were ready for Us their superiority OF mum
b5rs WAS too great for sns brigade, and were
ordered to fall back. Up 10 this time the enemy
had fed before us at every charge ard when we saw
our whole corps falling back, fel. that the day
was lost. But We soon rallied and formed upon the
line of battle made by General Ruggss' division
TIE division still kept up an incessaut fire from
behind their embankment. General G. rode along
the front OF line, and told mus. drive the
my from their strong position, a. all hazards. He was
cAlmes man ever saw in SO much danger. The only
emotion expressed on his face that of de-
termination TO take the second encampmen Oar whole
Gylslon exec pt Two reserve regmeut t1en moved Tor
ward at quick pace expecting every moment to charge
the enemy We advanced 10 within good range Of thy
enemys guns when he opeLed FIRE from behind the trees
aud tents when ordered to halt aud FIRE lying
down. We we're then ordered back which causl con
sie able confus OF. Gen Clark with The reserve reg
ments the It'll and oh kentucky regiments then moved
forward IS We reresed which gave US chance to raj
and form again, which we did Our gallant commander
Gen Breckenridge, came up about this time, aud, sd
dressing few stirring words 10 his meD, told them tC
charge the enemy. With three loud cheers for 100
Breok" We fixed bayouets, and rallied TO the support o.
the gallant Kentuckians, who standing most
rife fire. This time there falterng. We closed
upon the enemy on three sides, fired "A volley suC
charged bsyonets The Feds obi cited TO such close quar-
t.rs aud fed Unfortunately IN every direction Tney
march ei at gait not presc ibed tactics and in
diguhed or at least imm litary manner TIey led il
terror and disnay TO their gunboas Very soon these
Latter dAy instruments OF uraed loose upon us ant
We we're ordered to fall back. Right then, if the Ar
kansas had come down smopes. the enemys boa's th,
whole army At Baton Rouge would have been captured
aud the immense stores they have cougregsted there
you'd have been the fruits Of victory This the
nrrnonosried plan arranged by Generals Van Dorm
Breckenridge and would have been carried to
full ISSUE but for the disabled machinery OF the ram
General b. certainly carried out his part of the pro
gramme The camps Of the enemy were destroyed, ant
a considerable quantity OF arms and ammunition cap
| tared
To this last gallant and determined charge, Ger
Chsrea CLARK fell severely wounded leading the Ken
tuckiAns more gallant and chiyalrous man neve
lived Our loss will not exceed three hundred, killed
| and wounded The enemy's loss in wounded We know
nothing about Their killed greater than ours To-
they left On the b sd
BUILEEs COsGRATULLT0EY oRDkR.