Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-21
Defeat of the Rebelsat Baton Rouge.
Destruction of the Arkansos


inst. They. bring the particulars Of the de-
feat Of the rebels at Baton Rouge and the
destruction OF the ram Arkansas A lettcr
from Baton Rouge says the Nin,s' battery
thrice repulsed the foe and did them great
damage.
Breckridge lost his right arm by can.
non ball. The fight took place in the edge
Of the town, Gen. Williams being uDwil
ling to expose the helpless women and ohil-
We captured large number Of prison.
ers, including Captain Blunt, Breckinringo'
:, 2, Gen, Williams, who was killed, behaved
Ike q hero. furae. ia,ifGftyt-. ,'G lre .r4
Minis men are entitled to imperishsble
glory. 10. ~ % o. iaN h dliGw ioFf - -sff f,t
The loss Of the enemy must hive been
severe, az our men charged aud rechareed
upon them. We have tsken three guns'
Another account saysr the rebel troops
were ysfi0usly estimated ut from 4. 600. TO
$1,000 men, under. Gems Lowell and Breck.
iDridge. The combat was Il obstinate. y Our
loss is $50 killed, including large propor.
tion OF officers. The rebel loss, acco, ding
to the prisoners account, was immense. =
Among tho killed was General Lowell.
The ram Arkansas was Just above Baton
Rouge but dare not take part III the con
fiict. Later accounts say that the Arkor,
sas was aground above Baton Rouge when
the Essex aud other gubboats went 10 her
and set her on fire, when she was blown up.
The transport steamer Lewis pWhiten,an
ran into the guuboat Oneida thirty miles
above New Orleans on the night ofthe Glh.
and the Transport was sunk, II had the
body ofGen. Williams on board, with az,
escort consisting Of six Of his body guard;
also AZ OF our and three rebel wounded.
The body Of Gen; Williams was recover
ed, and thirty!eight wounded soldiers and
three Of the body guard saved. " ~ T''0
The official report of Col. Cahill, com
manding the post after the death Of Gen.
Williams, states that the rebel force was
about ten regiments '' ''i 's,''''' u
| After fight of four hours of great sever
ity, the enemy we're repuled. ,'HI onf
Gen. Williams was Killed BY rife bnll
through the chest. l'.,Ili - 10 ~
During the battle our forces were Obliged
to retire about quarter Of mile from
their original position, and the enemy were
able to occupy the CAMPS Of the DIST Ind.
the 7th VI. and the 4th Maine regiments
and to destroy much oftheir baggage and
camp equippage.
They were however driven out, but our
numbers being much lcssened BY sickness
and the men in the field being much ex.
hausted by fatigue and heat, II was not
deemed expedient to pursue them. The
enemy has retired several miles, and is still
retiring. 1t is possible that they NAV re-
ceive reinforcements, and am disposing of
my troops in the strongest positions Our
forces engaged numbered less than Q, sod.
Tho enemy had at least 5000 men. with
IL or IA field pieces and sonic cavalry. WY
9 The ram Arkansas approached with the
intention Of engaging oIIr gniboats, but she
grounded when at a distance of six miles
and to-day (the 6th) was engaged BY the
Essex and destroyed. '''''"0
Brig. Gen. Clark and Lieut.. Zerger de-
livered themselves to us prisoners Of war.
We have also 10 wounded prisoners and
about 80 others captured.
Breckinridge, on tho 9th, asked permits.
sion in writing to bury his dead
Col. Cahill replied that our men are en-
gagged in the work, which will soon be accom-
Passengers from Baton Rouge state that
our loss was 10 killed and 2I5 wounded
Gen. Williams had three horses shot mn.
der him. He was killed while rallyine the
piece. I' - .'i lh'l, ~
The gun was retaken, but Con. Williams
fell pierced by several bullets. The wound.
ed are divided among the regiments about
us follows: 2lst Indiana, 81; 18th Maine,
600: l4th Wisconsin, 10; 9Th Michigan.
25; 7th Vermont, Is 30th Massachusetts,
IL; 9th Connecticut, 2. Among the pris
oners is Gen. Allen, of Miss, who was NOR
tally wounded. 'ru t gII H., -
Gen. Butler has issued General Order,
announcing in eloquent language the death
OF Gen. Williams he also issued conerat-
ulatory order to tho troops, in their success
ful engagement with the enomy. He saws
the enemy lost three Brigadiers, killed,
wounded and prisoners, also many Colonels
and field officers. He has MOI o than thous
and killed aud wounded Nrg .,g .
You have captured three pieces of artil.
lcIy, six oaissons, two stand OF colors and
large number of prisoners. m y -'..- -.
A letter from Baton Rouge states that the
light between the gunbont Essex and the
ram Arkansas was q fair stand up fight,
Capt. Portcrlay at 300 yards distant, pour.
ing solid nine inch shot into the Arkansas
till breach was made, whom an incendiary
shell was exploded in the breach setting her
ondre; The rebel Grew left her aud she soon
exploded. -5a.ye nj na5d sta aHo. m. III
Lieut.. II. N. lColburn, of tho st Vermont
battery, was drowned near CarTolton while
bathing on the 9th. J.i nl-.l u fJ,irl I
The funeral of Gen., Williams took place
% New Orleans on the Sth, and was very
impressive, The body was brought North
iu the North Star. %, Q43F .i.rDgl gI1i :
She passed the. Ocean Queen and St.
Marys bound up the Mississippi. .8sia.
1t Is most likely that the General Lowell