Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-19
FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
Destruction Of the Arkansas
REBELS DEFEATED AT BAT
ON ROUGE.
Breokinridge Lost bis Right Arm.
GENERAL LOWELL KILLED.
THIS MORNINGS REPORT,
THR REBEL DEFEAT AT BATON
R0TTGE.
NEW YORK, Aug. Is.

.# NEW lOhki aug. 10.
The steamers North Star and Roanoke,
from New Orleans the 10th, have arrived,
bringing particulars Of the defeat Of the
rebels at Baton Rouge, and destruction Of
the Arkansas.
A letter from Baton Rouge says Minis
| battery thrice repulsed the foe with great
slaughter. Breckenridge lost his right
arm by cannon ball The contest took
place on the edge of the town, Gen. Will
liams being unwilling to expose the wo-
men and children. We captured large
number Of prisoners, including Captain
Blunt, Breokinridge's aid. General Will
liams, who was killed, behaved like
hero. The enemy's loss must have been
severe, as our men charged and recharged
upon them. We have taken three guns
Another account says the rebel troops
were estimated at from 5000 to 6,000, un-
der Generals Lowell and Breckinridge.
The combat was obstinate. Our loss was
250 killed, including large proportion of
officers. The rebel loss, according to pris-
eners' statements, is immense. Among
the killed was Gen. Lowell.
The ram Arkansas was Just above Baton
Rouge, but dared not take part in the con-
fiet.
Later accounts state the Arkansas was
aground, when the Essex and other gun
boats went to her and set her on fire, and
she blew up.
The transport steamer Lewis Waterman
ran into the gun-boat Oneida, so miles
above N. Orleans on the night of the 9Th,
and the transport was sunk She had the
body of Gen. Williams, with an escort of
six of his body guard, also AZ of our and
Confederate wounded The body was re-
covered, and 3S of the wounded soldiers
and of the body guard, saved.
The report of Col. Cshill, commander af-
ter the death of Gen. Williams, stated the
rebel force at about ten regiments. After
n fight of four hours of great severity, the
enemy were repulsed Gen. Williams was
killed by rife bali through the chest.
During the battle our forces were obliged
to retire about a quarter of q mile from our
original position, and the enemy were able,
temporarily, to occupy the camps of the
2lst and 7th Vermont, and 18th Maine reg
iments to destroy much camp equipage.
They were, however, driven out, but our
numbers being much lessened by sickness,
and the men in the field being much ex-
hausted by fatigue and heat it was deemed
expedient not TO pursue.
The enemy has retired several miles and
is still retreating. I am expecting it is
possible they may receive reinforcements,
and am disposing Of my troops in strongest
positions. Our force engaged was less
than $500, the enemy had at least 5000,
with II or IA field pieces and some caval-
ry. t5tl "
The ram Arkansas approached with the
intention Of engaging our gun-bOats, but
grounded at a distance of six miles, and
to-day, the 9th, was engaged by the Essex
and destroyed.
Brigadier General Clark and his Aid,
Lieut.. Yerger, delivered themselves to us
as prisoners Of war. nave also 80 cap
tured.
Breckinridge, on the 9th, asked permis-
sion in writing to bury his dead Col Ca
hill replied, our men are engaged in the
work, which will soon be accomplished.
A passenger from Baton Rouge states
that our loss was killed and 215 wound
ed. Gen. Williams had three horses shot
under him. He was killed whilst rallying
the 2lst Indiana, who had just lost field
piece. The gun was re-taken, but General
Williams fell.
The wounded are about as follows: 2Ist
Ind; 81; 14th Maine, 20; 4th Wis, 10; 9th
Mich, 25; 7th Vermont, 15 Both Mich, II;
18th Conn, 2. Among the prisoners is
Gsn. Allen of Miss, mortaliy wounded.