The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-29

Maine, 2lst Indiana and 9th Michigan. As
soon as it became apparent that this was
the real point of Attack, General Williams
ordered up the 9th Connecticut, Fourth
Wisconsin, and one section of Manning's
battery, to support the left, and the 18th
Massachusetts and two sections OF Nlms's
battery to support the right.
You will, therefore, see that the DISPOSE
ton with the slight exception limited att,
and the maneuveriDg were faultess.
The conduct of our troops was excellent
The Twenty first Indiana particularly dis
tinguished itself. saw q plumber OF the
dead of the enemy today in front OF the
ground they occupied bat not content with
the check they gave the enemy, this regi.
ment pursued him quite distance, strew~
ing the ground with his dead.
The brave General Williams fell in front
of the Sixth Michigan, towards the end of
the conflict, while giving his men a noble
example of reckless and daring bravery.
He was killed by rifle ball in the chest.
The enemy's forces consisted of two Lou
isiana regiments 1.-THE Fourth and Thirtieth),
two Mississippi, the Third, Fourth, Fifth,
Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Kentucky, two
Tennessee, one Alabama regiment, and thir-
teen guns, and large guerilla force. Their
attacking force numbered fully six thousand
men. Our actual force engaged was not
over two thousand men. Three companies
of the Sixth Michigan covered themselves
with glory in recovering from large force
two guns posted on the right OF the Magno.
liza Cemetery, which temporarily were left
by our forces. These same three compa-
MES captured the colors of the Fourth Lou
isiana, but only after they had shot down
four successive color bearers
The exact loss on our side is not yet re-
ported. But certain it is that much less
than that of the enemy.
A correspondent Of the De1tG gives the
following additional particulars of the bat
tie
DISPOSAL OF OUR FORCES.
Our troops were posted as follows, from
right to left {: Both regiment Massachu-
sets, 9th Michigan, 2lst Indiana, 9TH Yer
mont, l4th Maine, 9th Connecticut, 4th
Wisconsin and 4th Massachusetts,; battery
posted on the left, supported by 9th Con-
necticut and 4th Wisconsin,; Everett's bat.
terry, 9th Massachusetts,, supported by l4th
Maine and 9TH Vermont; second Massachu-
sets battery, Captain Minis, supported by
2lst Indiana; -- battery, supported by
9th Wisconsin and Both Massachusetts.
THE ENGAGEMENT.
The battle of Baton Rouge may be char
acterzed as one of the most soldierlike,
skilfully planned fights OF the war. Gen.
Williams, with his we'll known abilities as
a leader, scorned to rally behind houses and
fences, and taking in with one glance the
plan of the enemy's attack, made bis pre-,
parations to resist and oppose them.
Two highways run out OF Baton Rouge
One above ard one below, on each side of
the town about a mile and half out,
road cuts these two roads at right angles,
while extending from road to road is large
cemetery, facing towards the city and loOk-
ing directly into the camps of the Indiana,
Massachusetts and Connecticut regiments.
The front OF this cemetery is fenced with
paliug, while the cemetery is thickly strewn
with large tombs, and OvergrOwn with high
rank weeds. This was the position of the
rebel centre. Oar centre was composed OF
the indiana Twenty-frst, the Massachusetts
and Connecticut regiments, drawn up on
the opposite side of the roads, and not more
than forty.6ve rods distant. The rebel right
approached through corn fields and over a
rolling country, attacked with great impetu.
osity the Fourteenth Names camp, and
drove them out, burning and pil'aging the
camp in few minutes. The Fourteenth
Maine rallied, and supported by the Massa-
chusetts regiment and Minis Battery, re-
turned to the attack and drove the enemy
back with great slaughter.
NEGRO IN THE HOTTEST OF THE FIGHT.
The fiercest pirt of the conflict at this
tide of the battle occurred before and with
in house which the rebels 0bstinatey de-
termined to get possession OF. The most
conspicuous OF the rebels at this place was
huge negro, armed and equipped with
knapsack, musket and uniform he led the
rebels, and met his death at the hands of
one of our men. Pressed back by our lett
and our ground regalned, the battle ragged
in 'front.' with desperate Gerceness. So ST.
lently did the rebels approach and so well
were they concealed, that they were in the
cemetery and drawn up 10 battle array,
without our knowing it. With yell they
rushed up to the fence, dashed through it
and across the road, bearing everything be
tore them. At one time the opposing
forces were hand to hand, and our handful
of men were driven out of their camps and
back into the town but, rallied on every
hand by their officers, and the cool daring
of General Williams, assisted by the gun
boats that began to fire shell on each flank
with perfect accuracy and deadly effect, our
troops bravely rushed to the front and drove
the entire rebel centre back across the road
into and beyond the cemetery, from which
they were not able again to emerge.
TIRE CLOSE OF THE BATTLE
am convinced that had Williams not
fallen, he would have destroyed the whole
OF the rebel forces. By 10 A. NJ. all firing
had ceased, and the enemy had retired with
haste and left over three hundred of his
dead on the field of battle. Every one of
his dead was buried by our men, except
many who died in the retreat or were kill
ed by the long reaching shells of our gun
boats. The field presented evidences Of the
desperation of the combats at the crossing
OF the roads where the rebels had endeavor.