Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-08-21
THE ATTACK OF THE REBELS ON
BATON ROUGE.
The Enemy Defeated and Driven of
+ with Great Slaughter.
Breckenridge said to have Lost an
Arm.

New YORK, August 1s.-Tke Steamers
North Star and Roanoke from New Orleans
on the 10th inst, have arrived, bringing par
ticulars of the defeat of the Rebels at Baton
Rouge, and Of the destruction of the Rebel
ram Arkansas
letter from Baton Rouge says Minis bat
terry thrice repulsed the foe and did great
slaughter among them.
Breckenridge is reported to have lost his
right arm by cannon ball
Tho battle took place on the edge of the
town, General Williams being unwilling to
expose the helpless women and children
We captured large number of prisoners in
Guiding Captain Blunt, Breckenridge's aide.
General Williams, who was killed. behaved
like hero, and Capt. Minis men are entitled
to imperishable glory
The less Of the enemy must have been Sc
we're, as our men charged and recharsed upon
them. We have taken three guns.
Another account says the strength of the
Rebel troops is variously estimated at from
5000 to $4,000, under Generals Lowell and
Breckenridge. The combat was obstinate.
Our loss is $50 killed and wounded, incu-
ding large proportion of officers. The rebel
loss. according to the statement of the pris-
oners taken, WAS immense. Among the k lied
Of the Rebels, the name of General Lowell is
reported.
The ram Arkansas was Just above Baton
Rouge, but dared not take part in the combat.
Later accounts state that the Arkansas was
aground above Baton Rouge, when the Fed
eral steamer Essex and other sunboats went
% her and set her on fire, and she blew up.
The transport steamer Lewis Whitman ran
into the gnnboat Oneida, fifty miles above
New Orleans, on the night of the 9th, and
the transport sunk. She has ON board the
body of General Williams, with an escort of
six of his dy-suard; also, forty two of our
own and three Rebel wounded. The body
oil General Williams was recovered, and llir-
ty 'cish: wounded soldiers ard three of the
body-gnard were saved.
The official report OF Colonel Cahill. com
manding the post after the death of General
Williams, states that the Rebel force was n
bout ten regiments, and that after 4 fight OF
great severity, the enemy were repulsed.--
General Williams was killed bv A rifle bail
through the chest. During the battle our for
ces were at one time obliged to retro about
quarter Of mile from their original posi-
ton, and the enemy was thus able Temporal
r'ly to occupy the camps Of the Twenty first
Indiana, the Seventh Vermont and Fourtccuth
Maine Regiments, and to destroy much of the
baggage and camp equipa-e. They were,
however, driven out, but our number being
much lessened by sickness, and the men in
heiield being much exhausted by fatigue and
heat, it was deemed expedent not to pursue
the enemy, who had retired several miles,
and is still retiring.
am expecting that it is possible they may
receive relniorcemcnts, and am disposing of
my troops in the strongest positions.
Our force engaged numbered less than .,
500. The enemy had at least 5000 men,
with twelve or fourteen field pieces, and some
cavalry.
The Rebel ram Arkansas approached with
the intention Of engaging our sungoats, but
grounded at distance of six miles To-day
9th instant, she was engaged by the Essex,
and destroyed by that steamer.
Brigadier General Clark and his aide Lieu
tenant Zerger, delivered themselves up to us
as prisoners of war; | have also seventy
wounded prisoners and about thirty captured
Breckenridge, on the 9th, asked permission
in writing to bury bis dead. Colonel Cahill
replied that our men were engaged in the
work, which would soon be accomplished.
Passengers from Baton Rouge state that
our loss was 70 killed and 215 wounded.
General Williams had three horses shot
under him and was finally killed whilst raj
lying the Twenty first Indiana Regiment,
who had just lost field piece The gun was
retaken, but General Williams fell pierced
by several bullets.
General Butler issued general order an
nouncing in eloquent language the death of
General Williams. lie also issued congrat-
ulatory order to the troops on their successful
engagement, in which he says:
"Tho enemy lost three Brsgadiers in killed
wounded and prisoners; many Coloncls and
field officers and more than 1000 in killed
aud wounded. You have captured three pio-
ces of artillery, six caissons, two stands of
colors, and large number OF prisoners
A letter from Baton Rouge states that the
fight between the eunboats Essex and Arkan-
sas was fair stand-up fight. The former
lay three hundred yards distant, pouring SOL
id nne-inch shot into the Arkansas till a
breach was made and she exploded. On
preaching her ard setting her on fire, the
Rebel crew left and she soon exploded.
The funeral of General Williams occurred
at New Orleans on the 9th instant and was
very impressive. The body was brought on
by the North Star.