Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-06
COLONEL CAHILL'S REPORT.
BATON ROUGE, August 9, 1862
To Capt. R. J. Daris, A. A, Gsnerat, Department
of the GaG. a .as.. s.- $685.. s. ,,. 81

SIR: Being called to the command Of the
forces at Baton Rouge, on the occasion of the
action OF August 3, by the unfortunate death OF
General Williams, it becomes my duty to report
The circumstances OF the glorious victory Ru.
mOrs Of the enemy in heavy force had prevailed
ioi some Gays. On the afternoon Jf August 4,
General Williams called the attention Of the
commandanis Of regiments aud batteries 10 the
probability Of an attack at an early hour in the
morning. The Fourteenth Maine, Col A. Nick,
erson the Twenty first Indiana, under Lieut..
! Col Keith; the Sixth Michigan, under Acting
Lieut.. Col Clark, and Seventh Vermont, Col
Roberts, were e.camped, the first with its right
resting on the intersection o. the Greenwell
Springs road, and fronting on road running to
the intel ,etilon OF the Bayou Sara and Clinton
roads. These cncampnents were In heavy tim
Der, The TSeniy first Indiana were encamped
on about the same line front, and on the right o.
the Greenwe Springs road. On nearly the same
inc front, but still further to the right at the i'll
tr, section OF the Clay Cut aui Perkins roads
we're the Sixth Michigan The Seventh Yer
mont were some distance TO the rear, and be
tween the Sixth Michigan and T~euty first In
diana, with the canp fronting the city. Ever
elts battery, under Lieutenant Cairuth, was in
bivouac, on the right Of the Twenty first Indiana
| Still further 10 the right were the guns in charge
"f the 2lst Indiana, On the extreme right, the
guns Of Minis Battery, under Lieut.. -,
we're brought 10 position early ia the action on
the right The .IOlh Massachusetts, under Col
Dudley, were brought up from ,beir quarters il
the Capitol on the night Of the 5th and took
position OH the left Of the 9th Michigan. On
the extreme left in advance of the left bank OF
the Bayou Gap. with IN obque from, toward the
in,e section OF the ayou Sara aud Clinton
| ,,k af ,,,n'o
w.rs the 9th Connecticut aud 4th Wisconsin, -
The remaining guns Of Manning's Battery were
in position on the tight bank Of the bed Of Bay
ou Gap. This was the real line of defense ioi
the left flank, covering the north and east of the
arsenal grounds Gen Williams, in his instruc
tions to myself aud Lieut. Gel Bean, command
ing 4,h Wisconsin Volunteers, was very clear
and positive in his orders to hold this position at
all hazards, as he anticipated tie enemy would
advance (under cover of the lire from the ram
Arkansas with the gunboats from the Red Riv
ei, through the open grounds If the Sawmili
aud Doughe,ty's plantation, and take possession
OF the Manae ground. he above mentioned
advance on the left bank of the Bayou was only
ordered by Gen. William S, after lengthy con
sderation. on the eve ing of the 4th inst, with
the intention of checking an advance on thu
same position by the Bayou Sala and Clinton
roads and for that reason we only brou yht for
ward tn light howitzers Of Manning's Battery
TO the advance positions, leaving the heavy guns
ON the original line.
At early daylight on the morning Of Angus
s, the enemy threw his whole force on the camp'
of tue l4th Maine, 2lst Indiana and 9th Michi
gan, with the batteries attached to each repi
ment. hese troops stood their ground nobly
meeting the tremendous force thrown upon then
with uufnchiug bravery. On looking over thu
battle ground since the engagement, | eanno
conceive how it was possible fer so many men t.
, have been engaged in SO small aspace of ground
The attack was almost snaliah eous; but tn
first fire in line from the enemys right was di
rected ON the l4th Maine, and was Instantly an
swered by that regiment by solid line volley
which must have done terrible execution, Th,
! companies of the 2lst Indiana, which were il
1 advance as pickets, had fallen back in order Tn
/. whole regiment advanced toward the Magnoli
Cemetery ard east Of it. AT this time Majo
Hayes was seriously wounded, and was take
from the field The regiment worked, advancin
and retiring, aud changing troNt as the erem
showed himself through the smoke AT nearl
,. thescsse oi the action Lieut. Col. Keith, con
,. mandng regimont had to leave the field ball
, wounded, leaving the regiment without q tiji
. officer. in command Of Captain Grimsby. 1t va
y al this stage of the battle that Gen Williams fe
mortaliy wounded. lie had just said tu the me
Vf the 2lst, Boys, your field officers are a
gone l will lead you" The men we're
with three cheers for the General. The soun(
"a hal scarcely died away when he { Il. The Ge,
era hs! previously isarsl an order fE Inc liz