The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-29
The Fight at Baton Rouge.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE REBEL
RAM ARKANSAS.
Admiral Farragut,s Omcial Report.

Admiral Farragut,s Ofncial Report.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-The navy de-
partment is in receipt Of voluminous dis.
patches from Admiral Farragut, and among
them is the following
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,
Ration Rouge, August Z, 1867
SIR =: 1t is one of the happiest moments
of my life that l am enabled to inform the
department of the destruction of the ram
Arkansas, not because l held this iron clad
in such terror, but because the community
did. On the 4th instant I sent the Tennes-
see up to Baton Rouge with provisions for
commander Porter and the gunb0ats sta.
toned at that place. On the night of the
5th, she returned with the information that
the enemy had made combined attack up
on Baton Rouge by the ram and two gun.
boats, the Cobb and Music, and calling for
assistance. At daylight the Hartford was
under weigh tor this place, with orders for
the other vessels to follow me as fast as
ready.
arrived here today at IL o'clock, in
company with the Brooklyn, Westfeld,
Clinton, jackson and SciotO. had sent
the Gayuga up, agreeably to the request of
General Butler, in consequence of the guer.
illas firing into some of his transports. On
my arrival l was informed by Commodore
w. D. Porter, that yesterday morning, at
2 o'clock, the enemy's forces, under Gener>
al Breckenridge, attacked General Williams
and drove 10 his pickets. General Will
Jams having had ample warning all was pre-
pared for him. The fight was continued
with great energy on both sides until 10
O'Clock in the forenoon, by which time the
enemy had been driven two or three miles,
but unfortunately the gallant General Will
Jams was killed. Fortunately be had in
formed Lieutenant Commanding Ransom
the evening before OF his plans, and request.
ed him not to fire gun until be notified
him and when he did so, our gunboats opens
ed with fine effect, throwing their shells di,
rectly into the place. Lieutenant Roe says
the enemy are still lowering in the rear of
Baton Rouge, and that information is re-
ceived that added to the 5000 already 10
the vicinity, 1000 more are approaching
from Manchas, aud others from Vicksburg
| keep in constant communication with the
commander in chief of the troops here, and
am ready to open fire whenever and where
ever he may desire. Commodore Porter
says the Arkansas had crew of $50 men,
and mounted ten guns, six eight inch and
four fifty pound rifles. The gunboat Essex
commanded by him mounted seven guns,
and had only forty men on duty at the time
of our going into action. The following
rebel account of the Arkansas is submitted
to the Secretary of the Navy by Admiral
Farragut:
FLAG CLIP HARTFORD,
NEW ORLEANS, August 10, 1862.
SIR: Since forwarding the reports of
Lieutenauts Fairfax, Ransom and Roe, we
have picked up number of prisoners from
the ram Arkansas, all of whom l have cat
echised very closely. They agree very we'll
respecting her exit from the Yazoo and her
passage ofthe fleets, and they also agree as
to the number of killed and wounded on
each side of those occasions, making in all
eighteen killed and large number of
wounded. At Vicksburg they plated the
deck with iron and fortified her with cotton
inside. She then came down in command
of Lieutenant H. K. Stevens, Lieut.. Brown
being sick at Vicksburg, and with the in~
tention OF making a combined attack with
General Breckenridge on Baton Rouge, but
her port engine broke down. They re
paired it in the course of the day and went
out to meet the Essex. The next morning
when they saw her coming up, the star.
board engine gave way and they ran her
ashore, she being unmapageable. They
say that when our gunboats we're seen COM
ing and the Essex commenced firing, the
captain set the ram on fire and told the
crew to run ashore. They also state that
the gunboats Webb and Music were sent
for to tow her up the river, but that they
did not arrive and neither of them had been
seen.
WASHINGTON, August 19.-Admiral Far.
ragut. under date OF the 10th of August,
thus addresses the Secretary of the Navy /:
SIR: / desire to inform the department
that at the town of DonaldsonviiIe, they
have pursued uniform practice of firing
upon our steamers passing up and down the
river. | sent message to the inhabitants
that if they did not discontinue this practice
l would destroy their town. The last time
l passed up to Baton Rouge to the support
of the army, anchored about six miles
above DOnaldsOnville, and heard them firing
upon the vessels coming up. 10 the latter
case they made a mistake, and it Was SO
quickly returned that they ran away. The
next night they fired upon the st. Charles.
therefore ordered them to send their women
and children out of town. as l certainly in.
tended to destroy it on my way down the
river, and fulfilled my promise to a certain
extent. l burnt down the hotels and wharf
buildings. and also the dwelling house and
other buildings of Mr.. Philip Dady, who
is said to be a captain of gueri las. He
fred upon our men and they chased him off.
We also brought off some ten or twelve of
his negroes, and supplied ourselves with
cattle and sheep from bis place.
Command Wainwright died on the
10th inst, after an illness of two weeks.
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