Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-19
THE BATON ROUGE Fight.
AFFAIRS ON THE BORDER.
Eighty t;merriIIas Captured.
Details of the Fight at Baton Rouge
and Destruction of the Arkansas.

INV DIRK, August Ic.-Ihe steamers y 0rth 4
Star and Roanoke from New Orleans on the |
10Th have arrived bringing particulars of the de-
feat of the rebels at Baton Rouge and the de- |
struction of the Arkansas.
A letter from Baton Rouge says Minis battery /
was thrice repulsed Breckenridge ost his right /
arm by a cannon ball.
The fight took place on the edge of the town,
Gen. Williams being unwilling TO expose the
women and children.
We captured a large number of prisoners in
GLIDING Capt Blunt, Breckinrdge's aid.
Gen. Williams who killed behaved like "A
hero
The enemy's loss must have been severe, as
men charged and recharged upon them.
We have captured three OF the enemy's guns.
Another account says that the rebel troops
estimated at from four TO six thousand
der Lowell and Breckenridge
The combat was obstinate. Our loss is $50
killed, including large proportion of officers.
The rebel loss according to prisoners state
ments, is immense. Among the killed was Gen
Lowell.
The ram Arkansas was just above Baton
Rouge, but dared not take part in the conflict
Later accounts state that the Arkansas was
aground; when the Essex and other gunboats
went to her and set her on fire, and she blew up.
The transport steamer Lewis Whiteman ran
into the gunboat Oneida, fifty miles above New
Orleans on the night of the 9th, and the trans
port sunk She had the body of Gen Williams,
with an escort of six of his body guard, al AZ
of ours, and three Confederates wounded, on
board The body was recovered. Thirty eight
of the wounded soldiers and three of the body
guard were saved.
The official report of Col Cahill, commenced
after the death of Gen. Williams, stated that the
rebels had force of about ten regiments, and
after a fight of four hours of great severity the
enemy were repuised.
General Williams was killed by rifle ball
through his chest during the battle.
Our forces were obliged TO retire about
quarter of mile from the original position, and
the enemy were able, temporarily, TO occupy the
camps of the 2lst Indiana, 9TH Vermont, and 18th
Maine regiments, and TO destroy much OF the
baggage and camp equipage They were. how
err driven out, but our numbers being much
lessencd by sickness, and the on the field
being much exhausted by fatigue aud heat, il
was deemed expedient no. to pursue.
The enemy has retired several miles and are
still retiring.
am expecting they will receive reinforce,
ments, and posting my troops in the strongest
possible position
Our force engaged was less than 2, 500. The
enemy had at least ,, 900 with twelve or fourteen
field pieces and some cavalry.
The ram Arkansas approached with the inten-
ton Of engaging our gun boats tut grounded at
distance of six miles. and to day the 9th, was
engaged by the Essex and destroyed
Brig Gen Clark and his Aid Lieut.. Yerger
delivered themselves up as prisoners OF war. i
have also thirty captured.
Breckenridge OH the 9th asked permission in
writing to bury his dead. Col. Cahill replied our
men are engaged in the work which will soon be-
accomplished.
4 passenger from Baton Rouge states our loss
OF 40 killed and 2l5 wounded.
Gen Williams had three horses shot under
him He was killed while rallying the Dist Ind
diana, who had just lost a field piece The gun
was retaken but Gen Williams fell.
The wounded are about az follows: list lndl
ana 81, 18th Maine 10 4th Wisconsin 10, 9th
Michigan %. 9TH Vermont Ii, 30th Massachu-
sets -, 18th Connecticut.
Among the prisoners is Gen Allen of Missis-
sppi, MORALLY wounded
Among the wounded is Lieut.. COL Keith of
the 81 Indiana.
Gen. Butler issued General Order announcing
in eloquent language the death of Gen. Williams
and also a congratulatory order to the troops in
their successful engagement, in which he says the
enemy lost three Brgadiers in killed. wounded
and taken prisoners and many Colonies and field
officers. He has more than 900 killed and
wounded. You have captured three pieces of
artillery, six cassons, two stands of colors and
large number OF prisoners.
A letter from Baton Rouge states that the fight
between the Essex and Arkansas fair stand
up fight Porter lay 800 yards distant pouring
solid nine inch shot into the Arkansas till breach
was made when an incendiary shell was exploded
in the breach setting her on fire.
The rebel crew left her and she soon exploded.
The funeral of General Williams took place ut
New Olleans oh the 9Th, and was very i'm
pressive
Probably the General Lowell reported killed is
Colonel Lowell. and not Major General Mansfield
Lowell, who is understood to be at Richmond.
letter from surgeon reports that he saw
eighty three dead rebels in one small cornfeld at
Baton Rouge.
Lieutenant Norcross of the Goth Massachusetts
arose from sick bed, joined his company in the
thickest of the fight, and with his own hands
saved n field piece about to be taken.
The rebel wounded state that General Ruggles
was killed, and they also say that their loss was
500
Nims's battery saved the dav when two thirds
of Its members on the sick list.
The secessionsts in Baton Rogue fired OH our
dead and wounded as they were being brought
in, consequently their houses were pulled down.
Breckenridge, on the morning of the fight,
made speech promising his men to have a band
playing in the State House at A. III.
From Washington.