The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-08-22
The Battle of Baton Rouge.

The Battle Of Baton Rouge.
We have the official reports of the affair
at Baton Rouge. 1t was exceedingly well
managed. General Williams met the enc
nv outside the town. and then fell back.
fighting every foot of the way. until he
drew Breckinridgs's whole force within
range Of the gunboats. 1t did not take
long to route the enemy after that. The
shells from the gunboats played sad havoc
with the rebel ranks, and Breckenridge
drew of to get water" The Arkansas
was attacked BY the Essex after the battle,
and was fred and blown up By iucendisry
shells The latest accounts report that
I Breckenridge was being REINFORCED. and an
other attack on Baton Rouge was anticipa-
ted
THE ENGAGEMENT.
The battle of Baton Rouge may be char
acterized as one of the most soldier like,
skilfully- planned fights of this war Gen.
Williams. with his well known abilities as a
leader, scorned to rally behind houses and
fences. and taking 10 with one glance the
plan Of the enemys attack. made his prepar-
atoms to resist and oppose them.
| Two highways run on; of Baton Rouge
One alb we and one below on each side of
the town: about mile and half road
cuts these two roads at right angles. while
extending from road TO road is large Gem
etry. facing toward the city, and looking
directly into the camps of the Indiana.
Massachusetts, and Connecticut regiments.
| The front of this cemetery is fenced with
paling. while the cemetery is thickly strew-
en- with large tombs and overgrown with
high rank weeds. This was the position
of the rebel center. Our center was
composed of the Indiana Twenty first
the Massachusetts and Connecticut. drawn
up on the opposite side Of the roads,
and not more than forty five rods distant
The rebel right approached, through corn
fields and over, rolling country. attacked
with great impetuosity the Fourteenth
Names camp. aud drove them out. burning
and pillaging the camp in few minutes
The Fourteenth Maine rallied, and support
ed by the Massachusetts, and Minis bate
ry. returned to the attack and drove the
enemy back with great slaughter.
The fiercest Of the conflict at this tide OF
the battle occurred before and within house
get possession Of. The most conspicuous
Of the rebels at this place was a huge ne
gro, armed and equipped with knapsack
musket and uniform: he led the rebels. and
met his death at the hands Of one of on,
men. Pressed back by our left and our
ground regaiued, the battle ragged in front
with desperate ferceness. So silently did
the rebels approach, and so we'll were they
concealed. that they were in the cemetery
and drawn up in battle array, without on,
! knowing it.
With yell they rushed up to the fence
dashed through it ,nd across the road, bear
ing everything before them. AT one time
the opposing forces were hand to hand, ant
our handful of men were driven out of theil
camps and back into the town; but, rallied
on every hand by their officers, and the
cool daring of Gen. Williams, assisted by
the gunboats that began to fire shell on
each flank with perfect accuracy and dead
y effect, our troops bravely rushed to the
front and drove the entire rebel center back
across the road into and beyond the GENE
terry, from which they were not able again
to emerge
l 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 teld of battle Every one oil
his dead was buried by our men, excep,
many who died on the retreat, or were killed
by the long reaching shells Of our gunboats
The field presented evidences of the desper-
alton of the combats at the crossing of the
roads where the rebels had endeavored to
flank us, and where they were met by the
Indiana and Michigan regiments. The men
fought hard. Those who had lost their
arms tore up the rails from the fences
More than one rebel was found dead who
had been killed in this way. In one spot
behind beautiful tomb, with effigies OF in.
FAINT children kneeling. twelve dead rebels
were found in one heap.
Everywhere they strewed the earth, and
made CHASTITY the quiet graveyard under
which they soon lay-victims to madness
which. if much longer persisted in. will
make the entire land red with blood; for the
rebellion must be crushed, if we have to use
the last, most certain, but most fatal weapon
left US. Let US pray that they will not force
US to this last dread aternative-that they
will return to reason in time, and dismiss
the bitter hatred which they nourish in their
hearts against us. LIE, them remember
that. as Glove begets love-" SO does scorn
and hatred beget their like; and let them be
assured that it will be sorry day for South
ern homes, when the fierce fires Of rage and
hate begin to burn in the Northern heart.
| am convinced that. as yet, there is little
of that feeling existing; blu. i, will come.
A. UuHsann Clnrpv.nnn on yUohs