The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-29

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
MEMPHIS, August l5-Lieut. Reed, of
the ram Arkansas, has furnished the Jack.
son Mississippian the following particulars
of the destruction of that craft The Ar.
kansas left Vicksburg on Sunday morning
last, at two o'clock, for Baton Rouge.
When fifteen miles this side of that place,
her starboard engine broke. Repairs were
Immediately commenced. AT four o'clock
General Breckenridge opened upon the
town. The Arkansas steamed five miles
below Baton Rouge, where she cleared for
action. At this point the starboard engine
again gave out, and she drifted ashore on
the Arkansas side, 10 sight of Baton Rouge.
The crew were engaged all that night in
repairing, but on trial the engines gave out
entirely.
Next morning at o'clock the look out
reported the Federal feet coming up. The
Arkansas was moved head down stream,
ready for action. At 9 o'clock the gunboat
Essex came up and opened fire. The Ar
kansas engineer reported the engine ready
STAN was put on and she started down the
river and went 300 yards in the direction OF
the Essex, when her larboard engine sud-
denly stopped. The Essex at that time was
pouring a hot FIRE into her. The Arkansas
opened also but only her stern gun. When
the Essex was within 400 yards of the Ar
kansas, the atter's crew were ordered ashore,
the Essex continuing to fire on the deserted
vessel. After deserving her, the torch was
applied, and soon communicated to the
magazine. and she exploded. Lieut.. Ste-
phens was in command of the rebel ram.
and says but for the misfortunes to her en-
gines, which were built in Memphis, the
Yankees would have been driven from New
Orleans in a few days.
The Grenada Appeal of the 18th has a
three column account of the late battle at
Baton Rouge. send brief extracts from it:
The descent on Baton Rouge was planned
as early as July Goth, by Van Dorm and
Breckenridge. The latter was to attack in
the rear while the ram Arkansas was to
destroy our feet ard tack from the river.
On Sunday, the Sd inst, Breckenridge
advised Van Dorm that all would be ready
by daylight on the 4th. The attack was
concerted for the 5th at 10 AN. On the
4th the rebels, twenty four hundred strong,
advanced from their camp on Amite river.
Ten miles march brought them in range
of some partisan rangers who fred volley
upon them, disabling Brigadier General
Helm, and instantly killing Captain A. II.
Todd, a near relative of Mrs. Lincoln, of
General Helms staff. The correspondent
pays an eloquent tribute to Captain Todd,
saying he met his fate brsvely, etc. The
army again advanced met the enemy, and
formed in line OF battle. The federals being
under cover, the rebels charged, and say
they drove the federals before them with
great slaughter. General Breckinridges
left wing was led by General Clark.
1t soon became apparent that the Federal
gunboats, and not the Arkansas, were in
the rear and in front, and shot and shell fell
among the rebels with telling effect They
claim they had taken all our camps. Gen.
Breckenridge then received a message that
the Arkansas was unable to support, and
gave the order to retreat. In the last charge,
General Clark had his hip badly shattered
and remained in town, attended by his off,
GERS, and then died on the retreat. A large
amount of stores and provisions were burned
by General Breckenridge.
One of the most holly contested points
10 the battle was the grave yard where the
9Th Kentucky took shelter and met most
of their loss. The rebel loss in dead and
wounded it is said will not reach 300, but
is believed to be much more. They say
they destroyed over million dollars worth
of property. -Four OF our gunboats were
engaged in the fight.
The enemy are now encamped again on
Amite river. Their wounded were sent to
Greenville springs.
w. H. Isham, the correspondent of the
Chicago Times, at this place, whiting uns
der the nom de plume of "Shiloh," was
arrested at the Gayoso House, last evening,
by the Provost Marshal, by order of Gen4
eral Grant.
General Grants letter ordering the ar
rest says:
Il send you slip from the Chicago
Times correspondence from Memphis, Civ
ing the account of alleged guerilla raids in
Brownvie and other places. l know the
article to be false in fact and dangerous in
tendency. Arrest the author, and confne
him in the penitentiary at Alton"