, 1862-08-21
REPORT OF LIEUT.. WEITzEL.
Lieut.. Weitze1, chief engineer Of the de-
partment Of the Gull, visited Baton Rouge On
Wednesday. The following is his report Of

partment OF the 4uif, visited Baton Rouge On |
Wednesday. The following is his report Of |
the engagement:
HEABQuARrERs, BATON RouGE, Aug, Z, 1862.
GENERAL: have the honor to acknowledge
the 1ectipt Of yonr favor Of yesterday. Your
troops at this place have won glorious vic.
tory. Edo not consider that there is the least |
danger Of an attack for the present, because
one Of the several accommodating parties sent
out this morning, and which has returned,
reports five abandoned eaisSon6 on the Gretn-
well Springs road, We have sent out to bring
them in. Thta indicates hasty retreat On
the part of the enemy. Our forces could not
pursue. One-ba1f Of the men who left the
hospitals to fight, could not march mile.
The conduct OF these men Was magnideantly
glorious. The attack Has undoubtedly made
upon representations OF rebels within our
lines that our troops we're nearly all sick and
dsmoraliZed, and Gen. Breckin1idge undouot-
edly expected, in conjunction With the ram
Arkansas, to make a successful dash: II was
sG9Rste 4ans 1spEf @e4s 1spnae lie r = blown up
Gen. Williams disposed his forces as fol
lows, VIZ: the 18th Wisconsin on the extreme
left On the right bank Of Bayou Gross, with
two pieces Of MAnnIpg's battery in the arsen-
The 9th Connecticut twas posted on the right
Of the 4sh Wisconsin7with two pieces in rear
If centre, and two pieces in rear Of the right
AL Of these pieces were of Manning's pa!-
! terry, and were posted on either side Of the
knoll IN the government Cemetery.
Of the Bayou Sara road, and to the LETT Of
| GTeenWell Springs road-
Next came the 21ss Iadiana, posted in the
| woods in rear OF Magnolia cemetery, with four
LIEUT.. Corruth, on the Left On the Greenweu
| Springs road. The Indians battery of two
| piecesIcame up to the support of these pieces
| after the battle commenced. Next came the
| 9th Michigan, posted across the couatry road
| on right Of the Magnolia Cemetery and across
| the Clay Cut road, their left supporting two
piece Of Everetts battery, posted On tie road
On the right Of the Mognolts Cemetery.
The 7th Vermont was posted in the rear OF
the 21st Indiana and 9Th Michigan, on the
night Of the Catholic Cemetery. The 30tn
| Massachusetts came next, forming the right,
and pasted about one-half a mile in rear Of
the State House, supporting Nims' battery.
This disposition Of the forces was made
with the supposi3ion that the enemy would
attack our left fand under the cover Of the
eansost suppoft s 3 e. only % faas Of d.
position rendered unavoidable 6y
tie formation Of the ground-Was, that tbs
camps Of lie 18th Maize and list Indiana
were pitched in 'front.' Of their position, in line
Of battle, and consequently came into the pos
| session ct the enemy for short tins.
The enemy formed line Of battle on the open
grounds bordering On the Greenwell Springs
road; and attempted to draw our forces ont.
Failing in this, they advanced rapidly on the
ground between the Clinton and Clay Cut
roads. The whole brunt OF the attack, conse'
quently, teI upon the 18th Maine, 2fst mdi-
ana and 9Th Michigan. As soon as it became
apparent that this was the real point Of attack.
Gen: Williams ordered up the 9Th Connecticut,
4th Wisconsin and one section OF Manning 8
battery, to support the LEFT, and the 30th Mas
sachusetis and Two sections Of Nims' battery
| to support the right.
You will, therefore, see TINT the disposition
with the slight exception limited at) and the
manenvering were faulrless.
y The conduct Of our troops was excellent
The 21st Indiana particularly distinguished it.
| self. I Eaw numEer Of the dead Of the enc
f | my today in front OF the ground they occu
pied; but not content with the check they
gave the enemy, this regiment pursued hin
quite distance, streWinG the ground with bill
The brave Gen. Williams fell in front of tht
9Th Mchigau toward the end Of the conflict
| while giving his men noble example Of reck
, less aad daring bravery. He was Killed By
: rifle ball in the chest.
t The enemy's force consisted OF Two Louisi
! ana regiments {sbe 14th and 3oth), two Mis-
: sisBippi, the Sd, 4tb, 5th, 9Th eth and Sth Ken
lucky, two Tennessee, ,one Alabama regiment
: and thirteen guns, ana large guerrilla force
Their eh attaeking to5ce numbered full!
+ % %ss not % over @ 1000. " Three , c6mpa
MES Of the 9Th Michigan covered themsel7e
I with glory in recovering from q large tore
: Cemetery, which temporarily we're Left By ou
: forces. These same three companies cap
turet1 the colors Of the 4th Louisiana, but onl
! after they had shot down four successive cplo
q bearers.
g The exact loss on our side is not yet r.
= ported. But certain it Is, that it is much les
g than that Of the enemy.
t I Iau, sir, very respectfully, your ob't serV'f
; tS:gned) G. WEIrzEL,
: Lieut. e. 8. Eng, and Chiaf Engineer Dspar
e 1ntnt Of the Gull.
. bfai. Gen. B. f. Butler, commanding d.
T partment Of the Gulf, New Orleans, La.