Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-08-29
The Federal Victory at Baton Rouge
DESTRUCTION or THE RAM ARKANSAS.


defeat of the rebels al Baton Rouge. and
destruction of the ram Arkansas. A letter
from Baton Rouge says that Minis battery
thrice repulsed the foe and did them great
slaughter. Bvckiuridee lost his right arm
by cannon ball. The fight took place on
the edge of the town, Gen. Williams being
unwilling TO expose helpless women and
children. We captured u large number of
prisoners. including Capt. Blunt, Breckin-
ridges aid. Gen. Williams, who was kill
ed, behaved like hero. Minis men are
entitled to imperishable glory. The loss
Of the enemy must bave been very severe.
as our men charged Aand re-charged upon
them. We have tSSsn three guns. An
other acrount says thst the rebel troops are
variously estimated at from 5000 to 5000,
under Generals Lowell aud Breckinridge.
The contest was obstinate. Our loss was
250 killed. including large proportion o.
officers. The rebel loss, according to pris-
oncrs was 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 above Ba-
ton Rouge, when the Essex and other gun
boats attacked her, set her on fire, and she
blew up. The transport Whitman ran in
J to the gunboat Oneida, so miles above New
Orleans, on the night of the 9th, and the
transport was sunk. Ii had the body of
; Gen. Williams, with an escort Of six OF his
body guard also AZ of our and confed-
: crate wounded. The body was recovered,
with 38 of our wounded soldiers, and 3 of
the body guard saved. The official report
OF Col. Cahill, commanding the post -atier
the death of Gen. Williams, states that the
: rebel force consisted of about 10 regiments.
After fight of four hours, Oh great sever
ity, the enemy were repulsed. Gen. Will
liams was killed by rife ball through the
chest.
During the battle our forces were obliged
to retire about quarter OF a mile from their
original position and the enemy were able
temporarily to occupy the camps of the list
Indiana, 9TH Vermont. and 18th Maine, and
to destroy much of the baggage and camp
: equpage. They were however driven out
But our numbers being much lessened by
sickness, and tie men on the field being
much exhausted by fatigue and heat, it was
deemed expedient not to pursue. The en-
Q emy has retired several miles and is still
Il retiring. 1t is possible they may receive
reiniorcements and our troops are being
: disposed in the strongest positions. Oul
I force engaged numbered less than 2500
The enemy had at least 5000, with l2 o.
+ Ia field pieces. and some cavalry. Th,
e ram Arkansas approached with the inten
q ton of engagir our gnnboats, but ground
IL nf 81 mil. and q u.
I; 9th was engaged by the Essex and destroy
: ed. Brigadier Gen. Clarke and his aid
Lieut.. Terger, deliver, d themselves to u
as prisoners of war. We have also q
. wounded and prisoners, and about 80 cap
: tured. Breckinlilge, on the 9Th, aske'
l. permission in writing to bury his dead
: Col Cahill replied that our men were en-
! gagged in the work, which would soon b
u accomplished. A passenger from Bato
'e Rouge states that our loss is 40 killed an
e lis wounded. Gen. Williams had horse
shot under him. He was killed willie raj
!, lying the 2lst Indiana, who had just lost
y field piece. The gun was retaken, but Ger
u Williams fell pierced by several bullet:
Z, The number of wounded is about as fol
~ lows: 81 of the l4ih Maine, 20 of the At
1 W
Y the 9TH Vermont, is of the 9th Connect
= cut. Among the prisoners is Gen. Ale
of Mississippi, MORALLY wounded. w
CLEAN the following names of the kille
:. from rebels: Col. Roberts, 9Th Vermont
- Capt. Kelly, 30lh Massachusetts,; woundct
~ Lieut. Col. Kietb, 21st Indiana; Lieu
., ., Howe, 30th Massachusetts.
~ Gen. Butler had issued general orde
= announcing in eloquent language the deaf
's of Gen Williams. He also issued congra
= ulatory orders to the troops on the success
~ full engagement, in which he says: "Tl
enemy lost three brisadier generals kile,
Y wounded and prisoners, many colonels an
= field officers. We have more than thol
sand killed and wounded. You have car
:. tured three pieces of artillery, six caisson
~ two stand of colors, and large number
prisoners" A letter from Baton Rous
= states that the fight between the Essex ar
= Arkansas was fair stand up fight. Po
IN ter lay three hundred yards distant pourir
), solid inch shot into the Arkansas, till
~ breach was made, when an incendiary she
was exploded in the breach, setting her q
Y fire. The rebel crew left her and she soc
:. exploded. Lieut.. II. N. Colburn of Il
lst Vermont battery, was drowned ne,
Carrolton on the 9th. The North ST;
passed the Ocean Queen and the st. Mary
- bound up the Mississippi. Most likely q
'" Gen. Lowell reported killed is Col. Love
and not Major Gen. Mansfield Lowell, wi
~ is understood to be at Richmond.
=. A letter from surgeon reports that ]
- saw S3 dead rebels in one small corniie
at Baton Rouge. Lieut.. Norcross of ii
18th Massachusetts arose from sick bt
~ and joined his company in the thckest
e the fight, and with his own hands saved
iIp,' field piece about to be taken. The Ieb
!. wounded state that Gen. Ruggles was lille
One rebel stated their loss to be S00.-
-, Minis battery saved the day, when tw
a.. thirds of its members were on the sick lis
y The sccesh in Baton Rouge fred on o,
- wounded as they were brought in, cons
u quently their houses were pulled dow
:. Breckirridge, on the morning of the igl
81 made speech. promising his men to ha,
a band in the state house at . A. ".
John Browns kuuYsssk S strapped uF5n bis tasi,
a. His soul is marching on
-, We were told this morning by frier
,as Just from st. ArIrands, II. Y, tformer
- North Elba,) where John Brown lived az