Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-15
THE BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE.
CAMP on CoMTTE RIVER, !
Tvhnrsdav- Aug Ith. 1862.

JACKSON. 1t was now allOuuCtQ Luab q 0c-
scent upon Baton Rouge and the possession of
the Mississippi river was contemplated. The
plan was very feasible one, notwithstanding
our limited land force. Gen. Breckenridge
was to attack the enemy in the rear of the
town and destroy or capture his troops, while
the ram Arkansas would engage the gunboats
and prevent their rendering any assistance to
their comrades on shore. The Arkansas had
been repaired, her crew renewed, and she was
again ready for action. We waited at Tangi-
pahoa several days to ascertain definitely that
she was prepared. In the meanwhile the
quartermasters were busy hiring teams and
! engaging transportation. But with sn their
| endeavors their success was in no way COM
meEsurate with the wants of the army.
! At last we were of. Gen. Van Dorm had
/ telegrsphed Gen. Breckenridge that the Ar
i kansas was ready, and there was now no OBJ
stacle to our success but the long, sandy, blaz-
| ing road Of sixty miles. The boys stepped
gaily away 10 the sound of music's inspirltlng
strains their battle flags streaming proudly,
and their hearts pulsating quickly at the pros
| pect of Furnishing the foe. ct one-thIrd OF
! the small number with which we had left
Vicksburg were PROSTATE with sickness, and
it appeared as if more troops remained behind
than went forward. The heat was terrible,
and the men fell out of ranks rapidly. Almost
every farm house on the road side was con-
verted into hospital.
4 On Sunday the Sd inst, General Breckin-
ridge advised General Van Dorm that he would
be prepared to attack Baton Rouge at daylight
the following morning. General Van Dorm
replied that the Arkansas would no. reach q
position where she could participate in the
tight until Tuesday morning. 1t was
then definitely determined that the attack
should be made at daylight on the morning of
the 5th, the ram Arkansas, of whose steady
and uninterrupted progress down the river
we had been constantly advised, cooperating
with the troops.
At 10 o'clock Monday night August 4th,
the troops, about 400 in all, advanced from
their camp on Comite river. The men were
in the finest spirits, and confident of accom-
plishing their purpose before breskfast-time.
The march of ten miles over smooth, sandy
road, between we'll cultivated plantations, was
conducted with quiet and order.
An Unfortunate and Fatal Mistake.
But about dawn there occurred one of those
terrible misadventures that are frequently the
harbingers of gloom and disaster. While the
column was advancing, about three miles from
the city, the road skirted on one side by a
dense piece of woodland, and on the other by
q field Of sugar-cane, there came q terrific
velley of musketry from the woods where a
body of partisan rangers had been posted
1t was evident at once that there was mis-
take but the confusion incident upon the
alarm could not be obviated, and several cas-
ualties occurred. Brigsder-General Helmn'f
I horse fell into ditch and disabled that gal
liant young officer, his leg being badly mashed
Tine troops were thus deprived OF his valuable
services in the fed, and he was compelled to
0 remain FESTIVE away from the scene of action
< while his bold boys were winning fresh laurels
+ Captain Alex. Il. Todd, "a brother of Mrs
Lincoln) of General HIS staff, was instantly
killed, and Captain Willis S. Roberts, COM
o manding the Attn Kentucky, dangerousy
e wounded. Captain Todd was young gentle
man OF fine accomplishments, great personal
daring, exceeding amiability, and the warm
est home affections. But the evening before
n be wrote to his mother, and just before the
S accident he was conversing with Lieutenant
L. F. Payne, ordnance officer of the brigade
= communicating the messages he wished con
d veyed home, in case of his fall. Brave boy
If he met his end serenely, and his body was In
tered by tender and loving hands. Cobb
- Kentucky Battery was also rendered horS d'
! combat, the gun carriages and calssons bein.
lie broken, and the pieces rendered unmanagea
Of bic. This was exceedingly unfortunate from
It the great experience and intrepidity of Cap
! tain Cobb and bis cannoniers. At Shiloh tn
- battery was admirably manned, and at Vicks
e burg, while in command of Lieutenant Ora
emys gunbosts.
The Advance.
Order being restored, the column advanced
and soon the line of battle was formed. Gen
Clark's division occupied the right and that 0
Gen. Ruggles the left. The advance wa
male in four lines, that of the left over YER
70 rough country, across bitches, through suga
cane, over fences-a very fatiguing and ex
K hausting march. It was ten minutes to fv
n o'clock when we first brushed the enemy
n They were in good position, under cover, ant
r. opened out upon our advance with consider
r. able precision and effect. 1t was, however
e but the work of moment TO dislodge them
K Like so many coveys of patridges, they starter
ii up and few rapidly before our advancing col
q umns, the boys giving vent TO exhultin,
cheers, as with fixed bayonets they followet
Il the retreating Yankees. The morning wa
n quite foggy and a heavy mist hung over tn
It entire landscape, rendering it difficult to plan
> our batteries so as not to operate either upol
q one or the other of our wings. Our own line
n were then convergins towards a common cen
ter, the enemy fleeing towards his camps Blu
q it was not without loss that we thus drov
n them in. They sought every possible cover
n place, and rallying, gave peppery salute &
n our meH. Their batteries were also admirably
E. handled, and belched forth devastating col
d umns of canister grape, schrapnel, shell ant
e soiid shot. One by one, however, they wer
i. forced to give back. Limber-up and to tn
0 rear march, was the constant order, and had i
e not been Obeyed, all their guns would haF
e fallen in our possession. As it was, the At
$ Louisiana charged battery twice. eacl
e time at considerable loss, and wher
finally forced to lose their trophy, their com
: mander, Col. Allen, falling, shot through boil
@ legs. This somewhat demoralized the regiment
n which had already been distinguished for it
n good conduct. Capt Hughes, commander.
e the 22d Mississippi fell dead while leading
d charge; Col. Sam. Boyd, of the Louisiani
IS battalion, was severely wounded in the arm
= the gallant 3lst Mississippi, while charging
ahead, lost It's eelors; but the battle flag wa
d Immediately grasped by lieutenant, who
2 bearing it aioft, was shot down, and thirt