Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-19
Rg Oelegralph,
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
Defeat of the Rebels at Baton Rouge
Destruction of the Arkansas,

Baton Rouge says that Minis battery thrice
repulsed the foe aud did them great dam
age.
Breckenridge lost his right arm by a
cannon ball. The fight took place in the
edge of the town. Gen. Williams being
unwilling to expose the helpless women
aud children.
We captured large number Of prison.
ers, including Capt. Blunt, BreckInridge's
Gen. Williams, who was killed, behaved
like hero.
Minis men are entitled to imperishable
glory.
The loss of the enemy must have been
severe, as our men charged aud recharGed
upon them. We have taken three guns.
Another account says the rebel troops
were Variously estimated at from 5000 to
$4,000 men, under Gems. Lowell and Breck-
inridge. The combat was obstinate. Oar
loss Is $50 killed, including large proper
ton of officers. The rebel loss, according
to the prisoners account, was immense.
Among the killed was General Lowell.
The ram Arkansas was just above Baton
Rouge, but dared not take part in the cou.
hict. Later accounts say that the Arkansas
was aground above Baton Rouge when the
Essex and other gunboats went TO her and
set her on FIRE, when she Was blown up.
The transport steamer Lewis Whitemau
ran into the gunboat Oneida thirty miles
above New Orleans on the night OF the 9Th,
and the transport was sunk. It had the
body of Gen. Williams on board, with an
escort consisting of six of his body guard /;
also ~ of our and three rebel wounded.
The body of Gen. Williams was recoy-
cred, aud thirty-eight wounded soldiers
and three of the body guard saved.
The official report of Col. Cahill, COM
manding the post after the death of Gen.
Williams, states that the rebel force was
aqout ten regiments.
After fight of four hours of great Sc
verify, the enemy were repulsed.
Gen. Williams was killed by rife ball
through the chest.
DurIng the battle our forces were oblig-
ed TO retire about a quarter of mile from
their original position, aud the enemy
were able to occupy the camps of the 2lst
Ind, the Tth Vt. and the 4th Maine regi-
ments, and TO destroy much of their bag
sage and camp equippage.
They were however driven out, but our
numbers being much lessened by sickness,
and the men in the field being much ex
hausted by fatigue and heat, It was not
deemed eXpedieut to pursue them. The
enemy has retired several miles, and is still
retiring. Il is possible that they may re-
ceive refutnrcements and l am disposing of
my troops in the strongest positions. Our
forces engaged numbered less than $500.
The enemy had at least 8, 900 men, With
IL or IL field pieces aud some cavalry.
The ram Arkansas approached with the
intention ofeugagiug our gunboats, bat she
grounded when at q distance of six miles,
aud to-day (the 6th) was engaged by the
Essex and destroyed.
Brig. Gen. Clark and Lieut.. Zerger de-
liyered themselves to Us prisoners of war.
We have also 10 wounded prisoners and
about 80 others captured.
Breckenridge, on the 9Th, asked permits
sion in writing to. bury his dead.
Col. Cahtll replied that our men are en-
gagged in the work which will soon be &C.
complished.
Passengers from Baton Rouge state that
our loss was 20 killed and 2I5 wounded.
Gen. Williams had three horses shot I'M
der him. He was killed while rallyiug the
2lst Indiana, who had just lost field piece.
The gun was letaken but Gen. Williams
fell pierced by several bullets. The wound
ed are divided among the regiments about
as follows: 21st Indiana, 81 l4th Maine,
so; 18th Wisconsin, 10: 9Th Michigan, rs;
7th Vermont, Is; 3oth Massachusetts, IL
9Th Connecticut, 2. Among the prisoners
wounded.
Gen. Butler has issued General Order,
announcing in eloquent language the death
of Gen. Williams; he also issued a cougrat-
.ulatory order to the troops, in their sue
says the euemy lost three Brigadiers, killed,
wounded and prisoners, also many Colonies
and field officers. He has more than a
thousand killed and wounded.
You have captured three pieces of artil-
lery, six caissons, two stand of colors and
a large number of prisouers.
A letter from Baton Rouge states that
the fight between the gunboat Essex and
the ram Arkansas was q fair stand up fight
Capt. Porter lny at 800 yards distant, pour
ing solid nine inch shot into the Arkansas
Till a breach was made, when an incendiary
shell was exploded in the breach, setting
her on FIRE. The rebel crew left her and
she soon exploded.
Lieut.. d. N. Colburp, of the LIST Vermont
battery, WAS drowned near Carroltou while
bathing on the 9th.
The funeral of Gen. Williams took place
at New Orleans. on the 9Th, and was very
impressive. Tho body WAS brought North
in the North Star.
She passed the Ocean Queen and st.
Marys bound mp the Mississippi.
1t is most likely that the General Lowell
reported killed is Col. Lowell, aud not
Major General Mansfield Lowell, who is
understood to be at Richmond
A letter has been received from the Sur
geoa reports that he saw the dead bodies
of 80 rebel soldiers in one small corn field
at Baton Rouge.
Lieut.. Norcross, of the 30th Massachu-
sets regiment, arose from sick bed and
Joined his company in the thickest of the
eight and with his own hands saved a field
piece about to be taken by the enemy.
The rebel wounded state that Gen. Rug
giles stated their loss at 800.
Minis battery saved the day when two
thirds of its membeas were on the sick list.
The Secession reafdenta of Ration RouUe