Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-08-22
THE BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE.

THE BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE.
The New Orldans Daily Deita's currespon-
dent at Baton Rouge, who dates his letter on
the 9TH instant, gives the following account
Of the battles on land and water
Though just from the field Of battle, cannot say
that the smoke glory attach itself my skirts
for though no matter what my fighting propcnsies may
be- not my good fortune either 10 take part In the
fepusc u the Camp Moore army, or in the destruction
II the Arkansas The latter will dispose " Tan
dHce, by asserting that IL fair stand-up knock
down aud gravel fight between the two iron clad
nondcsctpsthe Uniod Essex and the rebel Arkansas.
No matter what the rebels may say. square fight
The Arkansas took the position " her choice In deep
bend Of the river whore shc tied up but with her
board and port hoafdsides sweeping the river up and
down and her bow rakiug across, At the same dine ready
10 dash across and plunge her bow into any vessel at
tempting to pass in font Of her.
Porter Of the Essex, with seaman's instinct, now
this plan Of the enemy, and wisely laid below. bu, no,
more than three hundred yards distant, whence she
plunged solid nneinch shot into the Arkansas, TILL
favorable breach being made In her bow just under her
ports ncendAry shell exploded in the breach, in.
stAnuy setting the Arkansas fire. Her bow, vherc
the shell burst being the windwafd end In few minutes
the Navy who 50 fortunate as TO be present At this
last naval combat Of two -oads had the satisfaction
Of seeing the " the rebel scouting shore, while
the flames were bursting out on every side But be 1t
understood aud recorded all this time the Arkansas was
fighting her battery m her fast burning o. she foaled
into the middle Of the river where IN little while she
blew up. Let no cfeduous OF unbeeying rebel natter
his soul that this the Arkansas that sunk
and destroyed So much for the naval part " the affair
important, enabling the gunboats to act without
impediment with the land forces.
The battle " Baton Rouge may be characterized :
one Of the most sldierke, skilfuy planned fights Of
this war. Gen. Williams, with his well known abilities
as leader sconed to rally behind houses and fences,
and taking in with one glance the plan N the enemy
attack made all bis preparations to resist aud oppose
them
Two highways run out Of Baton Rouse-one above
and one below, each side Of the town about mile
and half road these roads at right angles.
while extending from road to road is large cemetery
facing toward the city and looking directly into the camps
Of the Indiana, Massachusetts and Connecticut regi-
mens The front Of this cemetery ia fenced with palng
while the cemetery is thicky strcwn with large tombs
and overSrown with high rank weeds This the posi-
ton Of the rebel centfe. Our composed OF
the Indiana 2lst, the Massachusetts and Connecticut
drawn upon the opposite side Of the roads, and
than foftyhve rods distant The rebe right approached
through corn fields and rolling country, attacked
with great impetuosy the 18th Names camp and drove
them out burning aud piilaging the camp In few
utes. The l4th Maine rallied and, supported by the
Mass. and Minis Battery, returned to the attack and
drove the enemy back with great slaughter,
The ercest part Of the conflict this tide Of the bat
ue occurred before and within house which the teUcs
ob'unatey determined to get possession Of The most
conspicuous Of the rebels al this place wa huge neuro
armed and equipped with knapsack, and uniform he
led the rebels and his death the hands nf one Of
our men Pressed back by left and ground re-
gained, The battle regard front with desperate fierce
ness SO silently did the rebels approach and we'll
were they concealed that they the cemetery and
drawn up IN battle array without our knowing H. With
ye hey rushed up to the fence dashed through II and
across the road, bearing every thing b, fore them
time the opposing forces were hand to hand and our
handful OF mth we're driven out Of their camps and
into the town but. rallied every hand by iheit OIL
Gers, and the cool daring Of Zen. Williams assisted by
gunboats that began to fire shell each flank with
perfect accuracy and deadly effect our troops bavey
fushed TO the front and down the entire rebel centre
back across the road into aud beyond the cemetery
from which they were not aule again to emerge.
-Four times they made desperate Efforts to come out
iom behind the tonbs and cross the road but each time
they were driven back until finally, they were IN fun
pane retreat Our own men were too much exhausted
10 pursue On our right, in the meantime. the rebels
under Gen Clarke made desperate effort dank us.
ana get IN our IL here that the admirable
eraship Of Williams dispplayed itself Anticipating
us very movement he had placed Manning battery "
sM pieces supported by the Wisconsin and Vermont lca
mehts' while the Michigan Regiment strongly post
ed al the crossing Of the roads and commanding Tho
tire approach Of the eneuys left Here the batto ragged
hetceiy, aud after the rebels flank movement was re-
pulsed and driven back not to returnhere it was that
me gallant Gcncrai fell the head # the Indiana and
MehlRah Regiment but not before victory had lighted
up mat hne manly face with its glow Of triumph / am
convinced that had Williams not fallen he would have
ed the whole Of the rebel forces. BY 10 A.
all hung had ceased and the enemy had retired with
haste, and left 800 of his dead on the field OF battle
Every one Of bic dead was buried by our men except
mny who died in the retreat, killed by the long
reaching shells Of our gunboats
The field presented evidences of the desperation IF the
eoHoas al the crossing Of the roads where the rebels
hau endeaVored TO Hank us and where they met by
the Indiana and Michigan Regiments The men fought
hard Those who had lost their tore up the rails
nom the fences More than une rebel was ouud dead
who had becu killed in this way In ono spot behind
beautiful tomb. with cisies II infant children knee-
i9g twelve dead rebels were found in one heap
E'ey"ferc they strewed the earth, and made shasty
inc quiet grave yard under which they soon ,oiins
TO madness which. il much lor ger persisted in will
make the entire land red with blood Tor the rebellion
must De crushed, II we have use the last most Ger
lam but most {atal weapon len US. Let us pray that
hey WI not iofce rs TO this last dread aernatve-tha
hey viii return To reason in time and dismiss the bitter
hatred which they nourish in their hearts against us
Let them remember that, love begets love so docs
corn and hatred bcget their like aud et them be as
ured that will be sorry day for the southern homes
Nhen me fierce fires OF rage and hate begin burn in
ne Northern heart. am convinced that as yet there
Is little Of that feeling existing but it will come
Toreturn TO our feeble account Of This battle. The
enemy repused their short-liyed Arkansas blown
TO aomsin retreat and discontinue they have returned
to Camp Moore-ay, this time those who have been
pTacucng guerrilla warfare and assassinatng defense
less wounded soldiers, have been punished The in
habnants Of certain villages, who sit hsess on the
isvee as man'of'war passes up down. spring into
me- and bring out the murderous double shot gun 10
hte upon the hospital shipsthese gentry will ind that
they can be made suffer and feel Our gallant army
at Eaton Rouge in their first battle have behaved Ike
veterans Let US praise the living and mourn the de- adj
aud cry, Long live the Repub, Death 10 traitors
ana afstocfais Death TO the uAu who stabs our COM
mon tnother--the Union II she must die et US all
DE with her-let not man, or child live aner
her"