The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-09
Baton Rouge ed.-Details of
the Event.

! BATON ROUGE Dec. II, 1871 T.. NJ.
We left New Orleans at 104 o'clock yes
terday morning, Gen. Grover and staff be-
ing on board the North Star. This steamer
took the lead during the expedition. 1t
was closely followed by the Mary Board
man, the United States, Northern Light,
Illinois, Pocahontas, New Brunswick, S. r.
Spaulding, and other transports, all heavily
freighted with troops, in the best of posi-
BILE spirits. ..s...4
At about 8 p. NJ. to-day, we anchored
temporarily opposite Donaldsonville, fifty
miles below this place, the rendezvous of
our armed vessels, comprising the follow
ing The sloop-of-war Richmond, Capt.
Alden; the gunboats Winona, Capt. Wea-
yer; Albatross, Capt. ---; Katahdin,
Capt. Rose; Cayuga, Capt. Fairfax; also,
the famous iron-clad ram Essex, Com
mander Caldwell, once appertaining to
Commodore Foote'S feet, and both known
and dreaded in this vicinity. The night
was a singularly beautiful one, innumer-
able stars gemming the heavens, and the
colored lights displayed by the many ves-
sells hooking the effect below. A regiment
.encamped on shore welcomed our arrival
with a blazing bonfire.
As there was every probability of an ac-
ton on the morrow, Chaplin Zane, of the
Massachusetts 41st, the regiment on board
the North Star, assembled the officers and
men in the aft saloon of the vessel, and
delivered singularly impressive and APP
propriate exhortation, followed by prayer.
Gen. Grover and staff were presenc. Sub
sequently the General and suite left us for
the flag ship Richmond, and we got under
way again.
We steamed easily during the night,
and at early morning found ourselves OPP
posite Baton Rouge. A few rebel pickets
were discerned on the banks, also an Of
ticer on horseback in the town, all of
whom retired hastily and disappeared.
The place seemed utterly deserted Only
one flag was displayed-the French tri-
cOlOr-possibly marking the residence of
some person of that nationality. This,
however, is by no means certain, for | am
informed by the officers on board the Es-
sex, that the device has frequently been
resorted to to shield rebel property.
There appeared no newly constructed
batteries, nothing more offensive nor de-
fensive than the lines of the old ones, built
a year ago. a negro or two descended
the sloping declivity of the high bank to
the river, and stood muteiy gazing at US,
but nOthii G human gave us welcome or
gave us defiance.
At 81 the Essex (Which, for it's aspect,
might be mistaken for an internal ferry
boat, freshly imported from Phlegethon OF
CocytuO began throwing shells into the
woods in the rear of the town, with the
intention of dislodging any Rebels who
might be there concealed. This lasted fo1
about twenty minutes. Unfortunately
some two or three fell in the outskirts OF
the town, not, however, doing any damage
to life or property.
AT the troops landed, the 131st New
York-the Metropolitan Regment-beine
the first to 60 ashore from the United
States. Within ten minutes afterward the
Stars and Stripes were displayed from the
State House-being hoisted there by Ex-
ecutive Officer Parker of the Essex. This
gentleman also secured rebel signal-fae
discovered in the building, consisting of a
red cross on a white ground, sugar-cane
serving for flagstaff.
Gen. Grover Immediately took posses
sion of the town in the name of the United
States Government. The Mayor Mr..
Holt-being brought before him and in
terrOgated, confirmed what was already
evident, the evacuation and flight of the
rebel troops just before our arrival. There
were but few Of them, averaging from
four to five hundred, commanded by Col.
Shields of Louisiana They had but two
pieces Of artillery, from the description
given, merely six-pounders, which they
carried off with them. Thew had intended
resistance until the appearance of the
transports.
Such of the inhabitants as had not pre-
viously quilted the town, subsequent to
it's former occupation by our troops, yet
remain But the houses, stores and shops
are closed, almost all the people keeping
scrupulOusly indoors. As we strolled
through its deserted streets during the
sunny, sultry forenoon, Baton Rouge
seemed deserted, dead city. We met
and conversed with perhaps dozen white
people, mostly women, and as many ne
grOes. .-..,
At the acknowledgements local.
ty-we visited the quarters of the rebel
oOAuAOAo. AAOAO W CAO dUduuOucu ItldCUI cSS-
es, bedding, tables, benches, chairs, bot
ties, canteens, old boots and shoes, arti-
cles of clothing, horse furniture, and all
the debris of slovenly military camp.
On one of the greasy tables found card,
the deuce of clubs, on the back of which
was scrawled in pencil the following SEN
tence "You Cd id sons of b-s.
if it were not for your gunboats we would
see you in h-ll before we would give up
this place. E. E. S." A good deal of cot
ton also Uttered the place the convicts
heretofore imprisoned here worked upon
it. The building is large enough to serve
as barracks for at least 4, 900 soldiers. One
of the towns people informed me that a
Colonel Adam, with some Arkansas men,
were here.
The inhabitants are apparently as poor
as possible, and have not tasted wheaton
bread for some months. A few of these
profess satisfaction at our arrival, and du-
bious Union sentiments. The contents of
the public buildings are undisturbed.
We have reason to believe in the exist
ence of large body of Rebel troops in this
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