The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-11


The State House the hness building In Lou'sans and 'bs
pride and e Of Baton Rouge has been laid IN ruins; and
- wriio can ook through my window and see Ito
bsckened wsls--ai that Of she truly beautiful
and stately ediSce.
The building cas- Of brick covered with slate, and oil
who have travelled upon the Mississippi river since s
erection cannot fail to bear mnd pleasing recollecsion
Of Its architectural beauty Situated upon the nrss bhh
above New Orleans, u doomed up In fair and graceful
proportions the nrst relief from the monooncus scenery
Of plantation houses with their negro villages, seen b.
yond the levce and from this circumstance, a. well -
from lie updoubted architectural merit could not faf
70 impress itself upon the memory. II WAS about tho
only building OF any prsensiors in this portion Of the
State and were not for the blindness " tho people,
which induces them prefer the destruction Of their
property it's occupation by the United Slater Forces s
loss would be regarded hero unspeakabe calamity
Tho IRE broke cut about half I'VE clock yesterday
Sunday afternoon uss after tho various regiments had
been dismissed from their dress paraes The alarm
sounded the bell. and there Immediately rush Or
soldiers guided the spot tho dense column Of smoke
which issued from the roof. There 10 engine house
and very nne engine In the city, the latter hav,ug
~. s." conspcuously painted on lie sides, with the
tional coat OF armssbe brd Of freedom" and"E Puri
bus Uuum," having survived the rebellion. But there
organized body OF nremen ready meet sbe
crsis. The engine house Open however, and loose
body Of soldiers without orders direction brought
the engine the desired place. and not long before
10 hnss was set and the brakes manned
Inc State House ouit In tho form OF cross, the
main portion OF the building running PARALLEL
with tho river, while the wings on the front
and rear separated BY heavy brick walls
There were eight massive towers, those q
the entrance Of the building the river frost beng
tagonal andthe remainder square ohlOng The names
drcf Shn
was nrst placed the street 10 bear upon this portion
tho building; but the IRE such Roadway ali
hope Of saving this wing was abandoned.
A detachment Of Billy Wilson's Zouaves came up. and
seemed 10 be very much In their element Au ocer who
was NO stranger 10 such placed In command
the engine removed the front Of the building The
hose placed in tho river and the efforts OF al
devoted 10 the main part the building and the
wing fronting on the river.
Night soon came OF, and the became grand ana
picturesque beyond description. The moon sbamsd
from sight by tho splendid illumination Of aha, brghs
column Of 1ame which from the turrcts ike tho l
lar Of IRE by night while the glowing windows lighted
the city many blocks with the brghtoess Of day
the flashing canopy Of sparks looked though all .be
stars Of heaven plungiDg hcadong through tho air
Groups VI negroes crowded the Of The
looked wisn apparent indifference, whie here END
there might be citizen but tho latter very
few They generally kept aIoof and paid attention
the fire, as though IL had been Affair 10 which they
had no interest or concern.
Az soon a. me engine was properly manned and cum
and ecent force had been detaIed 70 manage be
fire. other soldiers and officers ordered by Sen
Grover to repair Immediately to their respective rcgi
ments and Captain Lsamans the encsnt Provost Mar
shall Of the city, promptly enforced the order Every
lingering soldier who not needed Immediately
and escorted to HE camp Jho hrs effect VI thh
admirable state OF order and the secosd
TO place the army In state Of readiness for any
emergency that might arise. II thought that tho
state House might have been nred for purpose by some
lurking cmssary Of tho rebels and thai il flames verc
70 iumne ths path OF attacking army. Therefore
that exiraordissry precautions were taken and
unusual vigilance exercised during tho night.
Tho nre ragged with great fury until about nine O'Clock
in the evening which time the combustble material 10
the ives. wing Of the building had been mostly con.
sumed and outstanding the shower u IRE thai fell
necessarily upon the roof and Notwithstanding tho
intense heat Of the partition wall, The main part
Of the building not yet Gre The bright
ness Of the fame gradually faded away, and
before eleven O'Clock the danger 10 the main building
be almost entirely and the few spectators
dispersed under the impression that the rs at an
end The nreuen however were kept AT their poss tho
engine kept position and strong and active guard
placed over tho building, with vigilant watch TO give
Instant alarm In Of recurrence Of the Ore.
rSAL DISTRACTION The BUILDING.
These precautions, however, the result showed
not sufficient the State House from destruction
The building took Are i've times during the night
and in each instance tho nremen successful In
qucnchDg the flames Al last just after the town cock
had struck four this morning, the alarm was sounded
more there loud noise OF excitement and the
light which suddenly flashed gave undoubted evidence
OF the final catastrophe. The scene which had been
n and and impressive tho previous night sur
par sed for the had long since disappeared and
heavy thick mist shrouded the river and the landscape
and SIX lofty columns Of fame, instead OF two, now
mingled together shooting up Ear into the dark sky
The building had been prepared for burning before The
evacuation Of General Buffers troops and full OF The
most combusbie materials thai the main part Of tho
building once fairly IRE. all hope Of saving IL was
at an end Tho nremen, however, did no; abandon 10
without noble struggle for the mastery but did all that
Il was possible salvation OF tins dollhouse u
rcbslon. Tho struggle hopeless, and In three or
four hours blackened walls and smouiderng ruins
we're all that remained u the noble edince.
ORIGIN
Al the time the nrc broke out number Of rebel
prisoners were confined In the State House, among them
Brisadier General CArruth, Captain Castle and others
known have been conspicuous In guerilla and militia
warfare was suggested tnAt some Oh INC rienos mo
prisoners had fred the building with the hope that In
the conlusion resulting from the connagaton these
prisoners might effect their escape II such was the pur
utterly facd for the nrst appearance Of tho
nrs Lieut.. csmnerford, Of the provost gusd, who was
In charge OF the captive rebels promptly removed them
under strong guard, and placed them secure prison
As have before stated II also surmised that ths
purpose 70 show the position Of troops by this
grand illumination and aid attacking force. But
Il this had been the purpose was poorly planned;
for while the light fron the turrets could
be seen At great distance, and the scene
In the immediate vicinity Of the building was one
u extraordinary briliisncy, tbs building was no, In
suaton light up the country for any considerable dis.
tance and had stood on the highest point Of land
the brick wall. OF such thickness and sodity that
The farnes only shone throcgh the windows Tnere are
dozen buildings the city any ous Of which would have
been better adapted to such scheme a. this; and A.
there VAS no attack and apparent movement OF tho
~csrv In oonrlufa that thia theory he