The National tribune., 1901-07-11
TO be contiDued)
BATON ROUGE.
Hard Fighting and Heavy Losses by the 21st


Ind %
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Since
reading "Rugle Notes, efsAlay go / have
been tempted to write and ask when
Breckenridge captured Baton Rouge, but
the Los Angeles letter in my last paper
has stirred me to action. The history of
the battle Of Baton Rouge, Aug. D, 1867,
has never been written, and perhaps never
will be. Greeley's history mentions the
fact that such Il battle occurred and that
Breckinridge commanded the rebel army
of about 1000 men. That Gen. Williams
had about the same number of FederalS
for the defense of the city; very little else.
Now, if Comrade Liscomb was trying to
tell who was not engaged in that battle,
he did well; but on the other hand, his
memory must be very poor. | am inclined
to think he was not member of the old
4th Wis, or he never could forget the
work of the 9TH Mich. and list Ind. on
that memorable day. l do not know the
position Of Minis Battery on that field,
but only know they always did their duty.
The 21st Ind. drew on the engagement
and received the first vOley from the
enemy through a hedge fence east of the
city. The 9th Mich. was on our right to
the rear; the I4th Me. to the rear, and
left of us, were enjoying their breakfast,
with arms stacked, when we were com
PEELED to fall back, leaving them exposed
to a charge on our left flank. l don't think
many of them remained on the field to
take further part in the engagement. The
camp of the 9TH Vt. was Immediately west
of the camp of the Dist Ind. When we
were driven in haste through our camp the
| 7th was seen in line on the parade ground
| After firing Il volley, some of which took
effect i'll our regiment, they disappeared
| from my view. 1t was rumorcd aftcrward
| that they went down to support the gun
boats, which at that time were a popular
resort for both civilian and soldier. Al
this stage of the game the 9th Mich, with
our little jackass battery and possibly
| Minis Battery, received the attention OF
about half of the rebel force.
From prisoners taken we learned that
Breckenridge had $1,000 men, buu this
may have been greatly exaggerated. i fee
safe i'll saying that the force actually en-
gagged on the Union side was less thar
| 600 men. The 4th Wis. was posted oil
the north to rcpel an attack from that
direction, and remained there very much
against their will.
| Had Col. Paine come to the relief of tn,
21st at the most critical moment, the re-
suits would have been far different. Th,
21st was engaged for some time in hand
to-hand struggle in its own camp (which
was Immediately west of the site of tn,
National Cemetery. Every officer engaged
except one Second Lieutenant, was ethel
killed or wounded. Gen. Williams rode
up and exclaimed: "lndianians, you ar,
! brave boys. Your officers are all killed
but I'll take command Of YOU" A few
minutes later he, too, fell from his horst
a corpse. We Were whipped, yes; any
fool could tell that, except a fool volunteer
The writer was in it from start to finish
when he got u reminder of the penetratin.
powers of rebel lead which placed hin
hors de combat. l.:
The losses of the 21st Ind. was "a PEE
cent. of the actual number engaged. l dc
not know the losses of other troops, but
am safe in saying that Breckenridge tool
no prisoners when he captured the place
| think much less of him than / SHOULD
if he had buried his dead, instead of wan
dering off and allowing the Yanks to givt
them respectful burial. A few days afte
the departure of Breckinridge, Gen. But
Ter ordered Baton Rouge evacuated. 1t j.
enough to add laurels TO any mans fam,
TO compel old Ben to do n thing agains
his will. But in regard to the capture
the facts are that Breckenridge was jus
as badly whipped as was that handful o
Union men without a commander.-H. G
WILKINS, Co. III, 21st Ind, Jennings, Ia