The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-26
LINCOLN'S REBEL BROTHER-IN.
LAW.
Some Contribution to the History Of the
Battle Of Baton Rouge.

Some Contribution to the History Of the
Battle Of Baton Rouge.
Editor National Tribune: Replying to
]. w. B. Cole, sizing up the forces in
attack on Baton Rouge. Aug. 5. SO.
Comrade Cole quotes from Vol. 15,
Records Of Rebellion. presenting the
authority of official reports (Which
possibly may be true to the facts) Of
losses on both sides-Breckinridge
rebel: Weitzel. Union. Now, like this
attack Of Comrade Cole. and will accept
the firing without much harm. 1t suits
me, and I hope to have 1t continued
The question Is, Was WeitZel on the
field that day? I think not. Will any
veteran state the facts? 1t appears that
possibly he was Chief Of Staff of But
ler's headquarters at New Orleans;
therefore, Acting Assistant Adjutant-
General. 1t is known that Gen. Will
liams had the command until killed.
saw him dash along in rear of the line.
The next moment shout was heard
that he was MORALLY wounded. Stimuli
taneOusly the order was given for the
line to charge the rebels in the woods.
Now, the records show Breckinridge's
command 5000, minus 400 who fell out
on marching 10 miles to the attack-a
large per cent for that short distance;
forces effective for duty only $500. New
ertheless, now continuing quotinga little
by a heavy force. Headley would
constitute large force other than de-
scribed in records by Comrade Cole.
Again, for information that we might
consider, to receive a little more knowl-
edge in regard to that battle: your
writer, being one Of the party that pull
ed the abandoned cannon to the rear
and saved it from being taken, when
the bullets flying the thickest, which
killed one and MORALLY wounded an
other Of party" A little further the
reports show 16 regiments, three bat
teries, IL to Is cannon, and one COM
pany of sharpshooters. This makes a
heavy force-a very large command.
Now let us put all OF these into $500.
Can we stick this many into the above?
We may laugh all together this time,
comrade; there is plenty of room. There
must be great Juggling Of figures-by
whom? And yet will any veteran who
was there believe this rather absurd
account? Now in Breckinridge's COM
mand, said to have Gems. Ruggles and
Clark-and there must have been at
most few Colonies and other field and
line officers. A Colonel could easily be
commander. Nearly all regiments were
full of young men in the early part of
| the war. We will admit being reduced
from our full strength under the at
tacks of malaria. 1t is not an unreason-
able doubt that the figures Of the
records thus quoted are open to dis
putation. 1t is reasonable to claim
there must be some errors, notwith-
standing the plain opposition set forth
by the comrade.
At Baton Rouge we found among the
rebels killed on the field Maj. Todd.
1t is said he was President Lincoln's
brother-in-law. He was given a Maj
or's burial. I have never seen any
record or history OF this AS he was
Mrs. Lincoln's brother, there would
have been something said OF him being
on the wrong side, and SO far away
from our beloved, patriotic President
He gave his life on the field fighting
against human justice.
After Gen. Williams was killed, for
few moments we had no commander
until Col. Paine, 4th Wis, assumed
command. He had been under arrest
for some differences of opinion with
superior officers.-Stephen H. Lane, Co.
c, 3Oth Mass. Lowell, Mass.