Battle of Baton Rouge ( 1862 ) The Battle of Baton Rouge was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton Rouge Parish , Louisiana , on August 5 , 1862 . The Union victory halted Confederate attempts to recapture the capital city of Louisiana . Background . On April 25 , 1862 , the day before New Orleans fell to the U . S . Navy fleet under Admiral David Farragut , the Confederate state government decided to abandon Baton Rouge , moving first to Opelousas , and then to Shreveport . All cotton in the area was set afire to prevent it falling into Union hands . On May 9 , Navy Commander James S . Palmer of the federal gunboat " Iroquois " landed at the town wharf and took possession , without resistance , of the Pentagon Barracks and the arsenal . Two weeks later , a party of guerrillas attacked a rowboat carrying a naval officer . In retaliation , Farragut ' s flagship , the " Hartford " , bombarded the town , causing civilian casualties and damaging St . Joseph ' s Church and other buildings . On May 29 , U . S . Brigadier General Thomas Williams arrived with six regiments of infantry , two artillery batteries , and a troop of cavalry , and began the occupation of Baton Rouge . During the summer , Major General Earl Van Dorn , commander of Confederate forces east of the Mississippi , resisted a Union bombardment of Vicksburg . The Confederate ironclad ram " Arkansas " had come down the Yazoo River , inflicting damage on the unprepared Union fleet as she passed through , and was anchored in Vicksburg . Van Dorn desired to regain Baton Rouge . It was thought that re - taking Baton Rouge would be key to driving the Union out of Louisiana , as they could then launch attacks along the Red River on Union occupied territory as well as threaten Union control of New Orleans . 5 , 000 men entrained from Vicksburg for Camp Moore , led by Maj . Gen . John C . Breckinridge , on July 27 , 1862 . They were joined by a small infantry division led by Brig . Gen . Daniel Ruggles at the camp . Simultaneously , the " Arkansas " was sailing down the Mississippi River , on her way to engage the Union ships near Baton Rouge . The men had a significant amount of equipment or supplies , and were well fed . General Williams reportedly had word of the forces ' departure from Camp Moore on July 28 . On August 4 , after information was again received of the imminent arrival of the enemy , Union troops were formed up a mile out of Baton Rouge . However the Union men at Baton Rouge were not experienced and were in training camp for only two weeks before being sent to Baton Rouge . The troops had few supplies because most were in New Orleans , which was considered more important . Battle . Breckinridge moved to the Comite River , east of Baton Rouge , by August 4 , and then marched the men closer at night . The Confederates lost the element of surprise when they were discovered by Union sentries . Despite this , the attack was launched at daybreak on August 5 . The Union troops were in the center of Baton Rouge , while the Confederates were lined up in two divisions , north of the city . The action occurred around Florida Street , and began with the Confederates pushing their opponents all the way across town . Bitter fighting took place , especially around Magnolia Cemetery . The Union commander , Brigadier General Thomas Williams , was killed in action . Colonel Thomas W . Cahill took over . The colonel led a retreat back to prepared defensive lines near the Penitentiary , under the protection of the Union warships . The Confederate troops began coming under fire from the gunboats . The Confederate ram Arkansas arrived not long after but her engines failed just four miles above the city . Her commander ordered her set afire to prevent her capture . Without any prospect of naval support , Breckenridge was unable to attack the Union positions and withdrew . Union troops evacuated the city a week later , concerned for the safety of New Orleans , but returned that autumn . Confederates occupied Port Hudson , which they held for almost another year . The " Battle of Baton Rouge Commemorative Ceremony " is held every year on the first Saturday in August in and around Magnolia Cemetery , sponsored by the Foundation for Historical Louisiana . Order of battle . Union Army ( 2nd Brigade , Department of the Gulf ) < br > Brig Gen Thomas Williams ( killed ) < br > Col Thomas W . Cahill " Infantry Regiments " " Artillery " Union Navy Confederate Army ( Breckinridge ' s Corps ) < br > Maj Gen John C . Breckinridge " Infantry Regiments " " Artillery " Confederate Navy