LIEUTENANT WEITZEL'S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS, BATON ROUGE,} GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of yesterday.

Your troops at this place have won a glorious victory. I do not consider that there is the least danger of an attack for the present, because one of the several reconnoitring parties sent out this morning, and which has returned, reports five abandoned caissons on the Greenwell Springs road. We have sent out to bring them in. This indicates a hasty retreat on the part of the enemy. Our forces could not pursue. One half of the men who left the hospitals to fight, could not march a mile. The conduct of these men was magnificently glorious. The attack was undoubtedly made upon representations of rebels within our lines, that our troops were nearly all sick and demoralized, and Gen. Breckinridge undoubtedly expected, in conjunction with the_ram Arkansas, to make a successful dash. It was a complete failure. The ram is blown up; their troops were repulsed.

Gen. Williams disposed his forces as follows, namely: The Fourth Wisconsin on the extreme left on the right bank of Bayou Gross, with two pieces of Manning's battery in the arsenal grounds on the left bank of Bayou Gross, to sweep the grounds, on the left of the Wisconsin Fourth; the Ninth Connecticut was posted on the right of the Fourth Wisconsin, with two pieces in rear of centre, and two pieces in rear of the right. All of these pieces were of Manning's battery, and were posted on either side of the knoll in the Government cemetery.

Next came the Fourteenth Maine, posted in rear of the Bayou Sara road, and to the left of Greenwell Springs road.

Next came the Twenty-first Indiana, posted in the woods in rear of Magnolia cemetery, with four pieces of Everett's battery (under the command of Lieutenant Carruth) on their left on the Greenwell Springs road. The Indiana battery of two pieces came up to the support of these pieces after the battle commenced. Next came the Sixth Michigan, posted across the country-road, on the right of the Magnolia cemetery, and across the Clay Cut road, their left supporting two pieces of Everett's battery, posted on the road, on the right of the Magnolia cemetery.

The Seventh Vermont was posted in rear of the Twenty-first Indiana and Sixth Michigan, on the right of the Catholic cemetery. The Thirtieth Massachusetts came next, forming the right, and

posted about half a mile in rear of the State House, supporting Nim's battery.

This disposition of the forces was made with the supposition that the enemy would attack our left flank, under the cover of the ram Arkansas. The right flank depended upon gunboat support. The only fault of disposition-perhaps rendered unavoidable by the formations of the groundwas, that the camps of the Fourteenth Maine and Twenty-first Indiana were pitched in front of their position, in line of battle, and consequently came into the possession of the enemy for a short time.

The enemy formed line of battle on the open grounds, bordering on the Greenwell Springs road, and attempted to draw our forces out. Failing in this, they advanced rapidly on the ground between the Clinton and Clay Cut roads. The whole brunt of the attack, consequently, fell upon the Fourteenth Maine, Twenty-first Indiana and Sixth Michigan. As soon as it became apparent that this was the real point of attack, Gen. Williams ordered up the Ninth Connecticut, Fourth Wisconsin, and one section of Manning's battery, to support the left, and the Thirtieth Massachusetts, and two sections of Nim's battery, to support the right.

You will, therefore, see that the disposition (with the slight exception hinted at) and the manoeuvring were faultless.

The conduct of our troops was excellent. The Twenty-first Indiana particularly distinguished itself. I saw a number of the dead of the enemy to-day in front of the ground they occupied; but not content with the check they gave the enemy, this regiment pursued him quite a distance, strewing the ground with his dead.

The brave Gen. Williams fell in front of the Sixth Michigan, toward the end of the conflict, while giving his men a noble example of reckless and daring bravery. He was killed by a rifleball in the chest.

The enemy's force consisted of two Louisiana regiments, (the Fourth and Thirtieth,) two Mississippi, the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Kentucky, two Tennessee, one Alabama regiment and thirteen guns, and a large guerrilla force. Their attacking force numbered fully six thousand men. Our actual force engaged was not over two thousand. Three companies of the Sixth Michigan covered themselves with glory in recovering, from a large force, two guns posted on the right of the Magnolia cemetery, which temporarily were left by our forces. These same three companies captured the colors of the Fourth Louisiana, but only after they had shot down four successive color-bearers.

The exact loss on our side is not yet reported. But certain it is, that it is much less than that of the enemy.

I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

G. WEITZEL,
Lieutenant U. S. Engineer and Chief Engineer, Department
of the Gulf.

Major-General B. F. BUTLER,
Commanding Department of the Gulf, New-Orleans, La.

COMMANDER PORTER'S REPORT.

U. S. GUNBOAT ESSEX, OFF BATON ROUGE, August 6, 1862. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: SIR: On the evening of the fourth inst. I was informed by Gen. Williams that rebels, in considerable force, under Gen. Breckinridge, were moving on this place. The rebel ram Arkansas, with two gunboats, Webb and Music, were also in the vicinity of the city, to support the attack of the rebel army. I made such a disposition of the naval force under my command, as I thought would give the most aid to our small force on

shore.

On the morning of the fifth inst., at one A.M., the enemy made an attack on our land forces, and drove in the left wing of our army, killing Gen. Williams. Our men retreating, I opened fire with shot and shell over them on the advancing enemy, and turned them back.

It was the intention of the enemy to make a simultaneous attack by land and water, but the fire from the Essex and other gunboats, driving the enemy back, evidently disconcerted their plans.

Though not making her appearance, I had information of the vicinity of the ram Arkansas, and this morning I determined to steam up the river and attack her, and, if possible, prevent her rendering further assistance to the land forces she was cooperating with. At ten A.M. I came in sight of her, at about the distance of half a mile, and immediately opened fire. After an action of about twenty minutes, I succeeded in setting fire to her, and at meridian she blew up, with a tremendous explosion.

The Arkansas had a crew of one hundred and eighty, and mounted ten guns, (six eight-inch and four fifty-pound rifles.) This vessel, the Essex, mounts seven guns, and had only forty men on duty at the time of our going into action. My First Master, Mr. R. R. Riley, was in sick-hospital, and his place was supplied by Second Master David Porter Rosenmitla, who conducted himself to my entire satisfaction.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. D. PORTER, Commanding Division of Flotilla in Western Waters.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDING ROE'S REPORT.

UNITED STATES Gunboat Katahdin, OFF BATON ROUGE, LA., August 6. SIR: The anticipated attack of the enemy on this place, of which I made mention in my letter of the fourth instant, took place on the morning of the fifth. In consequence of the lines of our troops being so extended, the Katahdin could render no assistance to the place until the after

noon.

During yesterday afternoon, the Kineo and Katahdin shelled the enemy, firing clean over the town into his very camps. This we were enabled to do by means of a system of signals established by Lieut. Commanding Ransom, on the tower of the State House, which corrected our aim. Our shells did fine execution, and drove the enemy

from his position, and determined him to retreat, he having been repulsed by our troops under Gen. Williams, in the earlier part of the day. The only way we can operate is by firing at extreme elevation, clean over the town of Baton Rouge.

This morning Commander Porter, in the Essex, accompanied by the Cayuga and Sumter, started up to attack the Arkansas. The Katahdin and Kineo remained at their stations, near the State House, but were subsequently signaled to follow up and close in with the other vessels, but when nearly up with the enemy, appearances indicated an attack on the town, and we were again ordered back to our stations.

In the mean time the Essex engaged the Arkansas for about one hour, when the latter was fired, deserted, and at one P.M. blew up with a terrific explosion.

For some unexplained reason, the two consorts of the Arkansas left early in the morning, and advantage was taken of their absence to engage the ram.

We have thus had a bloodless victory, but the timely arrival of the Cayuga and our approach in force, no doubt had a good moral effect, as the ram was badly managed and made a poor fight.

The enemy are still hovering in the rear of the place. Information is received that to the six thousand troops already in this vicinity, four thousand are approaching from Manchac, and others from Vicksburgh. I keep in constant communication with the Commander-in-Chief of the troops here, ready to open fire when and where he may desire.

Lieutenant Commanding.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. A. ROE, Flag-Officer D. G. FARRAGUT, Commanding Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, New-Orleans.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDING RANSOM'S REPORT. UNITED STATES GUNBOAT KINEO, OFF BATON ROUGE, LA., August 6, 1862. SIR: I have to report that a vigorous attack was made upon our forces at this place yesterday morning, at about five o'clock, by a strong rebel force, said to be commanded by Gen. Breckinridge.

The Kineo and Katahdin were placed immediately in a position previously indicated to me by But Gen. Williams to protect his right flank. his lines were so much extended, and so completely covered the enemy's approach, that our guns could not be made available with safety to our troops at any time during the morning. In the afternoon, however, we were notified of such changes in the relative positions of the two forces, that we were enabled to open (with tremendous effect, we are informed) upon the enemy's left wing, which caused him to withdraw in much haste, and to fall back several miles.

Early in the morning, soon after the attack had been commenced, the smoke of a steamer, supposed, from information received the previous

and a large number of wounded. At Vicksburgh they plated the deck with iron and fortified her with cotton inside; she then came down in command of Lieutenant H. K. Stevens, (Brown having been taken sick at Vicksburgh,) with the intention of making a combined attack with General Breckinridge upon Baton Rouge, but her port engine broke down; they repaired it in the course of the day, and went out to meet the Essex next morning when they saw her coming up, but the starboard engine gave way, and they ran her ashore, she being perfectly unmanageable.

They say that when the gunboats were seen coming up, and the Essex commenced firing, the captain set the ram on fire and told the crew to run ashore. They also state that the gunboats Webb and Music were sent for to tow her up the river, but they did not arrive, and neither of them had been seen. This is the statement. All of which is respectfully submitted by your D. G. FARRAGUT, Flag-Officer Commanding W. G. Blockading Squadron. Hon. GIDEON WELLES,

obedient servant,

Secretary of the Navy.

GENERAL BUTLER'S GENERAL ORDERS.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT of the Gulf,
NEW-ORLEANS, August 7, 1862.

GENERAL ORDER No. 56.
The Commanding General announces to the
Army of the Gulf the sad event of the death of
Brigadier-General Thomas Williams, command-
ing Second brigade, in camp, at Baton Rouge.

The victorious achievement-the repulse of the division of Major-General Breckinridge by the troops led by General Williams, and the destruction of the mail-clad Arkansas by Captain Porter of the Navy is made sorrowful by the fall of our brave, gallant and successful fellow-soldier.

General Williams graduated at West-Point in 1837; at once joined the Fourth artillery, in Florida, where he served with distinction; was thrice breveted for gallant and meritorious services in Mexico, as a member of General Scott's staff. His life was that of a soldier devoted to his country's service. His country mourns in sympathy with his wife and children, now that country's care and precious charge.

We, his companions in arms, who had learned to love him, weep the true friend, the gallant gentleman, the brave soldier, the accomplished officer, the pure patriot and victorious hero, and the devoted Christian. All and more went out when Williams died. By a singular felicity the manner of his death illustrated each of these generous qualities.

The chivalric American gentleman, he gave up the vantage of the cover of the houses of the city -forming his lines in the open field-lest the women and children of his enemies should be hurt in the fight!

A good General, he had made his dispositions, and prepared for battle at the break of day, when he met his foe!

A brave soldier, he received the death-shot leading his men !

GENERAL ORDER No. 62.

The Commanding General has carefully revised the official reports of the action of August fifth, at Baton Rouge, to collect the evidence of the gallant deeds and meritorious services of those engaged in that brilliant victory.

The name of the lamented and gallant General Williams has already passed into history.

Colonel Roberts, of the Seventh Vermont volunteers, fell mortally wounded, while rallying his men. He was worthy of a better disciplined regiment and a better fate.

Glorious as it is to die for one's country, yet his regiment gave him the inexpressible pain of seeing it break in confusion when not pressed by the enemy, and refuse to march to the aid of the outnumbered and overwhelmed Indianians.

The Seventh Vermont regiment, by a fatal mistake, had already fired into the saine regiment they had refused to support, killing and wounding several.

The Commanding General therefore excepts the Seventh Vermont from General Order No. 57, and will not permit their colors to be inscribed with a name which could bring to its officers and men no proud thought.

It is further ordered, that the colors of that regiment be not borne by them until such time as they shall have earned the right to them, and the earliest opportunity will be given this regiment to show whether they are worthy descendants of those who fought beside Allen, and with Starke at Bennington.

The men of the Ninth Connecticut, who were detailed to man Nim's battery, deserve special commendation.

The Fourteenth Maine volunteers have credit for their gallant conduct throughout the day.

Colonel Nickerson deserves well of his country, not more for his daring and cool courage displayed on the field when his horse was killed from under him, than for his skill, energy and perseverance in bringing his men in such a state of discipline as to enable them to execute most difficult manoeuvres under fire with steadiness and efficiency. His regiment behaved admirably.

Nim's battery, Second Massachusetts, under command of Lieutenant Trull, its captain being confined by sickness; Everett's battery, Sixth Massachusetts, under command of Lieutenant