kansas. I saw around me not more than one thousand exhausted men, who had been unable to procure water since we left the Comite river. The enemy had several batteries commanding the approaches to the arsenal and barracks, and the gunboats had already reopened upon us with a direct fire. Under these circumstances, although the troops showed the utmost indifference to danger and death, and were even reluctant to retire, I did not deem it prudent to pursue the victory further. Having scarcely any transportation, I ordered all the camps and stores of the enemy to be destroyed, and directing Captain Buckner to place one section of Semmes' battery, supported by the Seventh Kentucky, in a certain position on the field, withdrew the rest of the troops about one mile to Ward's Creek," with the hope of obtaining water, but finding none there fit for man or beast, I moved the command back to the field of battle, and procured a very imperfect supply from some cisterns in the suburbs of the town. This position we occupied for the rest of the day. battalion, commanded by Colonel Smith, of the Twentieth Tennessee, together with the Hudson battery, and one piece of Cobb's battery, advanced to the right of the Greenwell Springs road. On the right, as on the left, the enemy was constantly pressed back, until after several hours of fighting he was driven to his last encampment in a large grove just in rear of the penitentiary. Here the contest was hot and obstinate, and it was here the First division suffered the greatest loss. Colonel Hunt was shot down, and upon the fall of that excellent officer, at the suggestion of General Clark, and with the consent of the officers concerned, I placed Captain John A. Buckner, Assistant Adjutant-General on my staff, in command of the Second brigade. In the management of his command he displayed so high a degree of skill and courage that I commend him especially to the notice of the government. General Clark pressed the attack at this point with great vigor, until he received a wound, which was supposed to be mortal, when, through some misapprehension, the Second brigade began to fall back down the slope, but without confusion. The citizens of the surrounding and thinly Captain Buckner learning, upon inquiry from settled country exhibited the warmest patriotme, that I did not desire a retrograde movement, ism, and with their assistance, conveyances immediately, aided by Major Wickliffe, of the enough were procured to carry off all our Fifth Kentucky regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel wounded who could hear removal. A few, Caldwell, who was injured by the accident of armed with shot guns and other weapons, had preceding night, having been obliged to retire), been able to reach the field in time to join in and other regimental officers faced the brigade the attack. Having neither picks nor shovels, about and renewed the attack. At the same we were unable to dig graves for the burial of time Colonel Smith, commanding Fourth bri- the dead. I still hoped for the co-operation of bade, composed of the consolidated Tennessee the Arkansas, and, in that event, intended to regiments, and the Twenty-second Mississippi, renew the attack. But late in the afternoon, I Captain Hughes, was ordered forward, and learned by express that before daylight, and moved against the enemy in fine style. In a within five miles of Baton Rouge, her machinery few moments Captain Hughes received a mortal had become disabled, and she lay helpless on wound at the head of his regiment. Observing the right bank of the river. Upon receiving this some troops on the left, partially sheltered by a intelligence, I returned with my command to the shallow cut in the road, who proved to be the Comite river, leaving a force of observation near remnant of Thompson's brigade, and out of the suburbs of the town. The Hudson battery, ammunition, I ordered them to advance to the Lieutenant Sweeny, and Cobb's one piece, in support of the First division with the bayonet. charge of Sergeant Hawk Peak, played their part The order was promptly obeyed, and in execut- well. I am unable to give the exact force of ing it, I happened to observe, as distinguished the enemy, but by comparing all my informafor alacrity, Colonel Crossland, of the Seventh tion with the number and size of their camps, Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Goodwin, of the and the extent and weight of their fire, I do not Thirty-fifth Alabama, and Lieutenant Terry, of think they brought into action less than fortythe Eighth Kentucky, on duty with sharp- five hundred men. We had eleven pieces of. shooters. At this critical point, Major Brown, field artillery. They brought to bear on us not chief commissary, and Captain Richards, one of less than eighteen pieces, exclusive of the guns my aids, were conspicuous in urging on the of the fleet. In one respect the contest betroops. In this assault we suffered consider- tween the opposing forces was very striking. ably from the fire of the fleet until the opposing The enemy were well clothed, and their enlines approached each other so closely that a campments showed the presence of every comregard for their own friends obliged them to fort and even luxury. Our men had little transsuspend. The contest at and around this last en-portation, indifferent food, and no shelter. Half campment was bloody, but at the end of it the enemy were completely routed, some of our men pursuing them and firing at them for some distance down the street, running in front of the arsenal and barracks. They did not reappear during the day. It was now ten o'clock. We had listened in vain for the guns of the Ar of them had no coats, and hundreds of them were without either shoes or socks; yet no troops ever behaved with greater gallantry, and even reckless audacity. What can make this difference, unless it be the sublime courage inspired by a just cause? The wound of Brigadier-General Charles Clark being thought mortal, and the least motion causing great agony, he was left on the field at his own request, his aid, Lieutenant Yerger, remaining with him. The next morning they gave themselves up to the enemy. I cannot speak in terms too strong of the skill, coolness, and courage of General Clark. He played the part of a perfect soldier. Brigadier-General Ruggles conducted the attack on the left with uncommon rapidity and precision, and exhibited throughout the qualities of a brave and experienced officer. In addition to the officers of my staff already mentioned, I desire to express my acknowledgments of the zeal and gallantry of Major Wilson, Chief of Artillery, Major Hope, Inspector-General, whose horse was shot under him, Captain Nocquet, Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant Breckinridge, Aide-de-Camp, and Doctor Pendleton, Medical Director, assisted by Doctor Weatherly, on temporary service. A number of gentlemen from Louisiana and elsewhere, rendered efficient service as volunteers, among whom were Lieutenant-Colonel Pinckney, Mr. Addison, and Captain Bird, of Louisiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Brewer, of Kentucky, and Mr. William B. Hamilton, of Mississippi. The thanks of the army are due to the Hon. Thomas J. Davidson, for his attention to the hospitals, and to all the inhabitants of that part of Louisiana for their devotion to our sick and wounded. Colonel Pond and Major De Baum, in command of partisan rangers, were efficient before and after the battle, in observing and harassing the enemy. The inability of General Clark and the failure of several officers to make reports, may prevent full justice to the conduct of the First division. Any omission here, will, when brought to my notice, be embodied in a supplemental report. The report of General Ruggles is very full, as to all that occurred on the left. I send herewith a list of the officers on the Mississippi, below the month of Red River, I occupied Port Hudson with a portion of the troops under the command of BrigadierGeneral Ruggles. The next day I received orders to remove all the troops to that point. Brigadier-General Bowen, who had just arrived, was left with his command on the Comite River, to observe Baton Rouge from that quarter, to protect our hospitals, and to cover the line of communication between Clinton and Camp Moore. I directed General Ruggles to select eligible positions at Port Hudson for heavy batteries, and ordered Captain Nocquet, Chief Engineer, to report to him temporarily for this duty. Upon my arrival there, I found that rapid progress had been made, and some of the works under charge of Captain Nocquet, were ready to receive the guns, which the MajorGeneral commanding wrote me were on the way. Port Hudson is one of the strongest points on the Mississippi, which Baton Rouge is not, and batteries there will command the river more completely than at Vicksburg. On the nineteenth day of August, in obedience to orders from the headquarters of the department, I moved from Port Hudson for Jackson, Mississippi, with a portion of the force, leaving Brigadier-General Ruggles in command with troops. In concluding this report, I Your obedient servant, Major-General. I omitted to mention that the Fifteenth Mississippi, Major Binford, was not brought into action. This admirable regiment, much reduced by long and gallant services, was held as a reserve. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL DANIEL RUGGLES. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, FIRST DISTRICT, ARMY EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, CAMP BRECKINRIDGE, August 9, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to submit, for the consideration of the Major-General commanding the forces, the following report of the part taken by my division in the action of the fifth instant, at Baton Rouge: and men specially mentioned in the division, brigade, and regimental reports, for gallant conduct, with the request that it be published and the names brought to the favorable notice of the government. I transmit, also, the reports of the subordinate commanders, and the returns of the killed and wounded. It will be seen that our casualties amounted to four hundred and sixty-seven. I have reason to believe that the loss of the enemy was much greater. We captured two flags and a few prisoners. Nothing was left by us but one caisson, which was so much injured as to be wholly unserviceable, one of the enemy's being brought off in its The Second division was composed of two place. After the battle, the enemy, who had brigades, the First consisting of the Third Kenpreviously been plundering, burning houses, tucky regiment, Captain Bowman; Sixth Kenand other property, stealing negroes, and seiz- tucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Cofer; Seventh Kening citizens through a large region of country, tucky, Colonel Crossland; and Thirty-fifth Alanever ventured to send out another marauding bama, Colonel Robertson. The Second brigade, force. Our pickets continued to extend to the of the Fourth Louisiana regiment, Lieutenantimmediate vicinity of Baton Rouge, and very | Colonel Hunter; battalion of Thirtieth Louisiana soon the enemy abandoned the place, and re-regiment, Colonel J. H. Breaux; battalion of tired to New Orleans. A few days after the Stewart's Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel Boyd; and engagement, knowing the desire of the Major- Confederate light battery, Captain J. O. Šemmes General commanding to secure a strong position with two companies mounted men, and some two hundred and fifty partisan rangers, detached on scouting and outpost service. On the night of the fourth of August this division proceeded from Corinth bridge, marching left in front; Semmes' light battery in the rear of left battalion Fourth Louisiana volunteers, a detachment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Shields; Thirtieth Louisiana volunteers, consisting of one company from his regiment, commanded by Captain Boyle; one company partisan rangers, commanded by Captain Anuker; one company mounted rangers and a section of Semmes' battery, under Lieutenant Fauntleroy, had preceded the march of the division, having left camp at four and a half P. M.. to operate on the Plank road leading from Baton Rouge to Clinton, on our extreme right. The head of the division column, preceded by a company of mounted rangers and advanced guard, reached Ward's Creek bridge, on the Greenwell Springs and Baton Rouge road, about three o'clock A. M., where a temporary halt was called preparatory to the formation of the division line of battle. During this halt, while the advance was driving in the enemy's pickets, some stragglers from the column were mistaken for the enemy's pickets and fired on. The mistake being mutual, in the darkness, a few shots were exchanged, unfortunately disabling General Helm and killing Lieutenant Todd. This necessarily caused some confusion. Order, however, was soon restored, and the column marched to the point whence the deployment was to commence. The line was formed a little before daylight. Colonel Thompson's brigade (the First), with the right resting near the Greenwell Spring road, Colonel Allen's brigade (the Second) on the left, his left extending through a wood and resting on a large field. Semmes' battery (four pieces) in the centre, occupying the space between the two brigades; a squadron of cavalry, under command of Captain Augustus Scott, was ordered to proceed to the extreme left of the line to observe and endeavor to prevent any attempt to outflank us in that direction. At a little after daylight, during the prevalence of a thick fog, the order was given to advance. The line proceeded but a few hundred yards before it encountered a brisk fire from the enemy's skirmishers, strongly posted on our extreme right, in some houses surrounded by trees and picket fences. Almost simultaneously a battery of the enemy opened on our line from the same direction. Semmes' battery was ordered forward to our indicated position, to drive off the skirmishers and silence the enemy's battery, and the whole line moved rapidly forward firing and cheering. The effect was instantaneous. The enemy's skirmishers fled, and his battery was compelled to change position and seek shelter under the guns of the arsenal to prevent being captured, where it remained, continuing to fire on our advancing line. Semmes' battery took position on the right of the division, to keep up the engagement with the battery of the enemy. Colonel Thompson's brigade continued to advance, un der an occasional fire, across an open field and through some corn-fields, just beyond which they encountered a heavy fire from the enemy, strongly posted in a wood. Here the contest was warmly maintained on both sides for a considerable time, during which the First division succeeded in entering a regimental camp on our right. The enemy were finally driven back into and through another camp immediately in our front. The enemy at this period were strongly reinforced, and a heavy battery a little to the left of the centre opened an oblique fire on both brigades. About the same time the enemy attempted to break our centre, by pushing a column between the two brigades. This movement being discovered Semmes' battery was ordered forward and opened on this column at short range, with grape and canister with marked effect, for a few rapid discharges scattered the enemy and drove him back in confusion. A similar attempt was made on the right of the division, which was defeated with equal success by a timely and well-directed fire from the Thirty-fifth Alabama and Sixth Kentucky regiments. The two brigades, which, from the nature of the ground, had become separated, were ordered, in advancing, to gain ground, to the right and left respectively, in order to subject the enemy's position in front to a converging fire. In executing this movement the First brigade met a portion of the First division falling back in some disorder. Colonel Thompson halted and was attempting to reform them when he was informed by a mounted officer that the order was for the whole line to fall back. In obedience to this supposed order he fell back a short distance, but soon reformed his line and charged the enemy under a galling fire. Unfortunately, while leading his men in this charge, Colonel Thompson fell, severely wounded, and was borne from the field, and about the same time Colonel Allen also fell, dangerously wounded, while leading, with unsurpassed gallantry, his brigade against a battery of the enemy. These circumstances prevented the further prosecution of this movement. About this time the Major-General commanding arriving upon this part of the field, directed the final charge upon the enemy which drove him in confusion through his last regimental encampment to the river under the protection of his gunboats. His camps, containing a large quantity of personal property, commissary stores, and clothing, were destroyed. Finding it fruitless to remain longer under the fire of the gunboats, and disappointed in the expected co-operation of the Arkansas, the exhausted troops were withdrawn in good order to the suburbs of the town; the Seventh Kentucky regiment and a section of Semmes' artillery being left on the field to protect the collection of the stragglers and wounded, which was thoroughly accomplished. Colonel Allen's brigade, on the left, moved forward through a wood and into some corn-fields. They soon encountered the enemy in superior force, protected by houses and fences. They successively charged these positions, driving the enemy steadily back until within a few hundred yards of the river, where they were subjected to a destructive fire from the batteries before mentioned and the enemy's gunboats. They charged and took a section from one of the enemy's batteries, Colonel Allen leading the advance with the colors of one of his battalions in his hand. It was at this critical juncture that, as before stated, this gallant soldier fell from his horse severely wounded, and during the confusion which followed this misfortune, the enemy succeeded in recapturing the pieces. The enemy pressed heavily upon this brigade and poured into it such a galling fire from infantry and artillery that it fell back in some disorder. Colonel Breaux, who assumed command upon the fall of Colonel Allen, succeeded, with the aid of officers of the brigade and two officers connected with the staff, who were sent to his assistance, in rallying a sufficient number to show front to the enemy until Semmes' battery was brought up, as already stated, to their support, and succeeded, by a well-directed fire, in preventing the enemy's advance. This position was maintained despite the heavy firing on the brigade from the enemy's gunboats and land batteries until the troops were withdrawn, with the rest of the army, to the suburbs of the town. Lieutenant-Colonel Shields had been ordered, as already stated, to take position on the Plank road leading from Clinton to Baton Rouge, and as soon as he heard the fire of our main body, to attack a battery of the enemy, said to be stationed at the junction of the Clinton and Bayou Sara roads. This service was promptly and gallantly performed. He drove in the enemy's pickets, followed them up, and opened fire on a regimental encampment to the right of the Greenwell Springs road, driving the enemy from it. He was here met by two regiments of the enemy, but succeeded in holding them at bay till he was fired upon by our own artillery, but fortunately without injury. Four of the artillery horses being disabled, and the infantry unable to withstand the heavy fire of the enemy, he withdrew to his original position, where the wounded horses were replaced by others, when he returned to his advanced position, which he held till General Clark's division came up on his left, when the two companies of infantry were, by order of the Major-General commanding, attached to the Twenty-second Mississippi regiment. The section of artillery under his command retained its position until the army retired, when it rejoined the battery in the suburbs of the town. In concluding this report of the battle, I have the satisfaction of stating that the conduct of both officers and men was gallant and daring, every movement being performed with characteristic promptitude. I respectfully commend the reports of the commanders of brigades, as well as those of regiments, battalions, and independent companies, to the special consideration of the Com manding General, and also recommend the following officers and soldiers, specially named in these reports, to favorable consideration: First, Colonel A. P. Thompson and Colonel H. W. Allen, brigade commanders, both severely wounded. Fifth Kentucky, commanded by Captain Bowman. Seventh Kentucky, Colonel Crossland, and his color-bearer, James Rollins. Sixth Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Cofer; Captains J. Smith, Utterback, and Thomas Page, and First-Lieutenant H. Harned. Thirty-fifth Alabama, Colonel Robertson and Lieutenant-Colonel Goodwin. Of the second brigade, the Fourth Louisiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Hunter. In this regiment, Lieutenant Corkern, Company B, Lieutenant Jetter, Company H, and Serjeant-Major Daniels. Battalion of Stewart's Legion_commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Boyd, who was disabled by a severe flesh wound in the arm. Captain Chum also was wounded. The command devolved upon Captain T. Bynum, who acted with gallantry. The battalion Thirtieth regiment of Louisiana volunteers, commanded by Colonel J. A. Breaux, who speaks in high terms of the officers and men of his regiment, especially Captain N. Trepagnier and Lieutenant Dapremont, both wounded. LieutenantColonel Shields, Thirtieth Louisiana, commanding separate detachment, who speaks in high terms of the intrepidity of Lieutenant Fauntleroy, commanding section of guns in his detachment. Captain Semmes, commanding battery, and his officers, Lieutenant Barnes and J. A. West, performed gallant service. Captain Blount, Brigade Inspector of Second brigade, rendered gallant service in the field, where it is believed he has fallen, as nothing has been heard of him since. I also have the gratification to name the members of my staff who served with me on this occasion, viz.: Lieutenant L. D. Sandidge, corps artillery Confederate States army, A. A. A. and Inspector-General; Captain George Whitfield, Chief Quartermaster; Major E. S. Ruggles, acting Ordnance Officer, and Acting Chief Commissary of Subsistence; First Lieutenant M. B. Ruggles, Aide-de-Camp. LieutenantColonel Charles Jones, who was severely wounded, and Colonel J. O. Fuqua, District Judge Advocate and Provost Marshal-General, who were all distinguished for their efficiency, coolness, and gallantry throughout the conflict. The following officers, attached to the general staffs, also rendered gallant service: Captain Samuel Bard, on special service; Lieutenant A. B. De Saulles, engineer; Lieutenant H. H. Price and Lieutenant H. C. Holt. Other officers on special service, amongst whom were Captain Augustus Scott, commanding squadron on temporary service; Captains Curry, Kinderson, and Behorn, as volunteer aids for the occasion, and Captain J. M. Taylor served with zeal and gallantry. The entire division entering the fight numbered about nineteen hundred and fifty, infantry and artillery, with a few irregular cavalry and partisan rangers, numbering in all some HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, CORINTH RIVER TEN MILES FROM BATON ROUGE, GENERAL: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit the following report of the late engagement at Baton Rouge, so far as the First brigade of First division was concerned, after its commanders, Brigadier-General Helm, and subsequently Colonel Thomas Hunt, were wounded, and I had the honor to receive the command at your hands. The enemy had been repulsed from one of his encampments, and the different regiments constituting the First brigade were drawn up in line in one of his camps, not, however, fully deployed. After moving the two regiments on the left of the brigade, by the flank to the left, the whole were formed in line of battle, and were ordered to advance. The movement was spiritedly made up to the second encampment, through a somewhat sharp volley of musketry, in as good style as the broken and confined limits of the ground would admit, and immediately the enemy was hotly and determinedly engaged. After a few volleys, I ordered the brigade forward, which order was being promptly obeyed by the Fourth and Fifth Kentucky, the other regiments being just in the act of advancing, when I received, from General Clark, the order to face about and retreat. This order was then given by myself and General Clark's aids. The troops fell back reluctantly, and not in very good order, the General himself and a number of others being wounded in the retreat. I immediately reported to you to know whether you had ordered the retreat, and was informed that you had not. The Second brigade of this division was then ordered by yourself to advance. It went up in good style, Captain Hughes, commanding Twenty-second Mississippi regiment, leading them gallantly. By your presence and assist ance, the first brigade was rallied and led by yourself, in person, to the same position from which it had fallen back, when it joined with the Second brigade, and moved conjointly through the second encampment, driving the enemy before them through the third and last of their camps to the river, under cover of their gunboats. This being accomplished, which was all that was expected of the land force, the Arkansas failing to make her appearance, nothing remained but to destroy what had been captured (inasmuch as no arrangement had been made for bearing it off, though the battle-field was in our possession sufficiently long), and re tire from the range of the enemy's batteries on the river. Accordingly, you gave me the order to withdraw the division out of range of the fire of the fleet, to await the movements of the gunboat Arkansas. This was done in good order, though with some degree of reluctance, the cause of the movement not being fully understood. Your order to fire the enemy's tents and stores was well executed. Their loss must have been very heavy in Quartermaster and Commissary supplies, and particularly so in Sutlers' stores, considerable quantities of new goods and general equipments being burned. The position in which you left me near the house where General Clark lay wounded was held more than two hours after the main body of the troops were withdrawn, with a section of Semmes' battery, and the remnant of the Seventh Kentucky regiment, Colonel Crossland commanding, as support. Learning that Cobb's battery had left its position and been ordered to the rear, the section, with its support under my command, was removed to occupy the better position left by Captain Cobb, at which point it remained a half hour, and would have remained the whole evening, but for the erroneous information of the enemy's advance in force being given by a surgeon who was moving rapidly to the rear. Leaving pickets at this point, just in the edge of town, I withdrew the artillery and its support slowly back to the point at which you found me. A flag of truce was hoisted early in the evening by the enemy, and on being met by an officer whom I sent to the front, the privilege of bearing off the dead and wounded was requested and granted for four hours by yourself, upon condition that the agreement be reduced to writing. No communication being received in writing for some time, twenty minutes longer were given, shortly after the expiration of which time a note was received, signed by the commanding officer at Baton Rouge, disclaiming the flag of truce. I cannot conclude my report without speaking of the cool courage and efficient skill with which Brigadier-General Charles Clark led his command into the action, and the valuable assistance rendered him by his Aids, Lieutenants Spooner and Yerger; of the efficiency of Major H. E. Topp, of the Thirty-first Mississippi, in leading his regiment; of Major Brown, Chief Commissary of the division, whose fearless exposure of himself where the contest was hottest, in urging on the troops to a charge; of Captain J. H. Miller,. commanding Fourth Kentucky regiment, who displayed conspicuous gallantry in leading his regiment; of Colonel Crossland, commanding Seventh Kentucky regiment, whose regiment, after being in front and assisting in bearing the brunt of the battle, remained upon the field while the shells from the enemy's gunboats were falling thickly around them; and of the valuable service rendered me by Major C. Wickliffe, of the Fifth Kentucky, towards the close of the engagement, where his constant presence at the head of his regiment, inspired confidence and |