prominent part he acted in this the severest part of this well-contested field. At this period of the action the fire on Manning's battery and the Indiana regiment under command of Captain Noblet, was very close and severe- so much so that Manning's battery was compelled to fall back, which it did with considerable confusion, leaving one piece and caisson, the horses having either been killed or disabled. First Lieut. Whitcomb, Thirtieth Massachusetts, gallantly dashed through the smoke of the enemy's musketry and succeeded in bringing off the caisson. The fearless Indianians secured the piece, and both were turned over to the battery on the field. Capt. Manning quickly rallied his men and went into battery on the right of the Indiana Twenty-first, well supported on the right by the Vermont Seventh, Lieut.-Colonel Callum, (Colonel Roberts having been mortally wounded.) Here this battery did good service. În the mean time the enemy appeared in strong force directly in front of the Indiana Twenty-first, Vermont Seventh, and Massachusetts Thirtieth. At one time these three brave regiments stood face to face with the enemy, within forty yards of each other. For full one hour the contest for this piece of woods was fierce. At one moment the rebel Tennesseeans would seem to have success on their side; the tide would then turn, and the brave Twenty-first Indiana and Thirtieth Massachusetts would exchange a yell with each other, quickly advance and drive the enemy back to the fence and into the corn-field. While this brisk work was going on directly in front, the undaunted Trull, with his battery, was hotly engaged on the right with a full battery of the enemy that had cut its way through a belt of thick timber and approached within one hundred and fifty yards. (This is supposed to have been Symms's celebrated battery.) The Sixth Michigan, under Capt. Clarke, Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, moved up to the support of Nim's battery in elegant order. Its assistance came most fortunately, for it was clear the enemy intended to outflank us at this point. Nobly did Col. Clarke and his command discharge their duty here, as their list of killed and wounded show. This regiment did good service on more than one occasion this day. For individual acts of gallantry I refer the commanding officer to Col. Clarke's report. At this juncture of the contest I ordered Lieut. Trull to fire his three left pieces across the fronts of the Indiana Twenty-first, Massachusetts Thirtieth, and Seventh Vermont. This was the turning point on the right wing. This galling fire of canister, with the terrible discharge of the regiments of musketry, effectually silenced the enemy's fire, and they withdrew again to the fields in the rear. For the valuable aid given by Lieut. Brown and his pieces of artillery on the right in the early part of the engagement, which prevented our being outflanked on the right, I refer to Acting Lieut.-Col. Clarke's report. To the report of First Sergeant William Corruth, commanding Everett's battery, marked G, I respectfully solicit the Colonel Commanding's attention. His battery did not form part of my command in the morning, but from the fact one section was sent to me afterwards, and the other fact of its having been supported by troops from the right wing, (Twenty-first Indiana,) accounts for his sending it through me. The number of dead in front of his position indicates the valuable aid his battery rendered on the left. There was very many acts of bravery which could not come under my own observation, therefore I respectfully solicit a careful perusal of the several reports made by the several commanders of regiments and batteries. I cannot close this report without noticing the conduct of Capt. Kelty, of the Thirtieth regiment, who fell at the head of his brave and active company of Zouaves; once before he had been sent forward to reconnoitre the position of the enemy, drew their fire, fell back with the same coolness and precision that he ever exhibited at drills. He was killed within fifty yards of the enemy's lines. His loss I feel specially and personally. Lieut. Gardener, company K, Thirtieth Massachusetts volunteers, fell wounded severely, yet requested to be left on the field. The command of the Thirtieth Massachusetts fell on Major Whittemore, by its Colonel being assigned to the command of the right wing, and most honorably did he acquit himself of his responsible duties. He was probably more frequently under my eye than any other officer in the wing, and circumstances requiring me to move his regiment more often, he displayed coolness, tact, and military knowledge throughout the day, which well fitted him to command in the field. As for the conduct of the officers and men of his regiment, I refer you to his minute and correct report. I am specially indebted to the following officers, who served on my staff during the day: Lieut. Tenney, who made a reconnoissance by my order at the commencement of the action, was detailed to serve on the Commanding General's staff. He fell severely wounded by the General's side in ten minutes after. Lieut. Howe, my Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, also fell mortally wounded. Both of these officers were shot in the very thickest of the engagement. First Lieut. C. A. R. Dimon, who acted through the balance of the day as Chief of my staff, and Second Lieut. Norcross also rendered me every possible aid in the transmittal of orders from one section of the field to another. Lieutenant Dimen joined me after the action commenced from the hospital, where he had been confined for days. Lieut. Clarke, Sixth Michigan, also acquitted himself handsomely. I should forget one obligation, did I fail in my report to mention the conduct of Assistant-Surgeon A. F. Holt. He was by my side constantly, when not engaged in his professional duties, ready to transmit any order, transport to the rear, as he did on several occasions, under a hot fire, on his own back, the wounded; or discharge any duty that would contribute towards the success of the day. The enemy having retreated, I ordered the troops composing the right wing to take up a more desirable position out of the woods, near the Penitentiary grounds. Respectfully submitted to the Colonel Commanding Army of Baton Rouge, La. N. A. M. DUDLEY, Colonel Commanding Right Wing, Army of Baton Rouge. C. A. R. DIMON, A. A. A. General, LIEUTENANT WEITZEL'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS, BATON ROUGE, August 7, 1862. 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, Major-General B. F. BUTLER, 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. 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. On the morning of the fifth inst., at one A.M., the enemy made an attack on our land forces, In the mean time the Essex engaged the Arand drove in the left wing of our army, killing|kansas for about one hour, when the latter was Gen. Williams. Our men retreating, I opened fired, deserted, and at one P.M. blew up with a fire with shot and shell over them on the ad- terrific explosion. vancing 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 coöperating 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. 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. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser- Flag-Officer D. G. FARRAGUT, 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. Breckin ridge. But The Kinco and Katahdin were placed immedi ately in a position previously indicated to me by 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 evening, to be the ram Arkansas, was observed moving rapidly down the river toward the bend just above this place. It stopped about a mile above the bend and remained there, sometimes apparently moving up a little, then down again, during the day and night. his pickets, etc. General Williams, having had ample warning, was all prepared for him. The fight was continued with great energy on both sides until ten A.M., by which time the enemy had been driven back two or three miles, but unfortunately the gallant General Williams, while cheering on his men, received a Minie-ball through the heart. Late in the afternoon, she was joined apparently by two other steamers, (judging by smoke,) which separated from her this morning, moving Gen. Williams had informed Lieut. Commandup the river. The Essex, accompanied by the ing Ransom the evening before of his plans, and Cayuga and Sumter, then moved up toward the requested him not to fire a gun until he notified bend. Finally a general signal was made by the him, and when he did so, our gunboats, the former, agreeably to which the Kineo and Katah-Kineo and Katahdin, opened with fine effect, din followed. Upon drawing near to the bend, throwing their shells directly in the midst of the however, some lines of white smoke having been enemy, producing great dismay and confusion. observed in the rear of the city, it was deemed among them. Lieut. Ransom had an officer on advisable for the two latter to return to their sta- the State House, which overlooks the adjacent tion for the protection of the troops. country, and could direct the fire of every shell. By this time it had been discovered that the Arkansas was on fire; subsequently it had been ascertained, I believe, that she had suddenly become helpless there, by some failure of her engines; and seeing our approach, so formidable to her in her crippled condition, doubtless they set her on fire and abandoned her. At about one o'clock her magazine exploded, and the ram Arkansas was extinct. I have the honor to be, sir, FLAG-OFFICER FARRAGUT'S REPORTS. The following despatches detail the operations FLAG-SHIP HARTFORD, BATON ROUGE, SIR: It is one of the happiest moments of my life that I am enabled to inform the Department of the destruction of the ram Arkansas, not because I held the iron-clad in such terror, but because the community did. On the fourth instant I sent the Tennessee up to Baton Rouge with provisions for Commodore Porter and the gunboats stationed at that place. On the night of the fifth, she returned with information that the enemy had made a combined attack upon Baton Rouge by the ram and two gunboats, Webb and Music, and calling for assistance. At daylight the Hartford was under weigh for this place with orders for the other vessels to follow me as fast as ready. As soon as the enemy was repulsed, Commodore Porter with the gunboats went up-stream after the ram Arkansas, which was lying about five miles above, apparently afraid to take her share in the conflict, according to the preconcerted plan. As he came within gunshot, he opened on her, and probably soon disabled some of her machinery or steering apparatus, for she became unmanageable, continuing, however, to fire her guns at the Essex. Commodore Porter says he took advantage of her presenting a weak point toward him, and loaded with incendiary shells. After his first discharge of this projectile, a gush of fire came out of her side, and from that moment it was discovered that she was on fire, which he continued his exertions to prevent from being extinguished. They backed her ashore and made a line fast, which soon burnt, and she swung off into the river, where she continued to burn until she blew up, with a tremendous explosion, thus ending the career of the last iron-clad ram of the Mississippi. There were many persons on the banks of the river witnessing the fight, in which they anticipated a triumph for "Secessia ;" but on the return of the Essex not a soul was to be seen. I will leave a sufficient force of gunboats here to support the army, and will return to-morrow to New Orleans, and depart immediately for Ship Island with a light heart that I have left no bugbear to torment the communities of the Mississippi in my absence. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FLAG-SHIP HARTFORD, I arrived here to-day at twelve M., in company NEW-ORLEANS, August 10, 1862, with the Brooklyn, Westfield, Clinton, Jackson, SIR: Since forwarding the reports of Lieutenand Sciota. I had sent the Cayuga up before ants Fairfax, Ransom, and Roe, we have picked me, agrecable to a request of Gen. Butler, in con- up a number of prisoners from the ram Arkansas, sequence of the guerrillas firing into some of his transports. On my arrival I was informed by Commodore W. D. Porter that yesterday morning at two o'clock, the enemy's forces under Gen. Breckinridge attacked Gen. Williams, drove in all of whom I have catechised very closely. They agree very well respecting her exit from the Yazoo and her passing the fleets; they also agree as to the number of killed and wounded on eac of these occasions, making in all eighteen killed 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 obedient servant, D. G. FARRAGUT, Flag-Officer Commanding W. G. Blockading Squadron. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, 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, commanding 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! A patriot hero, he was fighting the battle of his country, and died as went up the cheer of victory! A Christian, he sleeps in the hope of the blessed Redeemer! His virtues we cannot exceed--his example we may emulate-and mourning his death, we pray "may our last end be like his." The customary tribute of mourning will be worn by the officers in the Department. By command of Major-General BUTLER, Commanding. R. S. DAVIS, Captain and A.A. A. General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, NEW-ORLEANS, August 15, 1862. 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 same 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 perse verance in bringing his men in such a state of discipline as to enable them to execute most difficult manœuvres 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 |