GENERAL ORDERS No. 61. New Orleans, August 20, 1862. The attention of all officers who have been, and still are discharging the duties of Commissary of Subsistence within this Department, is directed to the following letter from the War Department, received at these Headquarters: "WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Į "Washington, August 15, 1862. Major General B. F. BUTLER, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, La. : "Sir-The Secretary of War desires that you will please instruct all the officers of your command who have done, or may do, duty in the Subsistence Department, to render the returns and accounts required by law and regulations. The Commissary General is ignorant of the names of most of the officers acting as Commissaries in your command, and but one or two have ever rendered any account to him. "I am, sir, very respectfully, [Signed] "Your most obedient servant, E. D. TOWNSEND, Asst. Adjt. General," As well as to the 5th section of General Orders No. 33, issued from these Headquarters, viz: "5. When Commissaries' stores are transferred from one officer to another, duplicate invoices must always be given by the officer transferring, and corresponding receipts returned by the officer receiving. All commissary stores now in the custody of any officer and not accounted for, will be taken up on the Return of Provisions' for this month and accounted for, as required by Army Regulations. Every Commissary will render his accounts promptly to the Commissary General, sending them first for examination to the Chief Commissary, who will transmit them to Washington." Hereafter, every officer doing commissary duty in this Department, will render his accounts by the 15th of each month, and the Chief Commissary will report to the Major General Commanding, the name of every officer who fails to comply with this order. By command of R. S. DAVIS, CAPT. AND A. A. A. G, MAJOR-GENERAL BUTLER. No. 62. New-Orleans, August 25, 1862. The Commanding General has carefully revised the official reports of the action of August 5th, 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 7th 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 outuumbered and almost overwhelmed Indianians. The 7th 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 7th 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 when they are worthy descendants of those who fought beside Allen, an w. à Starke at Bennington. The men of the 9th Connecticut, who were detailed to man Nim's Battery, deserve special commendation. The 14th 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, but for his skill, energy and perseverance in bringing his men in such a state of discipline as to enable them to execute most difficult manœuvers under fire with steadiness and efficiency. His regiment Lehaved admirably. Nim's Battery, 2d Massachusetts, under command of Lieut. Trull, its Captain being confined by sickness; Everett's Battery, 6th Massachusetts, under command of Lieut. Carruth, who fought his battery admirably; Manning's Battery, 4th Massachusetts; and a section of a Battery taken by the 21st Indiana from the enemy, and attached to that regiment, under command of Lieut. Brown, are honorably mentioned for the efficiency and skill with which they were served. The heaps of dead and dying within their range attested the fatal accuracy of their fire. The 6th Michigan fought rather by detachments than as a regiment, but deserves fullest commendation for the gallant behaviour of its officers and men. Companies A. B and F. under command of Capt. Cordin, receive especial mention for the coolness and courage with which they supported and retook Brown's Battery, routing the 4th Louisiana and capturing their colors, which the regiment has leave to send to its native State. Colonel Dudley, 30th Massachusetts Volunteers, has credit for the conduct of the right wing under his command. The 30th Massachusetts was promptly brought into action by Major Whittemore, and held its position with steadiness and suc cess. To the 21st Indiana a high meed of praise is awarded. "Honor whom honor is due." Deprived of the services of their brave Colonel, suffering under wounds previously received, who essayed twice to join his regiment in the fight, but fell from his horse from weakness. With every field officer wounded and borne from the field, its Adjutant, the gallant Latham, killed, seeing their General fall, while uttering his last known words on earth, Indianians, your field officers are all killed-I will lead you," still this brave corps fought on without a thought of defeat. Lieut. Col. Keith was every where, cheering on his men and directing their movements, and even after his very severe wound, gave them advice and assistance. Major Hayes, while sustaining the very charge of the enemy, wounded early in the action, showed himself worthy of his regiment. The 9th Connecticut and 4th Wisconsin Regiments, being posted in reserve, were not brought into action, but held their position. Col. T. W. Cahill, 9th Connecticut, on whom the command devolved by the death of the lamented Williams, prosecuted the engagement to its ultimate glorious success, and made all proper disposition for a further attack. Magee's Cavalry (Massachusetts), by their unwearied exertions on picket and outpost duty, contributed largely to our success, and deserve favorable mention. The patriotic courage of the following officers and privates, who left the hospitals to fight, is specially commended: Capt. H. C. Wells, Company A, 30th Massachusetts; 2d Lieut. Fred. M. Norcross, Company G, 30th Massachusetts; 3d Lieut. Wm. B. Allyn, 6th Massachusetts Battery; 2d Lieut. Taylor, 4th Massachusetts Battery; Sergt. Cheever, 9th Connecticut; Private Tyler, 9th Connecticut. The following have honorable mention: Lieut. H. H. Elliott, A. A. A. General to Gen. Williams, for his coolness and intrepidity in action, and the promptness with which he fulfilled his duties; Lieut. J. F. Tenney, Quartermaster of 30th Massachusetts, who fell severely wounded while acting Aid to Gen. Williams; Lieut. W. G. Howe, of Company A, 30th Massachusetts, acting Aid to Colonel Dudley, dangerously wounded in five places before he quit the field; Lieut. C. A. R. Dimon, Adjutant 30th Massachusetts, acting Aid to Col. Dudley, behaved most gallantly; Lieut. Fred. M. Norcross, 30th Massachusetts, acting Aid to Col. Dudley, for daring courage in the field; Alfred T. Holt, Assistant Surgeon 30th Massachusetts, for humane courage, taking on his back, under a hot fire, the wounded soldiers as they fell; Lieut. G. F. Whitcomb, 30th Massachusetts, gallantly dashing into the smoke of the enemy's musketry, bringing off a caisson left by Manning's Battery. The gallant officer and admirable soldier, Capt. Eugene Kelty, of Company I, 30th Massachusetts, who was ordered to deploy his brave and active company of Zouaves as skirmishers on the right, and in the performance of this duty fell bravely at their head. Lieut. W. H. Gardner, Co. K, 30th Massachusetts, who fell wounded severely, but entreated not to be taken from the field until the battle should be ended. Color Sergeant Brooks, Company C, 30th Massachusetts, and Color Corporal Rogers, Company K, 30th Massachusetts, who lost his left arm. Both behaved admirably during the entire engagement. Private McKenzie, Company B, 30th Massachusetts, who, though wounded, with the bullet still in his body, remained on duty throughout the engagement, and is now at his post. 1st Sergeant John Haley, Company E, 30th Massachusetts, commanded his company bravely and well, in the necessary absence of his line officers. Capt. James Grimsley, Company B, 21st Indiana, who commanded the regiment after Col. Keith was wounded, for his gallant behavior in following up the battle to its complete success. Adjutant Mathew A. Latham, 21st Indiana, instantly killed, while in the act of waving his sword and urging on the men to deeds of valor. Lieut. Chas. D. Seeley, Orderly Sergeant John A. Bovington, Corporal Isaac Knight, and Private Henry T. Batchelor, all of Company A, 21st Indiana, who were killed instantly, while bravely contesting the ground with the enemy. Capt. Noblett, 21st Indiana, detailing men from his company to assist in working the guns in the 6th Massachusetts Battery, after the gunners were disabled, for his supporting Lieut. Carruth and his battery. Lieut. Brown, of the 21st Indiana, commanding a battery, improvised from his regiment, for the efficient manner in which he handled the guns. He deserves promotion to a battery. Capt. Chas. E. Clarke, acting Colonel 6th Michigan Regiment, prevented the enemy from flanking our right, bringing his command at the critical moment to the support of Nim's Battery. Lieut. Howell, Company F, 6th Michigan, and Lieut. A. J. Ralph, acting Adjutant, for intrepidity. Capt. Spitzer, 6th Michigan, in command of the company of pickets, who handsomely held in check the enemy's advance. The fearless conduct of Lieut. Howell, Company F, and Sergeant Thayer, Com |