Battle of the American Civil War
Operations Against Baton Rouge
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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.
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Background
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Federal Camp at Baton Rouge prior to the battle.
On April 25, 1862, the day before
New Orleans
fell to the US 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
USS
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, US
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, and 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. 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, en route to engage Union ships near Baton Rouge. The men had a significant amount of materiel, 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 outside of Baton Rouge. 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
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Breckinridge moved to the
Comite River
, 10 miles (16 km) 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 undermanned Confederate ironclad
Arkansas
arrived not long after to engage the Union ironclad
USS
Essex
, but her engines failed just four miles above the city. Her commander ordered
Arkansas
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
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Union Army
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2nd Brigade,
Department of the Gulf
- Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams
(k)
- Col. Thomas W. Cahill
Infantry Regiments
Artillery
- Indiana Battery
- 2nd Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery
- 4th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery
- 6th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery
Union Navy
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Confederate Army
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Breckinridge's Corps:
Maj. Gen.
John C. Breckinridge
First Division:
Brig. Gen.
Charles Clark
(w&c)
; Col. Walter S. Statham
1st Brigade: Brig. Gen.
Benjamin H. Helm
(w)
; Col. Robert P. Trabue
2nd Brigade: Col Walter S. Statham; Col.
Francis M. Walker
Second Division:
Brig. Gen.
Daniel Ruggles
1st Brigade: Col. Albert P. Thompson
(w)
; Col.
Joseph H. Lewis
2nd Brigade: Col.
Henry W. Allen
(w)
; Col. Gustavus A. Breaux
Unattached:
- 9th Louisiana Partisan Rangers Battalion
Artillery:
- Pettus' Mississippi Battery
- Semmes' Confederate Regular Battery
- Cobb's Kentucky Battery
(Bowen's Brigade)
Not Engaged:
Brig. Gen.
John S. Bowen
Confederate Navy
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CSS
Arkansas
; Lieut.
Charles W. Read
Gallery
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Union troops of the 2nd Brigade under the command of General Thomas Williams encamped in the city limits.
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Union troops of the 2nd Brigade under the command of General Thomas Williams encamped in the city limits of Baton Rouge.
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Union Camp Banks, temporary home to the 7th Vermont,
21st Indiana
and Nims' Battery in Baton Rouge photographed in late July 1862.
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These homes near the southeastern flank of the arsenal at Baton Rouge were ordered destroyed by Union Colonel Halbert E. Paine after the surprise attack so that they would not afford shelter to any potential attackers.
References
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Notes
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- Abbreviations used in these notes
- Official atlas:
Atlas to accompany the official records of the Union and Confederate armies.
- ORA (Official records, armies):
War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
- ORN (Official records, navies):
Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.
Citations
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Sources
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External links
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Origins
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Combatants
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Campaigns
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Battles
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Involvement
(by city or town)
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Leaders
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Aftermath
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Related topics
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