Battle of Baton Rouge

On April 25, 1862, the day before New Orleans fell to the U.S. 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 enemy hands. On May 9, Navy Commander James S. Palmer of the federal gunboat 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, U.S. Brig. Gen. 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, Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, commander of Confederate forces east of the Mississippi, resisted a Union bombardment of Vicksburg. The Confederate ram Arkansas, had arrived down the Yazoo River and inflicted damage on the Union gunships, and was anchored in Vicksburg. Van Dorn desired to regain Louisiana. It was thought that re-taking Baton Rouge would be key, as they could then launch attacks along the Red River on Union occupied territory as well as threaten Union control of New Orleans.

Four thousand men entrained from Vicksburg for Camp Moore, led by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, on July 27, 1862. They were joined by a small infantry division led by David Ruggles at the camp. Simultaneously, the Confederate ironclad ram Arkansas was sailing down the Mississippi River, on its way to engage the Union ships near Baton Rouge. The men had hardly any equipment or supplies, and underfed as they were, fell ill. Half the men were lost. 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 out of Baton Rouge. However the Union men at Baton Rouge were not in good condition themselves.

Battle
Breckinridge moved to the Comite River, 10 miles east of Baton Rouge, by August 4, and then marched the men closer at night. The Confederates lost the element of surprise when sentries discovered the rebel troops. The attach was launched on August 5, at daybreak.

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 Arkansas had had a long 200 mile voyage, and lost steering when one of her two engines failed, four miles away from the city. The crew finally set the ram on fire and later scuttled her. This allowed the Union navy to focus on the Confederate ground troops. Breckinridge was forced to abandon the engagement and withdrew to the Comite River.

Referenc: John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana (1963)