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[307] The Fourteenth Maine rallied, and supported by the Massachusetts and Nim's battery, returned to the attack, and drove the enemy back with great slaughter. The fiercest part of the conflict at this tide of the battle occurred before and within a house which the rebels obstinately determined to get possession of. The most conspicuous of the rebels at this place was a huge negro, armed and equipped with knapsack, musket and uniform. He led the rebels, and met his death at the hands of one of our men. Pressed back by our left, and our ground regained, the battle raged in front with desperate fierceness. So silently did the rebels approach, and so well were they concealed, that they were in the cemtery and drawn up in battle array without our knowing it. With a yell they rushed up to the fence, dashed through it and across the road, bearing every thing before them. At one time the opposing forces were hand to hand, and our handful of men were driven out of their camps and back into the town; but rallied on every hand by their officers and the cool daring of Gen. Williams, assisted by the gunboats that began to fire shell on each flank with perfect accuracy and deadly effect, our troops bravely rushed to the front and down the entire rebel centre, back across the road into and beyond the cemetery, from which they were not able again to emerge. Four times they made desperate efforts to come out from behind the tombs and cross the road, but each time they were driven back, until finally they were in full panic retreat. Our own men were too much exhausted to pursue. On our right, in the mean time, the rebels under General Clarke made a desperate effort to flank us, and get in our rear. It was here that the admirable generalship of Williams displayed itself. Anticipating this very movement, he had placed Manning's battery of six pieces, supported by the Wisconsin and Vermont regiments, while the Michigan regiment was strongly posted at the crossing of the roads, and commanding the entire approach of the enemy's left. Here the battle raged fiercely, and after the rebels' flank movement was repulsed and driven back, not to return. Here it was that the gallant General fell at the head of the Indiana and Michigan regiments; but not before victory had lighted up that fine manly face with its glow of triumph. I am convinced that had Williams not fallen, he would have destroyed the whole of the rebel forces. By ten A. M. all firing had ceased, and the enemy had retired with haste, and left over three hundred of his dead on the field of battle. Every one of his dead was buried by our men, except many who died in the retreat, or were killed by the long-reaching shells of our gunboats. The field presented evidences of the desperation of the combats at the crossing of the roads, where the rebels had endeavored to flank us, and where they were met by the Indiana and Michigan regiments. The men fought hard. Those who had lost their arms tore up the rails from the fences. More than one rebel was found dead who had been killed in this way. In one spot behind a beautiful tomb, with effigies of infant children kneeling, twelve dead rebels were found in one heap. Every where they strewed the earth, and made ghastly the quiet graveyard under which they soon lay, victims to a madness which, if much longer persisted in, will make the entire land red with blood; for the rebellion must be crushed, if we have to use the last, most certain, but most fatal weapon left us. Let us pray that they will not force us to this last dread alternative — that they will return to reason in time, and dismiss the bitter hatred which they nourish in their hearts against us. Let them remember that as “love begets love,” so do scorn and hatred beget their like; and let them be assured that it will be a sorry day for Southern homes when the fierce fires of rage and hate begin to burnt in the Northern heart. I am convinced that as yet there is little of that feeling existing; but it will come.

To return to our feeble account of this battle. The enemy were repulsed; their short-lived Arkansas blown to atoms, in retreat and discomfiture they have returned to Camp Moore — ay, this time, those who have been practising guerrilla warfare and assassinating defenseless wounded soldiers, have been punished. The inhabitants of certain villages, who sit listless on the levee as a man-of-war passes up or down, spring into life and bring out the murderous double-shot gun to fire upon the hospital-ships — these gentry will find that they can be made to suffer and feel. Our gallant army at Baton Rouge, in their first battle, have behaved like veterans. Let us praise the living and mourn the dead, and cry: “Long live the Republic! Death to traitors and aristocrats! Death to the man who stabs our common mother, the Union!” If she must die, let us all die with her. Let not a man, woman or child live after her.



A soldier's account.

New-Orleans, August 9, 1862.
The troops were posted as follows, from right to left: Thirtieth regiment Massachusetts, Sixth Michigan, Twenty-first Indiana, Seventh Vermont, Fourteenth Maine, Ninth Connecticut, Fourth Wisconsin and Fourth Massachusetts battery posted on the left, supported by Ninth Connecticut, and Fourth Wisconsin; Everett's battery, Sixth Massachusetts, supported by Fourteenth Maine and Seventh Vermont; Second Massachusetts battery, Captain Nim, supported by Twenty-first Indiana;------battery, supported by Sixth Wisconsin and Thirtieth Massachusetts.

The Fourteenth Maine, Twenty-first Indiana and Sixth Wisconsin, were the first regiments engaged. They held in check about eight thousand confederates for about one hour, when they were forced back a quarter of a mile, the confederates occupying their camps, which they destroyed. (On account of a heavy fog, the Seventh Vermont, Ninth Connecticut and Fourth Wisconsin were not able to ascertain the exact position of the enemy, and were of but very


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