Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[705] courage, not only among his own men, but all who were near him in the closing contest, which decided the engagement so favorably and so gloriously for the Confederate arms: For list of casualties I would refer you to papers “A” and “B,” concerning the battle.

I have the honor to be, General,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: The following is a correct report of the part the Fourth brigade took in the late engagement in front of the city of Baton Rouge, on the fifth instant. By order of General Clark, I moved the Fourth brigade across a corn-field, perpendicular to the road, throwing the Fifteenth Mississippi regiment in the woods, deployed as skirmishers, to protect the right. We then moved forward across several fields to the outskirts of the town, when the division was halted till I was ordered to move by the left flank to the road, and then by the front, till they fired on me, which was returned. At that moment we were not more than twenty yards from their lines. About three rounds from our men put them to flight. The fog being so thick, we could not see more than twenty steps. We were then on a line with their camps on the left of the road, and the firing had ceased, when General Clark ordered me to fall back in the ravine some hundred yards to the rear. I about-faced the brigade, and marched back in good order, walking my men in a gully. Soon after, the Second brigade moved obliquely to the left, and engaged them on the left of the road; the right of the Second brigade began to give way, and in twenty or thirty minutes, I suppose, I moved forward to their support, and to their right, engaging the enemy, and a general forward movement was made by our division. About the time we had reached the tents and tops of the hills, orders came to fall back to the bridge, where the stampede had taken place that morning, which we did in as good order as we could after having so severely engaged them. I would beg leave to mention the names of Lieutenant-Colonel Moore, of the Nineteenth Tennessee; Captain Hughes, of the Twenty-second Mississippi, and Adjutant Fitzpatrick, of the Twenty-second Mississippi, as acting gallantly all through the engagement. Captain Hughes fell in the last charge at the head of his men. The Fifteenth Mississippi was held in reserve with a battery, and was not in the fight. The men behaved well, and observed the commands I gave them.

Respectfully submitted,

Sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Thirty-first Alabama regiment, in the action at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the fifth instant. At early dawn on the morning of the fifth instant, the different regiments, composing the Second brigade, of which my regiment formed a part, were assigned their positions in line of battle. After having advanced for considerable distance over very difficult ground, my regiment, with the Thirty-first Mississippi and Fourth Kentucky, was ordered to commence the attack on the enemy's left, which order was executed vigorously, but cautiously, skirmishers being thrown out at different times and places. The fog hovering over the field rendered it impossible to discover what was in our front at a distance of but a few paces. The enemy retired slowly before the well-directed fire which we constantly poured upon them, falling back from their first encampment. On reaching that encampment, my regiment was exposed to a galling fire in front and on the left flank, when we were ordered to fall back. At this point, Lieutenant Childress, of Company K, was mortally, and Lieutenant Hays, of Company G, and Sergeant Loughlin, of Company B, were severely wounded while gallantly fighting, and left on the field. Having fallen back to a small ravine, the line was re-formed, and advanced to dislodge the enemy from their last encampment to our left, which was gallantly done after a severe contest. The order then being given for us to retire, it was executed in good order. Sickness and death had thinned my ranks to such an extent that I only carried into action ninety-seven, rank and file, of which number two were killed and nine wounded. I take pleasure in saying that, although neither of my field-officers were with me, both being absent, sick, I found but little or no difficulty in rallying my men. I saw not a single instance in my regiment, amidst all the galling fires of the enemy, which they withstood, of any officer or soldier being disposed to shrink from his duty, but all seemed to vie with each other in the stern determination to conquer or die. In the last charge made upon the enemy, when they were driven from their last encampment, I am proud to say my regiment was side by side with the foremost in the charge, and when the work was accomplished of driving the enemy from their position, and we were ordered to fall back, they did so in perfect order.

Very respectfully,

dear Sir: I have the honor to make the following