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

[714] after this on the battle-field I do not know. Tile loss of blood and extreme pain had rendered me almost senseless. To my successor in command I must refer you for further particulars of the fight. The officers and soldiers of this brigade fought with much gallantry, and, with few exceptions, did their duty nobly. I have been informed that, upon my fall, the brigade could not be rallied. This has often happened with the best of troops and the bravest veterans, and should not attach any disgrace to the soldiers. No one charges that the brigade retreated from the enemy, or even retired from the place of danger. The enemy had been whipped, and had fled in every direction. Captain Semmes' battery came up, fired a few rounds upon the retreating foe, and all was over. To my Adjutant, Lieutenant B. W. Clarke, and to my voluntary aid, Lieutenant H. H. Walsh,I am much indebted. They performed their duties with great gallantry, coolness, and bravery. Captain Blount was assigned to duty as Inspector of the brigade. During the journey from Camp Moore he lost his horse, and had been relieved from duty as Inspector by the commanding General. He, however secured a horse, and, in the thickest of the fight, reported himself for duty to me. I gave him, from time to time, several orders to execute, which he did in a very prompt and gallant manner. I see that he is reported a prisoner in New Orleans. This is a mystery to me. Many acts of individual heroism came under my eye, and I shall ever feel proud that I had the honor to command the second brigade in the battle of Baton Rouge. Among all the officers and men who distinguished themselves in that battle, I shall mention only one by name, that is private Cedars, of the West Feliciana Rifles, Fourth regiment Louisiana. He took the colors from me as I fell, and at the same moment received a terrible wound in the thigh.

With respect, I am, truly,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: Colonel H. W. Allen, commander of the Second brigade, Second division, having fallen towards the close of the action of the fifth May, 1862, it becomes my duty, as next in command, to make the report, as far as my knowledge enabled me to do so. My attention was exclusively directed to the action of the Thirtieth Louisiana regiment, which I commanded until the fall of the Colonel commanding.

At 4 1/2 o'clock A. M., our line was formed on the extreme left of the forces, in a point of woods adjoining open and cultivated fields. The ground was broken. We advanced in conjunction with the entire line. As we were about passing out of a little field, we met the enemy, who at once opened a brisk fire upon us, which we returned with good effect, since, in a few minutes, they fled before us. We were ordered “forward.” As the extreme right of the brigade was advancing on a line parallel to a fence, behind which sharpshooters lay in ambush, harassing our flank, the Thirtieth Louisiana was constantly called on to dislodge them, which it did by occasional fires. We soon discovered that the enemy were in considerable force behind a fence, awaiting our approach, at a point from which they fired on our line at an angle of about forty-five degrees. We faced the Thirtieth regiment to them and soon silenced them by a well kept up and directed fire. Meanwhile the Fourth regiment and Boyd's battalion advanced, driving, also, all obstacles before them. It became apparent that the exact location of a battery of the enemy planted in our front, was not known, the fog was too thick to enable us to see well. We, however, advanced, having changed the direction of the line to the left. The fire of the enemy soon revealed its exact position, and to the charge, was sounded. The entire brigade advanced at a double-quick, and in good order, notwithstanding the galling fire poured into our lines. The gallant Colonel Allen, whose bravery cannot be too much extolled, flew at the head of the men, flag in hand, on to the battery, and was soon in possession of its guns, surrounded by his men, while the right drove the infantry away by a destructive fire. Unfortunately, Colonel Allen was wounded, and the shock was terrible among the men of the Fourth regiment, whose confidence seemed to repose mainly on him, and they withdrew in disorder, bearing away their wounded chief. At a short distance I rallied them partially on the line formed by the regiment, on the right of the brigade, but to no good, since enough could not be gathered to push on our advantage. Some time previous to this charge, as I infer from not seeing him in it, Colonel S. Boyd had been wounded and removed from the field. His battalion, stripped of its influence, did not rally after the first charge on the battery. Previous to this, the troops had all behaved with great gallantry. It now became evident that fatigue and thirst were overpowering our men; they could scarcely answer the appeals made to them by courageous men, to whose names justice will be done by those who witnessed their conduct throughout, and which I cannot give, as I only saw them there for the first time. At this time a second Federal battery entered the field, and was opportunely met by a section of Captain Semmes' Confederate States battery. It affords me pleasure to bear testimony to the cool and effective response made by Captain Semmes and Lieutenant West, whom the Fourth and Thirtieth Louisiana regiments fell back to support in this encounter. After a brief and quick fire of the opposing batteries, it was found necessary to withdraw, and the infantry left with it. From