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

[715] this time there was no more fighting on the left. Coming into command of the brigade at the close of the battle, and after it became disorganized, I am unable to give any particulars beyond those which refer to my regiment. I cannot close, however, without bearing witness to the bravery and gallantry of Colonel Allen, so conspicuous to us all.

I am, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: For the action of my regiment in general, during the battle of the fifth of August, at Baton Rouge, I beg to refer you to the report circumstances have compelled me to make in the stead of Colonel Allen. For troops who had never been under fire before, the Thirtieth Louisiana acted with great bravery and gallantry. Conspicuous among the officers who distinguished themselves, I take pleasure in mentioning Captain Trepagnier, who lost his life in all probability, and Lieutenant Dupremont, of Picket cadets, who was also wounded. I have the satisfaction of stating that men and officers were zealous in their efforts to beat off a superior force. The regiment, throughout, rallied and presented a good ,line whenever called on. After the partial disorganization of the brigade, which the loss of its commander temporarily produced, and when it became evident that the left must fall back, this regiment did so in an orderly manner and under orders.

Very respectfully,

Sir: Pursuant to circular order, just received, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Sixth regiment Kentucky volunteers in the battle of the fifth instant, and the orders received from the commanding Generals. This regiment occupied the extreme left of the First brigade, Second division, Colonel A. P. Thompson commanding. At a little before daylight the troops were drawn up in line, this regiment in the open field, the left resting about two hundred yards to the right of a dense forest, in which Colonel Allen's brigade was formed. At daylight the command, “forward,” was given by General Ruggles, and we moved forward a short distance and halted by the order of the same officer, who was present in person. We were very soon ordered forward again, when we moved, encountering rough ground, hedges, fences, ditches, and a luxuriant growth of weeds and grass, altogether rendering even tolerable alignment and steady marching impossible. Passing on over this character of ground for nearly one mile, the enemy's skirmishers fired on us, doing no injury, but falling back as we advanced, until we arrived immediately in front of the enemy's camp. Here he engaged us warmly from a strong position in a heavy forest, but charging forward we drove him from his position, and my regiment passed nearly through the camp, when we observed a battery on our left, say one hundred yards, and a little in front. This battery was nearly silenced by an oblique fire from my left wing, and would have been easily taken but for the fact that the right of the brigade was retiring. Seeing no cause for the retreat on account of any movement or fire of the enemy, my regiment was ordered back, presuming the brigade was ordered to retire, which I since learned to have been the case. This retreat enabled the enemy to regain his battery, which he did promptly, and opened a furious fire with grape, canister, and shrapnell, on our flank. From the nearness of the guns, he did no serious damage. We continued to move to the rear some two hundred yards, when we re-formed and returned to a fence in front of a graveyard, where we halted and opened fire on the enemy who had re-formed and reoccupied his original position, from which we had just driven him. This position both parties held with great stubbornness, and an almost incessant fire was kept up for one hour. At this place I sustained nearly all the loss of the day. My position was very much exposed during this time, having no shelter but a thin picketfence, and being on ground elevated some eighteen inches above any ground in front between my line and the enemy. This position was maintained until an order to charge was given, and the enemy driven under his gunboats, when the regiment returned with the brigade to camp, having sustained a loss of five killed and seventy-three wounded, several mortally. I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without returning my thanks to the officers and men of the regiment for the gallant manner in which they bore themselves during the whole engagement. From a want of commissioned officers, I caused the eight companies of the regiment to be consolidated into four companies, placed respectively under Captains Isaac Smith, Utterback, and Thomas G. Page, and First Lieutenant Frank Harned. It is proper for me to say that I was not in the last charge, having been carried off the field too much exhausted and overcome to Be able to go forward.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,