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

Lieutenant: In obedience to an order from your officer, I return the following statements of the action of my regimeht in the battle at Baton Rouge, on the fifth. The brigade was formed in an open field, and ordered to “march forward.” My regiment crossed a lawn into a field, and received a fire from the enemy's skirmishers, when we were ordered to charge. The skirmishers were routed and the regiment halted in a pea patch and ordered to lie down. Here we received a heavy fire, wounding three men. We were again ordered to forward and to charge, which order was executed in gallant style. Passing over the ground occupied by the enemy, we saw the bodies of two dead and three wounded. Another charge brought us into a road near the enemy's camp, through which we charged, and were halted and ordered to fall back by Captain Buckner, of General Breckinridge's staff, who received the order from General Clark, which would have been done in order, but for a regiment in advance of our right, which broke in wild confusion through my regiment, which caught the panic and retired disorderly for a short distance. Aided, however, by the coolness of my company officers and Adjutant, I succeeded promptly in rallying and reforming them in front of the road. Colonel Thompson ordered me to fall back to the road, where we opened fire on the enemy, then advancing from their camps, and kept it up briskly for an hour. The energy advanced cautiously from their camp, under cover of a grove of timber, with the evident intention of turning our left flank. I saw two lines of infantry, with cavalry in the rear. They charged, and the Thirty-fifth Alabama regiment opened and kept up a hot fire from our left, which broke the enemy's lines, and they retired in confusion. Our ammunition was nearly exhausted, the wagons not having come up. General Breckinridge came up on our right, and I reported the want of ammunition to him, and he ordered me to charge the camp with my regiment and the Third Kentucky. We went through the camp and were halted by Captain Buckner, and ordered to retire, which was done in good order. Captain Buckner, by order of General Breckinridge, ordered my regiment to remain and support a section of Semmes' battery, which was posted and remained to protect those engaged in recovery of the wounded and retreat of the stragglers. Captain Wess Jetton, with five men, was sent back to fire the camps. A cloud of smoke soon told that his mission of destruction had been faithfully executed. He reports the burning of large quantities of commissary stores and quartermaster stores, together with numerous boxes of guns and valuable camp equipage. With a single exception, the officers bore themselves gallantly, and too much cannot be said in praise of the conduct of the men. Our infirmary corps kept close at our heels, and promptly removed and took care of the wounded.

I beg to mention the gallant conduct of Joseph Rollins, our color-bearer.

Sir: At nine o'clock P. M., of the fourth instant, pursuant to orders, I marched the Fourth Louisiana regiment, left in front, from this place in the direction of Baton Rouge. Just before daylight I was ordered to halt in an open field. Only a few minutes elapsed before firing began between our pickets and those of the enemy. We were then ordered to fall back behind a hedge, where we remained a very short while, when we recrossed the hedge and marched by the left flank through a narrow strip of wood to a field, enclosed by a thick and impassable hedge fence. Here we formed our line of battle, and were joined by the remainder of the brigade. The word “forward” was given, and all moved off in gallant style. We had not proceeded far when we received a desultory fire from the enemy, which was promptly and effectively returned, causing the enemy to retire. The advance continued, with occasional firing, until we reached an open field on our left. Here the enemy was discovered in considerable force in front and to the left. We were marched by the left flank until our brigade had nearly cleared the woods, when we filed to the left. The Fourth Louisiana had thus filed expecting to meet the enemy at right angles to our original line, when a battery opened on us to our right and in front of the original line. The order was given to charge this battery, which was done in gallant style, the brigade being in a sort of wedge-shape, gradually assuming a line as it approached the battery. A heavy and galling fire was kept up on us by the enemy, who were concealed in the rear of the battery. When within a few paces of the guns of the enemy, Colonel Allen, who was in front, bearing the colors of one battalion of the brigade, was severely wounded, and fell from his horse. Seeing him fall the line faltered, and finally gave way, the troops on the right and centre giving way first. The brigade retired in confusion across the field, through which it had so gallantly advanced. Here, after some little delay, my regiment was re-formed and remained so for some time. No order to advance was given. A section of Semmes' battery came up and prepared for action on our right and the left of the brigade. We were ordered to form in its rear to support it. After great exertion a line was partially formed, but at this point the enemy's artillery opened on us at short range. The right again gave way, followed rapidly by the whole line. The troops, exhausted by fatigue and crying