Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)
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The Battle of Baton Rouge (or Magnolia Cemetery) was a ground and naval battle in the American Civil War fought in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on August 5, 1862. The Union victory effectively ended Confederate attempts to win back Louisiana.
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[edit] Background
On April 25, 1862, the day before New Orleans fell to the U.S. Navy fleet under Admiral David Farragut, the Confederate state government decided to abandon Baton Rouge, moving first to Opelousas, and then to Shreveport. All cotton in the area was set afire to prevent it falling into enemy hands. On May 9, Navy Commander James S. Palmer of the federal gunboat Iroquois landed at the town wharf and took possession, without resistance, of the Pentagon Barracks and the arsenal. Two weeks later, a party of guerrillas attacked a rowboat carrying a naval officer. In retaliation, Farragut's flagship, the Hartford, bombarded the town, causing civilian casualties and damaging St. Joseph's Church and other buildings. On May 29, U.S. Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams arrived with six regiments of infantry, two artillery batteries, and a troop of cavalry, and began the occupation of Baton Rouge.
During the summer, Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, commander of Confederate forces east of the Mississippi, resisted a Union bombardment of Vicksburg. The Confederate ram Arkansas, had arrived down the Yazoo River and inflicted damage on the Union gunships, and was anchored in Vicksburg. Van Dorn desired to regain Louisiana. It was thought that re-taking Baton Rouge would be key, as they could then launch attacks along the Red River on Union occupied territory as well as threaten Union control of New Orleans.
Four thousand men entrained from Vicksburg for Camp Moore, led by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, on July 27, 1862. They were joined by a small infantry division led by David Ruggles at the camp. Simultaneously, the Confederate ironclad ram Arkansas was sailing down the Mississippi River, on its way to engage the Union ships near Baton Rouge. The men had hardly any equipment or supplies, and underfed as they were, fell ill. Half the men were lost. General Williams reportedly had word of the forces' departure from Camp Moore on July 28. On August 4, after information was again received of the imminent arrival of the enemy, Union troops were formed up a mile out of Baton Rouge. However the Union men at Baton Rouge were not in good condition themselves.
[edit] Battle
Breckinridge moved to the Comite River, 10 miles east of Baton Rouge, by August 4, and then marched the men closer at night. The Confederates lost the element of surprise when sentries discovered the rebel troops. The attack was launched on August 5, at daybreak.
The Union troops were in the center of Baton Rouge, while the Confederates were lined up in two divisions, north of the city. The action occurred around Florida Street, and began with the Confederates pushing their opponents all the way across town. Bitter fighting took place, especially around Magnolia Cemetery. The Union commander, Brigadier General Thomas Williams, was killed in action. Colonel Thomas W. Cahill took over.
The colonel led a retreat back to prepared defensive lines near the Penitentiary, under the protection of the Union warships. The Confederate troops began coming under fire from the gunboats. The Arkansas had had a long 200 mile voyage, and lost steering when one of her two engines failed, four miles away from the city. The crew finally set the ram on fire and later scuttled her. This allowed the Union navy to focus on the Confederate ground troops. Breckinridge was forced to abandon the engagement and withdrew to the Comite River.
[edit] Aftermath
The Union buried the dead, many where they fell, with the help of escaped slaves. The fortifications, which had been sketchy, were strengthened extensively.
The town was severely damaged by the battle. It took Baton Rouge several years to recover from the devastation.
Baton Rouge was never taken by the Confederates.
[edit] Order of battle
Union Army
Brig Gen Thomas Williams (KIA)
Col Thomas W. Cahill
Infantry Regiments
- 9th Connecticut
- 21st Indian
- 14th Maine
- 30th Massachusetts
- 6th Michigan
- 7th Vermont
- 4th Wisconsin
Artillery
- Indiana Battery
- 2nd Battery, Massachusetts Light
- 4th Battery, Massachusetts Light
- 6th Battery, Massachusetts Light
Union Navy
- USS Hartford
- USS Westfield
- USS Jackson
- USS Cayuga
- USS Katahdin
- USS Brooklyn
- USS Clifton
- USS Scotia
- USS Kineo
- USS Essex
Confederate Army
Maj Gen John C. Breckinridge
Infantry Regiments
- 4th Alabama
- 31st Alabama
- 35th Alabama
- 3rd Kentucky
- 4th Kentucky
- 5th Kentucky
- 6th Kentucky
- 7th Kentucky
- 4th Louisiana
- 30th Louisiana
- Stewart's Louisiana Battalion
- 22nd Mississippi
- 31st Mississippi
- 19th Tennessee
Artillery
- Pettus' Mississippi Battery
- Confederate Light
[edit] References
- John D. Winters, The Civil War in Louisiana (1963)
- A Harper's Weekly account of the battle
- National Park Service battle description
- Complete Order of Battle
