Battle of Baton Rouge (1862)

The Battle of Baton Rouge 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 halted Confederate attempts to recapture the capital city of Louisiana.[3]

For the battle during the American Revolutionary War, see Battle of Baton Rouge (1779).
Battle of Baton Rouge
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the
American Civil War

The Battle of Baton Rouge by Currier & Ives
DateAugust 5, 1862 (1862-08-05)
Location
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
30.4510°N 91.1676°W / 30.4510; -91.1676
Result Union victory
Belligerents
 United States  Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Williams †
Thomas W. Cahill		 John C. Breckinridge
Charles W. Read
Charles Clark (POW)
Strength
2,500 2,600
Casualties and losses
371 killed, wounded and missing 478 killed, wounded and missing
Baton Rouge
Location within Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge (the United States)
Map depicting Louisiana and approaches to New Orleans as depicted during the Civil War.[1]
Map depicting Battle of Baton Rouge, August 5th 1862.[2]

Background
Federal Camp at Baton Rouge prior to the battle.

On April 25, 1862, the day before New Orleans fell to the US 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 Union hands. On May 9, Navy Commander James S. Palmer of the federal gunboat USS 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, US Brigadier General 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, Major General Earl Van Dorn, commander of Confederate forces east of the Mississippi, resisted a Union bombardment of Vicksburg. The Confederate ironclad ram Arkansas had come down the Yazoo River, inflicting damage on the unprepared Union fleet as she passed through, and was anchored in Vicksburg. Van Dorn desired to regain Baton Rouge. It was thought that re-taking Baton Rouge would be key to driving the Union out of Louisiana, as they could then launch attacks along the Red River on Union-occupied territory, and threaten Union control of New Orleans.

5,000 men entrained from Vicksburg for Camp Moore, led by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, on July 27. They were joined by a small infantry division led by Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles at the camp. Simultaneously, the Arkansas was sailing down the Mississippi River, en route to engage Union ships near Baton Rouge. The men had a significant amount of matériel, and were well fed. 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 outside of Baton Rouge. The Union men at Baton Rouge were not experienced, and were in training camp for only two weeks before being sent to Baton Rouge. The troops had few supplies because most were in New Orleans, which was considered more important.

Battle

Breckinridge moved to the Comite River, 10 miles (16 km) east of Baton Rouge, by August 4, and then marched the men closer at night. The Confederates lost the element of surprise when they were discovered by Union sentries. Despite this, the attack was launched at daybreak on August 5.

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 Confederate ram Arkansas arrived not long after but her engines failed just four miles above the city. Her commander ordered her set afire to prevent her capture. Without any prospect of naval support, Breckenridge was unable to attack the Union positions and withdrew. Union troops evacuated the city a week later, concerned for the safety of New Orleans, but returned that autumn. Confederates occupied Port Hudson, which they held for almost another year.

The "Battle of Baton Rouge Commemorative Ceremony" is held every year on the first Saturday in August in and around Magnolia Cemetery, sponsored by the Foundation for Historical Louisiana.

Order of battle

Union Army

2nd Brigade, Department of the Gulf

Brig Gen Thomas Williams (killed)
Col Thomas W. Cahill

Infantry Regiments

Artillery

  • Indiana Battery
  • 2nd Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery
  • 4th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery
  • 6th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery

Union Navy

The USS Essex, which saw action in the battle
The Essex fires on the burning Arkansas
A line engraving of the battle published in Harper's Weekly, 1862

Confederate Army

Breckinridge's Corps

Maj Gen John C. Breckinridge

Infantry Regiments

  • 4th Alabama
  • 31st Alabama
  • 35th Alabama
  • 3rd Kentucky
  • 4th Kentucky
  • 6th Kentucky
  • 7th Kentucky
  • 9th Kentucky
  • 4th Louisiana
  • 30th Louisiana
  • Stewart's Louisiana Battalion
  • 22nd Mississippi
  • 31st Mississippi
  • 19th Tennessee

Artillery

  • Pettus' Mississippi Battery
  • Semmes' 1st Regular Battery Confederate Light

Confederate Navy
  • Union troops of the 2nd Brigade under the command of General Thomas Williams encamped in the city limits.
  • Union troops of the 2nd Brigade under the command of General Thomas Williams encamped in the city limits of Baton Rouge.
  • Union Camp Banks, temporary home to the 7th Vermont, 21st Indiana and Nims' Battery in Baton Rouge photographed in late July 1862.
  • These homes near the southeastern flank of the arsenal at Baton Rouge were ordered destroyed by Union Colonel Halbert E. Paine after the surprise attack so that they would not afford shelter to any potential attackers.
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References
Abbreviations used in these notes
Official atlas: Atlas to accompany the official records of the Union and Confederate armies.
ORA (Official records, armies): War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
ORN (Official records, navies): Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.
  1. ORN I, v. 18, p. 131.
  2. Official Atlas, Plate XXIV.
  3. "CWSAC Battle Summaries - Baton Rouge". American Battlefield Protection Program. U.S. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  • Winters, John D. (1991). The Civil War in Louisiana. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 0-8071-1725-0.
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