The Battle of Baton Rouge-- Part 2

During the Battle of Baton Rouge, the Confederates had a secret weapon they were going to use, the ironclad CSS Arkansas which was to assist in the attack.  A force of  2,600 Confederates were to arrive by rail and between the ironclad and those troops they would crush the Union force at Baton Rouge.

The Confederate troops were battle-hardened soldiers from the Battle of Shiloh and they were facing 2,500 inexperienced Union troops.  The battle began at Magnolia Cemetery and hand-to-hand fighting ensued.  The Federals were driven back to the river where their gunboats fired down the city's streets at the advancing Confederates and slowed them down.

Word came that the CSS Arkansas had been scuttled and the Confederates then withdrew.  (I have been writing about John Julius Guthrie, a Confederate naval officer in my Running the Blockade blog these last couple months.  At one time, he was sent to help speed up the construction of the CSS Arkansas.)

The Confederates set up camp at Port Hudson, north of Baton Rouge.

While all this was going on, Union General Grant  was moving against Vicksburg.

--Old Secesh

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Baton Rouge-- Part 2: A Lincoln Connection

Confederate losses at the battle were 467 killed and Union deaths at 382.


A LINCOLN CONNECTION

Two of the Confederate casualties had connections to the Union's president, through his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.  One of the dead was Lt. A. H. Todd and one of the injured was Brigadier General Benjamin Hardin Helm, Marys half brother and brother-in-law.

Early in the battle, two Confederate units mistakenly fired on each other.  Lt. Todd was killed in the exchange of fire.  Helm's horse reared and fell on top of him.  Helms survived, but was killed September 21, 1863 at the Battle of Chickamauga.


AFTERMATH

Very sadly for the Confederacy, the CSS Arkansas was destroyed by its crew the next day to prevent capture.  It exploded near the present-day US-190 bridge in Baton Rouge.

About one-third of the city was destroyed in the battle, mostly near the river so the gunboats would have a clear field of fire.

On August 21st, the Union troops withdrew from the city, but went on a looting and burning spree while doing so.  In December, they returned and burned down the Capitol and occupied Baton Rouge for the remainder of the war.

I Must Admit, I Had Never Heard of This Battle, But Did Know Mary Lincoln Did Have Relatives Fighting for the Confederacy.  --Old Secesh

Tomorrow Marks the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Baton Rouge-- Part 1

From the August 3rd New York Times Opinionator: The Battle of Baton Rouge" by Terry L. Jones.

I had never heard of this battle and even though both navies were very involved, I will include it here.

The Union Navy captured Baton Rouge in May 1862, a few days after New Orleans was occupied.  Little resistance was offered by Confederates who moved the capital 60 miles away to Opelousas.

A few weeks later, Confederate guerrillas fired on Union sailors rowing ashore to get their laundry done.  An angered Flag Officer David Farragut ordered a bombardment of the city that destroyed several buildings and damaged the capitol and St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Union General Thomas Williams landed 2,600 Union soldiers and occupied the city.  He protected Southern homes and was extremely strict on his troops, unlike what New Orleans suffered under the rule of Benjamin Butler.

On August 5, 1862, Confederate General John C. Breckenridge (vice president in the James Buchanan administration and presidential contender in 1860) attacked the city, expecting support from the CSS Arkansas, which developed engine problems en route and was unable to assist.   After some initial success, Union troops made a successful stand near the site of the present-day capitol and with the help of Union ships, drove the Confederates off.

More to Come.  --Old Secesh