Battle of Baton Rouge (Magnolia Cemetery) Part of the American Civil War USS Essex, which saw action in the battle Date August 5, 1862 Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana Result Union victory Combatants Confederate States of America United States of America Commanders John C. Breckinridge Thomas Williams† and Thomas W. Cahill Strength 2600 2500 Casualties 478 dead 371 dead Lower Seaboard Theater Fort Sumter - Santa Rosa Island - Fort Pulaski - Forts Jackson and St. Philip – New Orleans – Secessionville – Simmon's Bluff – Tampa – Baton Rouge – 1st Donaldsonville - St. John's Bluff - Georgia Landing - 1st Fort McAllister - Fort Bisland – Irish Bend – Vermillion Bayou - 1st Charleston Harbor – 1st Fort Wagner – Grimball's Landing – 2nd Fort Wagner – 2nd Fort Sumter – 2nd Charleston Harbor - Plains Store – Port Hudson - LaFourche Crossing – 2nd Donaldsonville – Kock's Plantation – Stirling's Plantation - Fort Brooke - Gainesville - Olustee - Natural Bridge

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. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert Edward Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... USS Essex 1856 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: Red Stick Motto: Authentic Louisiana at every turn Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish East Baton Rouge Parish Founded 1699 Incorporated 16 January 1817 Mayor Melvin Kip Holden (D) Area    - City 204. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (April 3–April 10, 1865) Largest city New Orleans... John C. Breckinridge This article is about the politician and Confederate General. ... His Eminence Thomas Stafford Cardinal Williams ONZ (born 20 March 1930 in Wellington) is a Cardinal and the Emeritus (retired) Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand. ... This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Lower Seaboard Theater of the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Robert Anderson P.G.T. Beauregard Strength 85 soldiers 500 soldiers Casualties 1 dead, 5 injured 4 injured The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12 – April 13, 1861), a relatively minor military engagement at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... The Battle of Fort Pulaski was fought on April 11, 1862, between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ... The Battle of Forts Jackson and St. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Officer David G. Farragut and Maj. ... The Battle of Secessionville occurred on June 16, 1862 in the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders A.J. Drake J.W. Pearson Strength 1 gunboat Osceola Rangers, company Casualties 0 0 The Battle of Tampa was a minor engagement of the American Civil War fought June 30–July 1, 1862, between the United States Navy and... The Storming of Fort Wagner Fort Wagner (also called Battery Wagner) was a fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor. ... The Storming of Fort Wagner Fort Wagner (also called Battery Wagner) was a fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor. ... The Second Battle of Fort Sumter was fought from August 17 to September 9 of 1863 between Union and Confederate forces. ... The Battle of Plains Store or the Battle of Springfield Road was fought May 21, 1863 in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, during the campaign to capture Port Hudson in the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Nathaniel P. Banks Franklin Gardner Strength XIX Army Corps, Army of the Gulf Confederate forces, 3rd District, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, Port Hudson Casualties 5,000 7,208 The Siege of Port Hudson occurred in the summer of... Gainesville, site of a crucial railroad junction and depot in north central Florida, was the scene of small-scale fighting during the Civil War. ... The Battle of Olustee was a battle in the American Civil War which took place near Lake City, Florida on February 20, 1864. ... The Battle of Natural Bridge was a battle during the American Civil War, fought near Tallahassee, Florida on March 6, 1865. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert Edward Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Capitol Building Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, a state of the United States of America. ... This Article does not cite its references or sources. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (April 3–April 10, 1865) Largest city New Orleans...

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. April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Admiral David Glasgow Farragut David Glasgow Farragut (July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... His Eminence Thomas Stafford Cardinal Williams ONZ (born 20 March 1930 in Wellington) is a Cardinal and the Emeritus (retired) Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand. ...

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. Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Earl Van Dorn Earl Van Dorn (September 17, 1820 – May 7, 1863) was a Confederate Major General during the American Civil War. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... Vicksburg is a city located in Warren County, Mississippi, 234 miles (377 km) north by west of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers. ... hTe Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi and the second longest tributary of the Mississippi River that flows into that river from the east (the longest is the Ohio River). ...

Four thousand men entrained from Vicksberg 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. John C. Breckinridge This article is about the politician and Confederate General. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ...

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 attach was launched on August 5, at daybreak. August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ...

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.

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.

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 John C. Breckinridge This article is about the politician and Confederate General. ...

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 Tennesee

Artillery

• Pettus' Mississippi Battery
• Confederate Light

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