NEWS FROM REBELDOM: More About the Attack on Baton Rouge; BRECKINRIDGE’S FIRST DISPATCH (8/17/1862)

It will be remembered that BRECKINRIDGE, in a dispatch dated "Ten miles from Baton Rouge, Aug. 6," stated that nothing "decisive" had occurred since the previous dispatch. The following is the missing document:

Receiving a dispatch that the Arkansas would cooperate, I attacked Baton Rouge this morning at daylight, with less than 3,000 men. After a struggle of five hours, we drove the enemy from all points to the arsenal and lower, and to the cover of their gunboats, taking a number of prisoners, several flags, and a considerable quantity of property.

My diminished, exhausted force could not take the arsenal and the troops almost perishing for water, we have withdrawn one mile and a half from the city, but have to resume the attack in half an hour. I think our loss has been as heavy as that of the enemy. Gen. CLARK is mortally wounded. Col. HUNT, of the Fifth Kentucky, and Cols. THOMPSON and ALLEN, of the Fourth Louisiana, and others, severely wounded. The creative force of the enemy, exclusive of the mortarboats, is reported to us as 5,000 strong.

The dispatches dated Aug. 6, stated that the Arkansas failed to come to him, and that she was destroyed on that morning. This completes the history of the attack on Baton Rouge, and disposes of the canard which the Grenada Appeal and its worthy coadjutant, the Chicago Times, have so industriously circulated, that four National regiments had surrendered to BRECKINRIDGE.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND EAST LOUISIANA,
VICKSBURGH, June 28, 1862.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 5. -- Gen. VAN DORN assumes command in person of the defence of Vicksburgh

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4086025/posts

Slow news day and lousy print quality keeps today’s post short.

News from Rebeldom: More About the Attack on Baton Rouge – 2
News from Washington: The Release of Col. Corcoran, Col. Wilcox and Other National Officers – 2-3
Recruiting Horse Marines – 3
Editorial: The National Ordeal – 3
The Draft – Its Apportionment Among the Several Counties of the State – 3
Magoffin Aroused – 3

"Editorial: The National Ordeal – 3"

"...The chief evil we have labored under -- and it might be incident to any form of government -- has arisen from too rapid an accumulation of surplus wealth.

Almost the first remark of intelligent Europeans in visiting our country is of the visible and ostentatious extravagance which pervades nearly all classes of society.
Fabrics, food, drink, jewelry -- everything from a hackney coach to a house-front -- is more expensive and showy than convenience or good taste either demand or admit.
Ladies wear materials for walking dresses, which properly belong to the carriage, opera or ball-room.
Their servants wear dresses the cost of which would have kept them half a year in the old country.
The men are scarcely behind the gentler sex in fantastic profusion of personal adornment and get the better of them altogether in the way of expensive decorations..."

Our good editors are of the opinion that the very expensive war will eliminate such extravagances and return our population to more frugal, humble ways.

And as anybody can plainly see, they were right, and nothing like such extravagances exist, even today, right?

;-)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.