"He took his position on the left of the 21st Indiana, and ordered water to be brought to cool his guns. While thus engaged, three regiments of the Confederates charged the 21st Indiana, and one regiment charged the battery. General Williams, perceiving the perilous position of the regiment, and knowing the consequences of having the center broken, took his position at the head of the regiment, and gave the command to prepare to charge. The regiment fired three volleys (the battalion having breech-loading rifles), and allowed the Confederates to approach within a few rods. General Williams then gave the command: 'Forward! double quick!' and with a deafening cheer they rushed to the charge. The shock of two such masses advancing shook the entire field.
"The struggle was fierce and the slaughter heavy. Four times the rebels made desperate efforts to come from among the tombs and cross the road, but were driven back each time, and finally they retreated in full panic.
"On our right, in the meantime, the rebels, under General Clarke, made a desperate effort to flank us and get in our rear. It was here that the admirable generalship of Williams displayed itself. Anticipating this very movement, he had placed Manning's battery of six pieces, supported by the Wisconsin and Vermont regiments, while the Michigan Regiment was strongly posted at the crossing of the roads and commanding the entire approach of the enemy's left. Here the battle raged fiercely; and after the rebels' flank movement was repulsed and driven back, not to return, here it was that the gallant general fell, at the head of the Indiana and Michigan regiments, but not before victory had lighted up that fine manly face with its glow of triumph.
"This was the signal for a general onset on both sides. Captain Nims lost two of his guns, but charged with his sabres and revolvers and retook them. The 21st Regiment repulsed three times their own numbers, and drove them back in confusion. I was at this time detached with the first platoon of our company (4th Regiment Wisconsin), to skirmish on the extreme left of the line, to prevent a surprise on our flank. I took a position one mile outside the old picket lines, in true Yankee style, behind stumps and trees. The rebels did not think it safe to honor us with a shot. We were fired at, however, by some of our pickets, who were driven in from the front, they mistaking us for rebels. They also reported us to the gunboat Essex as rebels, and she commenced shelling our lines. The rebels were forced back a mile and a half."[[6]]
In General Butler's General Orders we find the following eulogy of General Williams: "A gallant general, an accomplished officer, a pure patriot and victorious hero and a devoted Christian. In choosing his position for the battle he gave up the vantage of the cover of the houses of the city, forming his lines in the open field lest the women and children of his enemies suffer in the fight."
In another report[[7]] honorable mention is made of Sergeant Cheever, Privates Tyler and Clogston for the skill and bravery with which they worked one of the guns when almost in the hands of the enemy, they having left sick beds in order to do their duty.
The courage and steadfastness of the Union troops is all the more remarkable when we remember that as Weitzel says: "None of our men had been in battle and few had been under fire. The entire Union loss in this battle was reported as 77 killed and 240 wounded. Of this number the battery lost four wounded, one detailed from the 9th Connecticut receiving a mortal wound, and one man was captured."
When the conflict was over, General Butler said: "Nims' Battery saved the day," and Breckenridge himself was heard to remark: "If it had not been for that Light Artillery in front, I would have taken the place, I charged it three times, but was knocked back every time." Boston Journal.
Breckenridge had made a speech to his men early that morning promising them to have his band playing in the state house by nine o'clock.
It was expected that another attempt might be made to regain Baton Rouge, as a few days after the battle a flag of truce came in from the Confederates ordering General Paine, the Union leader, to withdraw his forces. Preparations were immediately made for the defense of the city; all public buildings were burned and trees cut down that might interfere with the range of the guns. The men of the battery lay by their guns all night, but the next morning it was found that the enemy had retreated, burning their bridges behind them. A few days later Breckenridge marched his troops to Port Hudson, thirty miles above and began there the construction of heavy batteries.