No. 56. New Orleans, August 7, 1862. The Commanding General announces to the Army of the Gulf, the sad event of the death of Brig. Gen. THOMAS WILLIAMS, commanding Second Brigade, in camp, at Baton Rouge. The victorious achievement-the repulse of the division of Major General Breckinridge, by the troops led on by Gen. Williams, and the destruction of the mail-clad Arkansas, by Capt. Porter, of the Navy--is made sorrowful by the fall of our brave, gallant and successful fellow-soldier. Gen. Williams graduated at West Point in 1837; at once joined the 4th Artillery in Florida, where he served with distinction; was thrice brevetted for gallant and meritorious services in Mexico, as a member of Gen. Scott's staff. His life was that of a soldier devoted to his country's service. His country mourns in sympathy with his wife and children, now that country's care and precious charge. We, his companions in arms, who had learned to love him, weep the true friend, the gallant gentleman, the brave soldier, the accomplished officer, the pure patriot and victorious hero, and the devoted Christian. All, and more, went out when Williams died. By a singular felicity, the manner of his death illustrated each of these generous qualities. The chivalric American gentleman, 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 should be hurt in the fight! A good general, he made his dispositions and prepared for battle at the break of day, when he met his foe! A brave soldier, he received his death-shot leading his men! A patriot hero, he was fighting the battle of his country, and died as went up the cheer of victory! A Christian, he sleeps in the hope of a blessed Redeemer! His virtues we cannot exceed--his example we may emulate--and, mourning his death, we pray, may our last end be like his." ment. The customary tribute of mourning will be worn by the officers in the Depart BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER : R. S. DAVIS. Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant General. No. 57. New Orleans, August 9, 1862. SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE GULF: Your successes have heretofore been substantially bloodless. Taking and holding the most important strategic and commercial positions with the aid of the gallant Navy, by the wisdom of your combinations and the moral power of your arms, it has been left for the past few days to baptize you in blood. The Spanish conqueror of Mexico won imperishable renown by landing in that country and burning his transport ships, to cut off all hope of retreat. You, more wise and economical, but with equal providence against retreat, sent yours home. Organized to operate on the sea-coast, you advanced your outposts to Baton Rouge, the capital of the State of Louisiana, more than two hundred and fifty miles into the interior. Attacked there by a division of our rebel enemies, under command of a Major General recreant to loyal Kentucky, whom some of us would have honored before his apostacy, of doubly superior numbers, you have repulsed in the open field his myrmidons, who took advantage of your sickness, from the malaria of the marshes of Vicksburg, to make a cowardly attack. The Brigade at Baton Rouge has routed the enemy. He has lost three Brigadier Generals, killed, wounded and prisoners; many Colonels and field officers. He has more than a thousand killed and wounded. You have captured three pieces of artillery, six caissons, two stand of colors, and a large number of prisoners. You have buried his dead on the field of battle, and are caring for his wounded. You have convinced him that you are never so sick as not to fight your enemy if he desires the contest. You have shown him that if he cannot take an outpost after weeks of preparation, what would be his fate with the main body, If your General should say he was proud of you, it would only be to praise himself; but, he will say, he is proud to be one of you. In this battle, the Northeast and the Northwest mingled their blood on the field--as they had long ago joined their hearts-in support of the Union. Michigan stood by Maine, Massachusetts supported Indiana, Wisconsin aided Vermont, while Connecticut, represented by the sons of the ever-green shamrock, fought as our fathers did at Boyne Water. While we all mourn the loss of many brave comrades, we, who were absent, envy them the privilege of dying upon the battle-field for our country, under the starry folds of her victorious flag. The colors and guidons of the several corps engaged in this contest will have inscribed on them-" BATON ROUGE." To complete the victory, the iron-clad steamer Arkansas, the last naval hope of the rebellion, hardly awaited the gallant attack of the Essex, but followed the example of her sisters, the Merrimac, the Manassas, the Mississippi, and the Louisiana, by her own destruction. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER : R. S. DAVIS, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant General. No. 58. New Orleans, August 14, 1862. In compliance with the orders of the War Department, dated July 31, 1862, it is hereby ordered, that the Commanding Officers of the several Brigades, Regiments and Corps within this Department, shall, on Monday, the 18th day of August current, cause each Regiment and Corps under their command to be mustered. "The absentees will be marked, three lists of the same made out, and within forty-eight hours of the muster, one copy will be sent to the Adjutant General of the Army, and one to the Commanders of the Corps. The third is to be retained, and all officers and privates fit for duty, absent at that time, will be regarded as absent without cause. Their pay will be stopped, and they will be dismissed from the service, or treated as deserters, unless restored; and no officer shall be restored to his rank, unless by the judgment of a Court of Inquiry, to be approved by the President, he shall establish his innocence of the charge, that his absence was without cause." BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER : R. S. DAVIS, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant General. |