Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-06-24
naval Engagement ON white
River.

River.
Cairo, June 81.
Immediately upon the Occupation of |
Memphis by the Federal forces, Commo-
dore Davis sent out an expedition, compos-
ed Of the gunbcats Mound City, St Louis,
Conestoga and Lexington. accompanied by |
transports carrying the Forty sixth Indi- |
ana Regiment, under Col Fitch. The !
movements of the expedition was kept a
profound secret.
Its object, however, was to remove a
blockade of the White River in Arkansas,
which the rebels had effected, and open
that stream to the commerce of the couu-
try, ard at the same time enable the ship
ment of supplies to GeL. Curtis army in
tina, direction.
The expedition reached the rebel bate
ries near st. Charles, Ark, on Tuesday
morning at daylight, when terrible en-
gagement al once commenced, lasting one
hour and BALI
While the gunboats engaged the battery
the troops under Col. Fitch were disem-
barked, and proceeded to storm the place.
During the cannonading ball entered
the steam drum OF the Mound City, caus-
ing fearful explosion and loss of life.
Her crew consisted of l76 men, of whom
scarcely so escaped unhurt.
The following officers were killed John
Kinzie, James Scoville. John Green, Har-
vey X. Brown. Joseph Nixon, John Cox
all scolded.
Capt. Kelly, Flag Officer of the expedi-
ton was badly scalded. hut will recover.
In the meantime Col. Fitch charged up
on the rebel batteries and drove the enemy
out at the point of the bayonet.
The rebel l1ss was Us killed and 80
prisoners.
The expedition has now gone on another
mission.
Gen. Haileck has occupied Holy Springs,
Mississippi.
The gunboat Cenestoga arrived this P.
NJ, bringing the gunboat Mound City, and
with it the intelligence of a fearful disas-
Ter which occurred to that craft on yester-
day.
The fOtilla on White River, consisting
Of three gunboats. engaged battery of
eight guns at ST. Mary's, sevebty-five miles
from the mouth of the river, and an obsti-
nate battle ensued. A land force under
command of Col. Fitch was put on shore.
and was making an approach in the rear,
| when a rifed shot from the enemy's bate
ries the Mound City and struck the steam
dome on the boiler, causing an instant ex-
plnsion.
The effect was most disastrous. The
whole interior Of the boat, in the immedi,
ate vicinity, was blown out, and the boat
! from stem to stern was filled with scalding
steam. Scarcely man escaped its scath-
| ing effect, and the majority were killed on
the spot. Those who escaped jumped over.
board and swan ashore where the enemy
at once fell upon and killed them.
In this way, out of It's men not above
% escaped, making loss of hundred
and fifty.
The boat was almost riddled, and but for
her great strength must have been torn to
pieces.
The following are the officers lost
Capt a. II. Kelly, of Baltimore, badly
| scalded.
Second Master Hart of Illinois. killed.
Third Master j H. Kirzie, Jr., of Chi
cago. killed. He was scalded and shot.
| Masters Mate Brown, of Cincinnati,
| killed.
Paymaster John NJ Gunn, of New York,
killed Instantly.
Surgeon Jones, of Cincinnati. badly
scalded
The fearful casualty was so unexpected
and so fatal in its effect that the greatest
| CONSERVATION at once prevailed. Of the
tew who escaped, but a portion are entire>
ly unharmed.
The FlagsOfcer at once signaleG to cease
firing, and the rebels, thrown off their
| guard, were taken unawares by Col. Fitch
who captured the whole body, some 800
with their guns.
The were brought up by the Cpnestoga,
which also brought the survivors of the
Mound City.
OF ali the officers of the boat, but three
escaped alive.
The butchery Of unarmed and fving
| men on shore was brutal to the last degree
They sought safety and gave themselves up
| as prisoners, but were killed without mer-
| cy. But few who reached the shore esca-
| ped alive.
| The boat presented scene of desola-
! ton never equalled in the records of this
! war.
Over 100 dead and dying men, scalded
and torn asunder, were stretched on her
| gun-decks and upper works, while the boat
itself was shattered by the force of the ex
! plDsiUn and strewed with debris and mate.
| rial.
The force of the steam was 30 great that
the wood -work, tunnels, and a vast cloud
of matter, were blown high into the air.
and mingled with the dead bodies of the
Inflated crew, many of whom were thrown
almost to shore.
Cairo June %.
The engagement on the White River
commenced Immediately after daylight
1t was opened by the gunboats, which pro
ceeded to shell the rebel batteries The
| commanding was very brisk on both sides,
lasting one hour and half
The Mound City was struck early IL the
action. Numbers of her crew iumped
overheard and attempted 10 swim ashore
when the rebel commandant, Col. FRY dis
covered this, he ordered his men to fire
upon the stragglers, and most of them were
killed before reaching land. Those who
succeeded in getting ashore were murdered
In cold blood.
When the Mound City was disabled there
was but one iron clad boat, the St. Louis
left TO carry on the bombardment
The Cunestoga and Lexington, being
wooden vessels could not be safely moved
up into close range.
Col. Fitch thereupOn had an interview
with the naval officer, which resulted in
the withdrawal of the gunboats entirely
Col Fitch then disemharked his reci-
nIent close under the rebel guns, and, di-
recung his men to give no quarter to an
enemy that had shown no mercy. ordered
a charge with fxad bayOnets. The men
responded with shouts and sheers, and.
rushing up the bluff with an impetuosity
that knew no resistance, they scaled the
enemys works, bayoneting all who came in
their way. One hundred and twenty of
the rebels were thus killed, aud thirty of
them wounded and taken prisoners.
Col. Fry was the CnIy one eantured nm
hurt. He was formerly an officer in the
Federal army.