Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-06-26
The war News Of lhs Past week.

The most important item of the war new
received during the week ending Wednesday
June 25, is that relating to the expedition which
sailed from Memphis on the 18th instant, ~
White river, Arkansas, for the purpose ofclear
Ing the river of obstrucllOps and opening com
municatIon with General CURTIS, In order tc
cooperate with him In his operations 10 Arkan.
sas. ~.
White river is deep and navigable stream,
and whoever has command Of 1t, can, In great
measure, also control the Arkansas tiver. Il
was, morsoverI considered matter Of no small
consequence to have White river free from reb
el gunbosts, several of which, including the
Van Dorm, which escaped from Memphis up
White river, were supposed to be lurking on
the waters tributary TO the Mississippi; these
being met and overcome, clean work. would be
made of 'ha rebellion as our armies moved
slong
The expedition contested Of four gunboats,
the ST. Louis, Lexington, ConestOga, and Mound
City, and the FOrty-third and Forty.sixsh Indi-
ana regiments, commanded by Colonel FlTcH.
The expedition vas smoothly proceeding up
White river, and on the l7th inst, had reached
st. Charles, point eighty Eve miles up the
stream, when two rebel b. tesies on bluf In
bend Of the river,. opened Are on the Mound
City, which was in advance of the rest of the
feet. 10 the mean time, Col FrroH landed bis
troops some two and half milss below and
while two other boats of ;he squadron sheiled
the rebels, he gained the rear Of the ensny's
position. Z ~ s rs.- e IS -.. {
Jass then a shot from siege gun in one Of
the rebel batteries penetrated the steam drum
OF the Mound City, and . fatal issue of steam
was the Immediate consequence. The result Of
the catastrophe was most lamentsble; Of one
hundred and sevsnEy.fve officers and men on
board, only twenty-thFee, IL is stated. escaped
unhurt. Eighty Of the crew aEs said to have
beer buried after the eDgagement was over.
Words would DO out of place in attempting q
description Of the painful scene. oOe horrid
ieaEure OF the Gaze az reported, it Is 70 bs
hoped, will be changed by further testimony
IL is said that the rebels fred grape and canis-
les shot upon the scAlded men who, in agony
and despair, had thrown themselves in the wa
ter, and on the boats which came to their re-
hef. For the honor Of human nature and
American manhood, we repeaS the hope that
this statement may prove ertOneoos.
Col. FITCH signAled the feet 10 cease firing
while he made an assault, and the batteries
we're carried by bis troops in the most dashing
and gallant manner, and with no lees Of life
The rebel infantry were driven from the sup
port of the guns, the gunnsrs were shot at their
posts, their commanding officer, FRYE (form.
erly Of the United States navy), was wounded
and taken prisoner, and eight brass aud iron
guns, with ammunition, were captured. The
enenny's loss in killed and wounded IL estimated
at one hundred and twenty 1--we. Our loss was
caused solely by the escaping steam on board
the Mound City. The boat was expected TO be
repaired and ready 70 proceed With the e1pedi-
tion the next dayssfos gissi q s.gs1.s !.
Cumberland Gap, one Of the most important
strategic positions In the rebel COnfederAcy, is
now IN our possession. Early on the morning
Of the 18Th inst the army commanded by Gen.
GEo. W. MoReAN commenced its march 70 at.
tack the enemy at the Gap, but on their arrival
ls was ascsrtained he had evacuated the posi-
lion but few hours previous, The march is
represented as having been arduous IN the ex-
RENE, and The conduct Of both officers and men
Is bigly praised. g ALI 2
II seems that the report published in, New
Orleans ofthe surrender Of Fort Morgan ct the
sntrancs Of Mobile Bay, is incorrect. - 4
Through that, rebel sheet, the Charleston
Mercury, accounts have been received Of bat
lie four miles from tbst city, on the 10Th inst d
between the Federal forces and the rebel tfoopss
In which, according to the Mercury, TIE Feder-
Als were repulssd. The MWeavy states the
rsbeI loss at forty killed and one hundred
rounded and sage they buried one hundred and
lossy Yankees, and took seventy prisoners. Il /
,lsc estimAtss shAs odi troops carried ca four
Iundred wounded from the Geld. Bat as the