The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-06-28
The Battle on white River.

1
| In our. War News last week we stated
| that Col Fitch with his regiment. accom-
panied by several gunboats, had gone to
White River, in Arkansas, to look up the
remains of the rebel fleet in that quarter.
We now have the details of brilliant
action of the expedition with some rebel
batteries near St CHARLIE, ON White river,
but accompanied with accounts of deplo-
rable disaster to the federal gunboat
Mound City. This gunboat had led the
advance and engaged two formidable rebel
batteries erected on bluff commanding
the river, and after firing 81 shots and
silencing one of the batteries, was struck
by a rebel shot entering port hole and
passing through her steam drum and
heater. In an instant, the whole boat
was enveloped in scalding steam, and out
of LIS men on board, but Is escaped being
badly scalded; and of ] so injured, scarcely
25 will survive-indee6 100 are already
dead.
The Mound City was commanded by C
| Dominy, whose parents reside in the town
of Fall River, in this county. He was one
of only three officers that escaped. His
| conduct, in this trying hour is described
as having been all that was manly and
heroic A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Ga-ens says:
When the accident occurred, Master
Dominy was standing out forward, on the
starboard spar deck (the only man then
on the deck, Capt. Kelly being at his post
in the pilot-house), giving orders during
the hail of cannon, rifle, and musketry
shot. Discovering the flow of steam, Dom
my pulled off his coat, with which he
covered his head, begging his men " For
Gods sake not to jump overheard" He
next went to the stern, waved his hand
kerch;ef for the gunboats below to come
up and tow the disabled Mound City out
from under the rebel batteries-42 pound
ers-whIeh were playing on her very heavy
at the time. Whilesignaling the gunboats
to come UP, the handkerchief was shot
out Of his hand. As fast as he pulled his
men out of the water at the stern of the
Mound City, the enemy's sharpshooters
shot them down. Quartermaster McKane,
and one Of the coal beavers, were both
shot while Dominy was pulling them out.
The following is Col. Fitch's first official
report to Gen. Quimby: .."
ST. CuAn.s (wnrrs RIvEa,. Ark,
June Il, 1867
To Brisadier General olimLy, commanding D..ric. Of
the Mississippi:
SlR-On arriving eight miles below here
last evening, we ascertained that the enemy
had two batteries here, supported by a
force (num5er unknown) of infantry. A
combined attack was made at a m. to-
4 1
Goth Indiana) landed two and half
miles below the batteries. Skirmishers
were thrown out, who drove in the enemy's
pockets The gunboats then moved up
and opened on their batteries. a rihed
shot from one Of the batteries penetrated
the steam, drum Of the Mound City, dis
ablinc, by scalding, most of her crew
Apprehensive some similar acciednt might
happen other Of the gunboats, and thence
leave my small force without their support,
| signaled the gunboats to cease firing,
and we would storm the batteries. They
ceased at exactly the right moment, and
my men carried tie batteries calamity.
The infantry were driven from support of
the guns,-the gunners shot at their posts
their commanding officer Fry, formerly
of the United States Navy, wounded and
captured, and eight brass and iron guns
with ammunition captured. The enemys
loss is unknown. We have buried seven
or eight of their dead Others dead and
wounded, are being brought in. The
casualties among my command are few
and simple the only real loss being from
the escaping steam in the Mound City.
She will probably be repaired, ready to
proceed up the river to morrow. ..
A full report will be made as early as
possible. ..s
Very respectfully. yorus,
G. y. FIrCH,
Col. Commanding Forty sixth Ind. Volunteers.