Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-06-27
From fha Wantarn rlaet.


Arkansas June l5.-The expedition down
tho River has reached hero without shot
being fred at us. The brig SpitRre captured
the fcbel steamer Clara Dolson to-day 10
Bayou La Gran. She bad 100 bales Of
cotton on board aud is said 10 be worth
100000
MEMPHIS, Juno lo,--An expedition COM
posed Of the gun boats st. Louis, Lexing
ton, Conestoga and Mound City, accom-
panied by transports carrying tho AID and
4eth Ind. Regis, upder Col. Fitch, went
from here somc days since for tho purpose
Of removing distinctions from White river.
{ On the ITth the expedition reached ST.
Charles, SO miles above the mouth, where
tho rebels had erected battery. An en-
gagement ensued, lasting an hour and a
half. While tho gun-boats engaged the
battery, the troops under Col. Fitch landed
short distance below and proceed to storm
tho place. RI
During The cannonading ball entered
the boiler Of the Mound City, causing a
fearful explosion and loss Of life. The crew
consisted Of IT'S, Of whom nearly 1875 were
killed and wounded. The following officers
are among the killed: john Kinzlo, James
ScoviIe, JDo Green, Henry R. Brown, JOS
eph Nixon, Jno. Cox. Capt. Kitty, Flag
Officer, was badly scalded. 1t IS thought
be will recover
Col. Fitch's charge upon the Battery
was perfect success, driving the enemy
at the point Of the bayonet. The rebel
loss was I25 killed and wounded and 80
prisoners. Col. Fitch's loss was small.
CHICAGO, June 2l.-The following fuller
accounts Of the battle with the rebel batter
les on White River is just received from
Memphis, dated June 10th:
"The gunboat Conestoga has arrived
with dispatches containing particulars of
the engagement at the rebel Notifications
below St, Charles, eighty-6ve miles from
Wbi River Cutoff, on the l7lh. The
gun.boats st. Louis, Mound City, LcxiDg.
ton, Conestoga and transport New National,
having on board The 46th Indiana, Col
Fitch, which left here some days ago to
open communication with Gel. Curtis
army, and remove the obstruction from
White River and ascending that stream
The gunboat Mound City, Capt Kelly,
commanding, was about mile and half
in advance when, 10 tho bend of the river,
near St. Charles two concealed batteries
opened on the Mound City. Her decks
were Immediately cleared for action. As
soon as the range was obtained hero guns
opened fire. Capt Kelly signalled to Col
Fitch to land his force mile below the
Fort which was successfully accomplished,
the Lexington and st. Louis sloHing the
woods, under cover of which Col. Fitch
gained the rear Of the rebel position. At
this juncture plunging shot from siege gun
mounted on the bluff struck the forward
and port side Of the Mound City's casemates,
penetrating which it passed through the
steam drum, and filled the vessel with es-
Gaping vapor, scalding nearly every one on
board. Twenty three Of the officers and
crew out Of over one hundred and seventy
FIVE escaped uninjured.
The scene which ensued was horrible; /;
many of the crew frantic from injuries jump
ed overheard, some were drowned. Boats
from the Conestoga, which was coming up
at the time, to support the Mound City,
were sent to their relief, but the rebels fred
on the men in the water with grape and
canister from field pieces, numbering the
most of those attempting to escape.
! Apprised of tho position of affairs at the
river, Col. Fitch drew up his regiment
pushed forward and carried the fort by
storm at the point Of the bayonet The
rebel works consisted of two batteries, the
lower one mounting six field pieces; the
upper one, three heavy siege guns named
by six hundred men, under command of
Col. Fry, late Of the United States Navy.
About two hundred rebels arc said to have
escaped.
Over one hundred and fifty are reported
killed and wounded, and thirty prisoners,
among them Col. Fry, wounded in the
shoulder, were brought up on the Couesto.
ga. Capt. Kelly was severely scalded
about the face and hands, but will recover
Second master Heath, third master Kinzie
fourth master Scovill, masters mate II. r.
Brown, paymaster Gum, chief engineer
John Cox, assistant engineer John NJ. Coffee
and Hollinsworlh were killed pilot Charles
Young was severely scalded, reported since
dead. Surgeon Jones and carpenter Man.
ming were slightly wounded. From eighty
to one hundred of our sailors are already
buried and over twenty are missing Col
Fitch reports few men wounded and none
killed. But for the unfortunate accident
70 the Mound City the rebel works would
bave been carried without loss on our side.
She can easily be repaired. The Flag Of
fficer has sent to Cairo for another crew.
The rebels have obs,ructed the channe
above by sinking two large steamboats, and
have a gun-boat behind, supposed to be
the Mary Pool.
| Victory every SIxty-six Hours.
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