Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-25

I
be On attempt on the part Of the enemy TO
board the Mound City, but which after
ward proved to be for the purpose Of firing
on the soalded men in the river, which the
prisoners say they did at the command Of
Captain Fry. The field pieces of the lower
battery were also turned upon the boats
that we're picking up the wounded, and
twelve pound shot knocked away the bows
Of one Of the Conestoga's boats. Many
were hit by the firing and sunk before the
boats could reach them, and only twenty
seven out of the Mound City crew Of one
hundred and eighty, answered to their
names at the calling Of the roll, and were
all that escaped unhurt
Another singular accident now occurred
The Mound City starboard broadside guns
had been loaded just before the shot struck
the steam drum, and had not been fired
since, but nearly half an hour afterward
one Of the wounded guRners had become
entangled in the lanyard which is attached
to the lock Of the gun, and in his writhing
with the pain fired the gun. The ball took
effect on the New National which had
landed her troops and come up to the res
cue Of the Mound City. The ball struck
her behind the wheel, and ranging forward
cut off the steam pipe, Immediately dis
abling her and slightly scalding the second
engineer.
Col. Fitch. who had now gained the sum
NIT of the ridge short distance below the
lower battery, fearing that one Of the 9th
er gunbOats might meet with an accident
similar to the Mound Citys, signaled the
gunboats to cease firing, and that he would
oforvv, tho bo otfawioo Tho ,oo,.1
ingly ceased firing and after making con-
siderable of a detour, the 10th attacked the
batteries in the rear, delivering their fire
as they came up, charging over the guns,
and killing the gunners at their posts.-
The rebels fought stubbornly, asking no
quarter and receiving none from the men
Of the 46th, who were enraged at the das-
tardly firing upon the helpless men in the
river; only two of those who were in the
battery we're taken prisoners the rest were
killed. The Indiana troops then came over
the brow of the ridge and down into the
wooded bottom land next the river, in pur-
suit Of those who had been firing on the
Mound City's crew, the rebels retreating
rapidly up the bank of the river, the 46th
firing on them as they fed, killing the
greater portion Of them. In the flight
Capt. Fry, their commander, was wounded
by q ball in the back, was captured, and is
now a prisoner on board the Conestoga.-
The rebel loss in killed is not known, but
must have included the greater portion of
ther force, as we have only thirty prison
ers, and only few are known to have es-
capped. Opinions differ also as to the num-
Der of the rebels, some setting it as high as
Eve hundred, and saying that Col Fitch's
estimate Of one hundred and fifty referred
only to the gunbOat's crew, who manned
the upper battery.
I am indebted for many particulars of
the battle to SHINES E. Browne mas
ters mate of the Mound City, who came
up on the ConestOga with the body of his
brother. Mr.. Browne was one of the few
who were not too badly scalded to launch
one of the Mound City boats to save those
who were drowning. He soon had the boat
full of disabled men, who padded and
drifted her as well as they could toward
the Conestoga, the balls pattering in the
water all about them as they went, and oc-
casionally striking some poor fellow, who
would instantly sink TO rise no more. A
large shell burst within twenty feet of
them, but fortunately did not hurt the
boat or any one in it. One Of the sailors
of the Mound City, whose name is Jones,
is mentioned as having shown extraordin-
sry endurance. He was partially scalded |
BY the steam on the Mound City, and leap
ed out one Of the ports into the river
While he was swimming around endeav-
oring to get in some one Of the boats, he |
received three gunshot wOunds-One in the
leg, one in the shoulder, and one in the |
back; but he still kept afoat, and being |
unable to get near any Of the'smalI boats, /
and having drifted below the gunbOats st.
Louis and ConestOga, he swan to the Lex
ington, nearly half a mile, was taken on
board, and is getting wen.
Almost all who were badly scalded have
since died. Thirty-ive of them died on
the way upon the Conestoga and Mussel-
man, and were buried near Island No. 81. |
Eight men were dead when the boats ar
rived at Memphis, and the entire number
of the Mound City's dead is not far from
one hundred and twenty.