Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-26

frantic with pain, to fall in writhing fortunes
beside some poor though fortunate fellow who
had Just breathed his last The close and
burning atmosphere of the vessel was rent
with cries, and prayers, and groans, and
curSes-a Pandemonum of torture and de-
spair They suffered, writhed, and twisted
like coil of serpentS over burning faggotS;
but many who were less injured than others,
felt even in that hour the instinct of self-pres-
crvation, and running to the ports. leaped out
into the river. The water, for awhile reliev-
ed them of their pain, and they struck out
I bravely for the shore opposite the fortifica-
tionS or for the Conestoga or Lexington, per-
haps half a mile in the rear.
BARBARITY OF THE REBELS.
While the poor scalded fellows were strug-
Cling in the river, the enemy turned his guns
upon the unfortunates, and sent many noble
spirit to its rest. Every few moments some
poor wretch would throw up his hands as a
bullet struck him, and go down, leaving a
crimson hue upon the water from the wound
that had let out his painful life Even in the
pale, suffering faces of the swimming officers
! and sailors of the Mound City might have
been seen an expression of amazement and
horror when they beheld this new savageness
and eXhaustlesS malignity of the perfidious
foe. Capt. Blodgett of the Conestoga sent
out his rescue boats hoping to save some of
the sufferers, but the large guns from on
shore were turned upon them, and the sharp
shooters from behind trees and clumps of
bushes continued to take deliberate aim at
them while engaged in this last work of mer
cy. What contrast, what commentary
upon the character Of the rebellion and its
supporters, when we remember the heroic
conduct of the sailors of the Benton opposite
Memphis on the 9th inst, who periled their
lives to preserve those of the enemy that
leaped INTO the Mississippi from the sinking
Lowell.
THE FORTIFICATIoN CAPTURED.
Col Fitch had by this time marched at
double quick to the rear of the second fortih-
cations, and was upon the rebels before they
were aware of his approach. The Indianians
discharged their muslets and then entered
the works with fixed bayonets, so surprising
the secessionists that they had little time for
defence and none for escape. Men were shot
down and bayoneted at their guns, and made
bloody atonement for their merciless cruelty.
Some of the artilleristS werei endeavoring to
turn their large guns-they had but three, all
-pounders-upon the attacking force but
could not succeed, and Capt. Fry, the COM
mander of the hostile works Formerly lieu
tenant in the United States navy was endeav-
he received musket ball through the Shout
der and in another instant was on the ground
with bayonet at his throat, and compelled to
accept capture as the alternative of death. In
a very brief space the secession colors were
pulled down and the occupants of the hostile
works placed hors de combat. Most of them
were killed and wounded, only thirty-two or
three being taken prisoners. The rebel sharp
| shooters discovered the change i'll affairs, and
Immediately turned their attention to flight.
They, with number Of the enemy from the
lower fertilization, hurried along the bank of
the river to the point where hostile gunboat
and three transports had been sunk for the
purpose Of obstructing our further passage,
and then ran along the base of the bluff in the
| direction of the little village of st. Charles,
half mile distant, and soon disappeared.
THE LOSSES.
When the muster roll of the Mound City
was called q only, out of Isl officers and
sailors, answered to their names. Fifty were
dead, fifty more were dying in great agony.
Two officers only escaped uninjured, nearly
all of them being scalded to death by the ex-
plosion. Those who were shot in the river
were generally seamen, though wounds have
been discovered on two or three of the off
GERS whose bodies were rescued. The poor
fellows that were shot sunk, and their corpses