New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-23
THE White RIVER EXPEDITION,
Another GunbOat Engagement
FIGHT At ST. CHARLES, ARKANSAS.
ONE OF OUR GUNBOATS BLOWN Up.
l25 Union Sailors Killed and Wounded.
SUCCESS OF THE LAND FORCE.
Colonel Fitch Drives Out the Enemy.
REBEL EOSS NEARLY 900.
OF THE LAND FORCE.
Colonel Fitch Drives Out the Enemy.
HEgEL IOSS NEARLY 900.


days since for he purpose Of removing the OBJ
slructioDs in White River.
Or he 18th, the expedition reached St. Charles,
s. niles above the mouth of the river, where the
Rebels had erected battery. An engagement en-.
sued lasting an hour and half
While the gunbosis engagedthe battery the troops,
under Col. Fitch, landed short distance below, and
proceeded 10 storm the place
During the cauDonaiing ball entered the boiler
of The Mound Guy, causing fearful explosion and
loss Of life. TIE crew consisted Of rs men, OF
whom nearly rs were killed or wounded.
The following officers are among the killed: John
KDzie, James Kinzie james Scovlle, John Green,
Henry Z. Brown, Joseph Nixon, and John Knox.
Capt Kelly, Flag officer, was badly scslded, but
II is thought hat he VIII recover.
Col Fi,chs ctarge upon the battery was perfect
success, driving the enemy out at the point OF the
bayouet.
The Rebel loes is 12j killed and wounded and 30
prisoners. Col. Fitchs loss is email.
Gen. Halleck has occupied Holly Springs
W.sHiSeT0S, Saturday, June a. 1852.
The following dispatch was received at the Navy
Department:
7. 8. FIAe STEAMER BES1osl
MEMPHIS, via CaiIo Saturday, June n, 1852. )
To the Hon. GIDEON wyllEs. SeereflTyo5m Nary
The gunDoat Conesto0a, while returning from the
White River, reports the capture of two batteries,
mounting seven guns, a: 81. CHARLIE, 80 miles from
tbe mouth.
The attack was commenced BY Capt. Kelly in the
gunboats, who silenced The first battery. The sec-
ond battery was CALAMITY carried by Col. C. y.
Fitch at tie head Of the 10th Indiana Volun' GERS
sho, caused the explosion of the steam draw OF the
ound City, by which the greater party of her off,
cors and crew were killed and wounded / write By
to-day mail. {. II. DAVIS. Flag.Oiicer
The following was received al the War Depart
ment to-day:
Sr. Cu.Rlgs, White River. Ark. June17,i
Via CAlRO. Saturday. June 81 1902.
10 he Hoa T. ". STANTON Secy,tqry II Jgay.
On arriving eight miles below here last evening,
We ascer,aned that the enemy bad two batteries
here supported By force Of infantry, number mn
known.
A combined attack wes made at q. N. to-day.
The regiment under my command l46th lndiana)
landed two and half miles below the battery, and
skirmishers were thrown out, who drove in the
enemy pickets. The gunbOats then moved mp and
opened on their batteries.
\ riHed-shot from one Of the batteries penetrated
the steam-jraw Of the Mound City, disabling by
scalding most OF her crew. Apprehensiye that some
similar accident might happen TO tie other gunbOats
snd thus leave my small force without their sup
port, signalled the gunboats to cease firing, and we
would storm tie battery.
They ceased at exactly the right moment, and my
nea carried the battery CALAMITY. The infantry
were driven from the support Of the guns, the gun
ners shot at tn If posts, their commanding officer
Freye formerly Of the L. S. Navy wounded and
CAPTURED and eight brass and iron guns, with ammu-
milton captured.
The enemy loss ia unknown. We have buried
seven or eight Of their dead, and other dead and
wounded are being brought in. The casualties
among my own command are small, the only real
loss being from the escaping steam in the Mound
CRY.
She win probably be repaired and ready TO pro-
coed with Us mp the river tomorrow.
fell report will be made as early as possible.
Very respectfully, g. N. FITCH,
Col. Comd'g 18th Indiana Volunteers.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT WITH THE REBEL BAT
TERms on WHITE RIVER.
CHICAGO, Saturday June 81 1861.
The following ia fuller account Of the fight with
the Rebel batteries On White Riyer:-
MEMPHIS, ThuIsdsy June 49, 1862.
The gunboat Conestoga has arrived with dispatches
containing the particulars of the engagement at the
Rebel Notifications below St. Charles, eighty-Gye
miles from the outh Of the White river.
On the Eth the gunboats ST. Louis, Mound City,
Lexington aud Coneetoga, and the transport New
Nationsl, having on board the Forty-sixth Indiana
regiment Col Fitch which left here a week ago TO
open communication with the army of Gen. Curtis
and remove the distinctions from White river, as
cended thar stream.
The gunboat Mound City, Capt. Kelly command
ing was about mile and half in advance.
In the be.d Of the city, near St. Charles, two con-
ossed batteries opened on the Mound City. Her
decks were Immediately cleared for action, and az
coon as the range of the Rebel works could be OBJ
tanned, tie Mound City opened her guns upon them.
Capt. Kelly meantime signal zed 10 Col. Fitch to
land lie force below the fort which wa successfully
accomplished.
The Lexington and 81. Louis shelled the works
under cover Of which Col. Fitch gained the rear Of
the Rebel position. II this juncture, a ball from
siepe gun on the bluff struck the forward and port
eide Of the Mound City, penetrating The casemates,
and passing through the steam drum Of the vessel
which Immediately became filed with escaping
vspor.
Nearly every one on board the Mound City was
sealded. Only % Of the officers and crew escaped
out Of Us.
Tie scene which ensued was horrible in tie ex
teme. Many Of the crew, frantic with pain, Jumped
overheard and were drowned.
Boats from the Conestoga, which was coming up at