The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-06-28
? TELEGRAPH.
Two Rebel Batteries Ia
ken.
BRILLIANT BAYONET CHARGE OF COL.
FITCH.
1so REBELS KILLED & WOUND
ACCIDENT TO THE HOUND CITY.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SAILORS
SCALDKD AND DROWNED.

kEKpHIs via CAIRO, June 2l.-The gunboat
Conestoga has arrived here with dispatches con.
tanning the particulars Of an engagement with
the rebel Notifications below st. Charles, about
So miles from White River cut off, on Tuesday,
the 18th.
The gunboats St. Louis, Mound City, Le1ing-
ton and Conestoga, and transport New Nation
al, having on board the 46th Indiana regiment,
Col. Fitch, which left here week ago to open
communication with Gen. Curtis army, and to
remove distractions which might exist in White
River.
On ascending the stream, the gunboat Mound
City, Capt. Kelley commanding the expedition,
when about mile and half in advance, in a
bend in the river, near St. Charles, two conceal
ed rebel batteries opened on the Mound City
Her decks were Immediately cleared for action,
and as soon as the range Of the rebel works
could be obtained, her guns opened FIRE upon
them.
Capt Kelley signalled Col Fitch to land bis
force about mile below, which was successful.
~ accomplished.
The Lexington shelled the woods under cove II
of which Col. Fitch gained the rear of the rebel
position.
At this junction a punginc shot from several
gune, mounted on bluff, struck forward Of the
port side of the Mound City classmates, which it
penetrated and passed through the steam drum,
and filed the vessel with escaping vapor, sca!d
ing nearly every one on board. But 23 of her
officers and crew, out of over l75, escaped I'M
injured. The scene which ensued was horrible;
many of the crew, frantic from injuries which
they had received, jumped into the water and
were drowned Boats from the Conestoga,
which was coming up at the time to support the
Mound City, was sent to their relief but the re
bels fired upon our men in the water with grape
and canister from their field pieces, numbering
most of those who thus attempted to escape
Apprised of the position OF affairs in the<iver,
Col. Fitch drew up bis regiment and pushing
his men forward, carried the fort by storm at
the point of the oayonet. The rebel works con-
sisted of two batteries, the lower one mounting
six field pieces, and the upper one on the bluff
three heavy siege guns, manned by from 400 to
600 men, under command of Col. Fry, late Lieu
tenant in the United States Navy. About 100
rebels are said to have made their escape. Over
$50 are reported killed and wounded, and SO
taken prisoners, among them COL Fry, who was
wounded in the shoulder, and was brought up
on the Conestoga
Capt Kelly was severely scalded about the
face and hands, but will recover. I'd Master
Hart, Sd Master j. Il. Kinzie, 4th Master j. A.
Scoville, Master Mate Ii. r. Brown, PaYmasser
Gum, Chief Engineer John Cox. I'd Assistant
Engineer c. w. Holnworth were killed. Pilot
Young was severely scalded, reported since dead.
Surgeon Jones and Carpenter Manning slightly
lie. Master A. Domony, Masters Nate s. E.
Brown, Pilot Canada and lst Assistant Engineer
Clemmings escaped nnhurt.
From so to 100 of our sailors have already
been buried, and over 20 are missing.
Col. Fitch reports Few men wounded and
none killed.
Had it not been for the unfortunate accident
to the Mound City the rebel works would have
been taken without loss on our side. She can
easily be repaired.
The flag officer has sent to the receiving ship
ut Cairo for a crew to move her.
Above St. Charles the rebels have obstructed
the channel of the river by sinking two large
steamers and nunhnats