Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-06-23
Passage Of the Pacific Railroad
Bill bJ the Senate.
PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE Al
PORT REPUBLIC.
DEATH Of COL. ELLETT. OF
TIL T. k AM FLEET.
ImpertantINews from tho South.
OUR MORTAR BOATS ABOUT tt
ATTACK MOBILE.
From MeinDhis.

From Memphis.
MEMPHIS, June 10Th, VIA CAIRO, June 20.
The gun-boat Conestago has arrived here with
dispatches containing particulars of an engage
ment 1t the rebel fortifcations below st. Charles
about 50 miles from White River Cutoff, on
Tuesday, the 18th
The gun-boats st. Louis, Conesta.o, Transport
and New National, having on board tho 4Sth In
diana Regiment. loft here week ago to open
communication with Gen. Curtis army, and to re-
move any DISTRACTIONS which might exist ia
White River.
They ascended the stream, the gun-boat Mound
City, Capt. Kelly commanding the expedition
about mile and . half in advance.
in bend Of the river. near st. Charles,
two concealed rebel batteries opened on the
Mound City. Her decks were Immediately cleared
for action. and as soon as the range Of she rebel
works could be obtained, her guns opened fire
upon them, and Capt Kelly signalled Col Fitch
to land his force about mile below the fort,
was sneoessfuliy accomplished, the Lexington and
st. Lonis shelling tho wooda, und' cover OF
which Col. Fitch gained the rear of the rebel no
sition.
At this junction . plunging shot from siege
gun mounted on the bluff, struck forward of the
port-side of the Mound Citys easements, which
it penetrated, and passed through tho steam
drum, filled the vessel with escaping vap0r, and
scalding nearly eyeiy one ON board. But % Of
her officers and Grew, out Of over l75 on board, es-
capped aninjured.
The scene which ensued was horrible Many
Of the crew, frantic from injuries which they had
received, jumped into the river and were drow ned
Boats from the Conestoga, which was coming
up IT the time to the support Of the Mound City,
sent to taeir relief, but the rebels fired upon
our men in tho water with grape and canister
from their field pieces, numbering most Of those
who thus attempted to escape.
Apprized Of the position Of affairs in the river,
Col. Fitch drew up his regiment, and urging his
men forward, carried the fort BY storm At the
point Of the bsy0net.
The rebel works consisted Of two batteries, the
lower one mounting six fsld pieces, and the upper
one on the bluff, three heavy siege guns, manned
by from 400 to- GOO men, under command OF Col.
Fry, late . Lieutenan. in the United States Navy.
About 200 rebels are said to have mado their
escape. over l50 are reported killed and wound
cd, and 300 taken prisoners, among thsm COL Fry,
who was wounded in the shoulder,and was brought
up on the Conststsga. Capt. Kelly was severely
scalded about the face and hands, but will recov-
er, and Master Hartz, 81 master, J. Il, Kenzie
4th master, J. A. Seoriia, master, H. Braun; Pay
master, ]. Gum Chief Engineer, John Cox ia
assistant engineer, Jno. McAffee, and the Sd as
sistsnt engineer, G. w. Eollingsworth, were
killed. 4tT
The pilot, Chas. Young, was severely scalded-
reported since died. surgeon Jones and Carpen ter
Manning, slightly wounded 1st master, y. Dun.
ming, masters mate, z. Brown, pllet and LIST as-
sistant engineer, d. Cleming, escaped unhurt.,
From 80 to 100 of our soldiers have already
been buried, and over 20 are missing.
COL Fitch reports q few men wounded and none
killed. Had it not been for the unfortu-
nate accident to the Mound City the rebel works
would have been taken without loss or our side.
She can easily be repaired. The flag tfiser has
sent to tho receiving ship at Cairo, for crew to
man her.
Above st. Charles, the rebels have obstruct ed
tho channel Of tho river, BY sinking two large
steamboats, and gua-boat, believed to be the
Mary Pole.