Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-26
THE REGIMENTS ENGAGED.
The Engagement on white River.

Correspondence OF the y. I. Tribune
OFF ST. CHARLES, ARK, June 17.-rhe
expedition which started from Memphis for
White river, on the 18th for the purpose of
capturing transports which the rebels had run
up that stream, consisted of the Mound City,
st. Louis, Conestoga, and Lexington, with
three transports bearing Col. Fitchs 10th In
diana regiment Cautiously ascending the
river, and Smelling the woods as we advanced,
the tlotlla was this morning fired upon several
times from high bluff extending Il mile
along the shore Their shot flew all around
our boats, but without striking them. The
Mound City and st. Louis returned the fire
with good effect, us the battery on shore slack
ened its fire. Surprising the existing danger
over, the Mound City moved a quarter ola mile
up the river, when heavy discharges were
then heard, and huge round shot went
bowling over her deck The st. Louis
fastened to her, and the action was renewed
with vigor. Round shot and shells fell lust
above and just behind our gunboats, and often
shreked only IL few feet above their decks,
but none Of them struck the vessel. Our shot
and shell seemed well directed and appeared
to fall frequently within the enemys works.
Col. Fitch in the meantime had landed his in
tantry below, and was marching TO the rear
Of the upper battery to attack the enemy in
their entertainments. The gunboats, at Il con-
certed signal, ceased firing to await the result
| of the assault.
THE CATASTROPHE TO THE MOUND CITY.
1t was at this juncture the shocking catas-
| trophe to the Mound City occurred. She was
lying with her stern a little to the southern
shore of the river, designing to turn in the
stream, when round shot, which proved to
be a fortytwo winged shot, so called from the
iron tlanges at its side struck her in her port
side, in the upper part Of her classmates, be-
tween the first and second guns. The shot,
which from its elevation was plunging shot,
passed through the iron-lined casemate, struck
and exploded the steam drum, and lodged in
the stewards pantry. The steam drum ex-
ploded! What scene of horror Many
can imagine, but | can not describe, the
fortunes of that terrible hour. The burn
ing steam was pouring out in immense
volumes. Through every inch of space crept
the yaporous devil, and transformed the
healthful, vigorous man into an appalling
corpse or a more appalling sufferer. Imagine
one of the gunboats, large, square, closely
| confined box, with no apertures but the ports,
filed with burning steam, having no means of
escape save through those ports and two or
three skylights, with one hundred and seven
| ty-fve human creatures crowded together in
the gun-rooms, and you may have some faint
idea of the terrible fate of those brave men.
Forty or fifty of the men inhaled the fierce
yapor, and it was Il draft of peace. One low
but deep and awful wall of horror ran through
the fated vessel as the steam filled her every
where. 1t was the involuntary expression of
mingled dread and resignation that strong ma.
lures yield to destiny they cannot control,
and whose justice no philosophy can explain
There were fittings Of the hands; there were
writings Of the limbs there were gestures Of
torture; there were shrieks of agony; there
were petitionings to heaven; there were the
utterings Of exquisite despair How sudden
and how awful The gun-dec1 was covered
with miserable, perishing wretches. Some of
the officers who were in the cabins rushed out