Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-23
Charleston Flags at Half.Mast
DISPATCHES FROM M'CLELLkNS
ARMY.
The Sugar and MOlaSSes Trade
. at New Orleans.
Gen. Bragg Commanding Rebel
Army Of the West,
SATURDAY NIGHTS REPORT.
OF THE FIGHT ON
WHITE RIVER.


WHITE RIVER
CHICAGO, June p.
The following further accounts Of the fight
with the rebel batteries on the White River, are
just received;
ME1rPH1s, June I9.
The gunboat Conestoga has arrived, bringing
dispatches containing the particulars Of the en-
gagement with the rebel fortifestions below st.
Charles, and So miles from White River cut of.
On the l1th the gunbOats st Louis, Conestoga,
Mound City, Lexington, and the transport New
National, having on board the 46th Indiana, Col.
Fitch, (Which left here week ago to open COM
mnnlcation with cen; CURTIS army, and remove
distractions from White Rlyer,) assembled that
stream, the gunboat Mound City, Capt. Kelley
commanding, being about mile and a half in
advance. In bend of the river, near st. Charles,
two concealed batteries opened on the Mound
City. Her decks were Immediately cleared for
action, and as soon as the range Of the works was
obtained the guns opened FIRE.
Capt Kelley signaled Col. Fitch to land his
force mile below the fort, which was success
fully accomplished, the gunboats ST. Louis and
Lexington shelling the woods under cover, while
Col. Fitch gained the rear Of the rebel position.
At this juncture plunging shot from siege guns
mounted on the bluffs, struck the forward and
port side Of the Mound City casemates, penetrat-
ing it and passing through the steam drum, and
filling the vessel with escaping vapor, sealding
nearly every one on board tWenty-three Of the
officers and crew, out Of one hundred and seven
ty-ive, escaped uninjured.
The scene which ensued was horrible. Many
Of the crew, frantic from injuries, jumped over
board and some were drowned. The boats from
the Conestoga, which were coming up at the
time to support the Mound City, went to their re-
lief, but the rebels fred on the men in the water
with grape and canister from field pieces, mur-
dering most Of those attempting to escape.
Apprised Of the position OF affairs at the river,
Col. Fitch drew up his regiment and pushed for
ward and carried the Fort by storm. At Point
Bayoult the rebel works consisted of two batter
les, the lower one mounting six field pieces and
the upper one three heavy siege guns manned
by from four to six hundred men under COM
mand Of Col Fry, late Of the U. s. Navy. About
two hundred rebels are said to have escaped
Over one hundred and fifty are reported killed
and wounded, and thirty prisoners. Among
them is Col. Fry, who was wounded in the shOul-
der and brought up on the Conestoga. Capt
Kelly was severely scalded on the face and hands
but will recover. Second Master Hearth, Third
Master Kinsie, Fourth Master ScoYille, Masters
Mate Il. R. Browne, Paymaster Gunns Chief En-
geer John Cox, Assistant Engineers John Nc
Afeed and HollingsWorth, were killed. Pilot
Chas. Young was severely scalded, reported
since dead. Surgeons Jones, Carpenter, Man
ming slightly.
From eighty to one hundred Of our sailors are
already buried, and over twenty missing
Col. Fitch reports four men wounded and none
killed but for the unfortunate accident 10 the
Mound City.
The rebels have obstructed the channel above
by sinking two large steamboats, and gunboat,
believed to be the MaypOle.