Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-23
THE EXPEDITION TO WHITE RIVER
Engagement at Charles City.

MEMPHIS, June 10 The expedition, composed
OF the gun boats st. Louis, Lexington, Conestoga
ana MOUND City, with transports carrying the
Sd and 10th Indiana regiments under Col. Fitch,
sent hence some days since, to remove obstruc-
tions from the White river, on the 18th reached
ST. Charles, eighty-fve miles above the mouth
Of the river, where the rebels had erected bat
terry An engagement ensued, lasting an hour
and half.
While the gunboats engaged the batteries the
troops under Col. Fitch landed a short distance
below, and proceeded to storm the place
During the cannonading a ball entered the
boiler Of the Mound City, causing fearful explo-
Of whom 125 were killed and wounded.
The following officers are among the killed -
J In Kinzie, James ScovllIe, Henry II. Brown,
| John Green, Joseph Nixon and John Cox. Capt.
helty, TIE nag ottcer, was badly scalded, but Ii
Is thought will recover.
Col. Fitch's charge upon the battery was a per-
fect success driving the enemy at the point Of the
The rebel loss was l25 killed and wounded,
and 80 prisoners.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
CHICAGO, June 2l-The following fuller &C.
count Of the fight with the rebel batteries on
Whlte river has just been received from
Memphis:
Gen. Fitch gained the rear Of the rebel position
and at this juncture ball from the siege gun on
the bluff struck the forward and port side OF the
steamer Mound City's casemates, penetrating II
ana passing through the steam drum, filing the
vessel with escaping vapor, and scalding nearly
every one on DOaru. only % OF the officers and
crew, out OF l75, escaped from injuries The
scene which ensued Is described az horrible
Many Of the crew, frantic from pain, jumped
overheard, and some were drowned
The boats from the Conestoga, which coming
up In time TO support the Mound City, were sent
to their relief but the rebels fred on our men In
the water with grape and canister from field
pieces, numbering most Of them attempting to
escape. On being apprised Of our position at the
river, Col. Fitch's regiment pushed forward an d
carried the fort by storm at the point OF the bay
onet.
About 200 rebels said to have escaped, and
over $50 are reported killed and wounded and 80
prisoners taken, among them Col. Frye, the com.
mander Of the fort,
capt. Kelly was severely scalded about the face
and hands, but will recover Second Master
Harth, Third Master KinzIe, Fourth Master SEQ
| VILE, Masters Mate II. X Brown, Paymaster
Gun, Chief Engineer John Cox Assistant Enpi.
/ neers John McAfee and Hollingsworth, are all
| killed The pilot, Charles Young, was severely
| scalded, and Is reported since dead Surgeon
Jones and Carpenter Manning ghtly scalded
From so 10 100 Of our sailors are already buried
whilst over 20 are missing.
Colonel Fitch reports that but few OF his men
| were wounded, and none killed; and but for the
unfortunate accident on the Mound City the rebel
works would have been carried without loss on
| our side. She can easily be repaired.
The flag officer has sent to Cairo for another
crew.
| The rebels have obstructed the channel above.
Dy sinking two large steamboats, and gunboat
believed to be the MaypOle.