Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-06-24
The White River Expedition.

hS brow.
The White River Expedition.
I'm the l7th, the gunboats ST Louis,
Mound City, Lexington, and Conestoga,
and transport New National, having on
board the 18th Indiana Regiment, Col
Fitch, which left Memphis last week, 10
open communication with Gen Curtis
aud remove the distractions from White
river, ascended that stream The gun.
boat Mound City, Captain Kelly COM
handing, was about mile aud a half in
the 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. Kelly signalled TO Col Fitch 10
land his force below the fort, which was
successfully accomplished. The Lexng-
ton aud St. Louis shelled the woods, un-
der cover of which Col Fitch gained the
rear of the rebel position. All this june
Iure ball from siege gun on the blull'
struck the forward and port side Of the
Mound City, penetrating the easements
and passing through the steam drum. -
The vessel was filled with the escaping
yapor and nearly every one on board was
scaded Only twenty-three of the officers
and crew out of one hundred and seventy
five escaped from injuries.
The scene which ensued was horrible.
Many of the crew, frantic with pain, Jump
ed overheard, and some Of them we're
drowned. Boats from the Conestoga,
which was coming up At the time to sup
port the Mound City. were sent TO their
relief, but the rebels fired on the men in
the water with grape and canister from
their field pieces, numbering most of those
who were attempting to escape
Being apprised of the state of affairs on
the river, Col Fitch's regiment pushed
forward and carried the fort by storm, at
the point of the bayonet. The rebel works
consisted of two batteries, the lower one
mounting six field pieces and the upper
one three heavy guns, manned by from
four hundred to five hundred men, under
command Of Col Frye, late of the United
States Navy. About two hundred rebels
are sand 10 have escaped, over one lun-
dred and fifty are reported killed and
wounded, and thirty taken prisoners.
Captain Kelly, OF the Mound City, WAS
severely scalded about the face and hands
He will recover.
From eighty 10 one hundred Of our
sailors have already been buried, and
over twenty are missing.
Col, Fitch reports that hut 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 ar side
She can easily he repaired
The flag officer has sent to Cairo for
another crew The rebels have obstruet-
ed the channel above by sinking two large
steamboats, and Il gunboat, believed to he
the Maypolc
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS.
ST. CHARLES, WHITE RIVER. AK, june Il,
via Cairo June u.
70 He lion. y. ", Stanton, .Secrefarg OF
Var.
On arriving eight miles below here last
evening, We ascertained that the enemy
had two batteries here, supported by u
force (number unknown) of infantry.
y combined attack was made at 4.
NJ, to-day. The regiment under my com.
mand the Forty-sxth Indiana, landed
two and half miles below the battery,
and skirmlshers were thrown out, who
drove in the enemy's piekets The gun
boats then moved up and opened on their
battery, a rifle shot from one of the
batteries penetrated thd steam drum OF
the Mound City, disabling, by scalding,
most of her crew,
Apprrhensive that some similar acci.
dent might happen to the other gunboats,
and thus leave my small force without
Their support, ] signaled The gunboats to
eeaae firing and we would storm the bat.
lely They ceased exactly at the right
moment, and my men carried the battery
aallanty, The infantry were driven from
the support Of the guns, the gunners shot
ut their posts aud their commanding oil
GER Frye, formerly OF the United States
Navy, wounded and taken prisoner
Eight brass and iron guns, with ammnni.
l'on, were captured.
The enemy's loss is unknown. We have
buried seven or eight of their dead, and
other dead and wounded are being
brought in,
Ihe casualties among my own command
are small, the only real loss being from
the escaping steam in the Mound City
She will probably be repaired and read,
TO proceed with us up the river tomorrow
~ full report will be made aa early a,
possible.
Very respectfully yours,
q. y. FITCH
Col.roMmanding 46th Indiana Vols.
OSlrEn STATrR FLtG-sTCAMrR Benton,
Memphis, June 10, via Car.o, June 2l
TO Hon Gideon lpeiIrs, Seereiary of III,
Nary:
The gunboat Conestoga, returning from
the White river, reports the capture o.
two batteries, mounting seven guns, al
81. Charles, eighty miles from the mouth
The attack was commenced by Captain
Kelly in the gunboats, who silcnced tho
lirst battery. The second battery was
gallantly carried by Colonel Fitch, at tht
head Of the 4Gth Indiana Volunteers. A
shot caused the explosion OF the steam
drum Of the Mound City, which part o
her officers and crew were killed and
wounded. ! write by to-day's mail.
CllAS. III. DAVIS. FlnU Officer