The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-09-12
FIGHTING THEM OVER
Khat0ur Veterans Have TO Say About
Tier Old Campaigns
ST. CHARLES.
aiiinn Mhleh Mns Reen LltiIe Mentloned.

IL will he remembered that during the sum
mer Of 1862 Gen. s. X. Curtis was making his
campaign In southern Missouri aud northern
Arkansas; that he was short OF ammunition
ana provisions, and that he was making his way
rs best he could 10 the Mississippi at Helena.
IL was with the hope that supplies could he got
60 him by the way OF the White River, that IN
duced the officers in command TO organize tho
expedition, the achievements Of which will
now relate. This expedition, consisting OF the
steamers New National, Jacob Musselman aud
White Cloud, carrying the doth Ind. aud supplies
for Gen. Curiis's army and conveyed by the
guuhoat Conestoga. left Memphis Tenn, on the
18th of jane. 1862, for the mouth of the White
River. Arriving at that place the gunboats
Lexington. St Louis and Mound City became
part of the force that assembled the river.
The rebel authorities had heard of the expedi-
tiou, and had commenced 10 make preparations
for its resistance and defeat. Gen. Hmdman
was at Arkansas Post with a very considerable
force, and there were other troops at Little
Rock the Capital OF the State. aud the rebel
guub0at Mauripaus was in that river. The
rebels selected 81 Charles. village occupying
the first high ground on the river, about 80
miles above its mouth rs the place TO make the
stand. The Mauripaus was relieved OF her
guns and then sunk in the channel; and 10
make the instructions more complete. the
steamboat Eliza G. was also sunk a short dis
tanoe above the gunbOat; these were just above
the village.
About half mile below the bluff a boom
was put across the river. and they had COM
mencod % drive piling 20 oiIstIuct our progress.
The Notifications cons sted OF excavations for
the guns on The hili-tops, instead Of raised
works. The armament consisted OF two 6i-
FOUNDER riiiea guns and SIX field guns. These,
and perhaps 300 infantry, constituted the rebel
force there. although we learned after the capt
urc that those there were hourly expecting
E..HH ! r 4
the river to their support when the place WAS
captured.
ON the 10Th of June the expedition arrived
within about eight miles Of 81. Charles, when
Col Fitch ordered the writer to take 10 men
and the tugboat that was with US. and go
as far up the river as possible. and return and
report what was 20 be seen. In addition to the
10 men ] had with me, there was d howitzer
and naval crew aboard 10 man IL. We pro-
oecdcd mp the river until we reached the raft
or boom. We found place aud went through
IL up To the foot OF the bluff. All that we could
See was large quantities OF fresh earth that had
been Thrown over tie bank aud iuto the river.
dirt removed 20 form places for their guns, aud
the sHnken steamers above the town. We then
went hack aud reported.
While We were gone. the officers becoming
alarmed AZ our absence, sent Lieut.. Brownie
with reiniOrccments on one bank OF the river
and LicnL Mitchell on the other. We met
them on cur return. This being very warm
day. and IS the meE under Brownie were
marching without their coats in the dusk Of
the evening. We could not tell them from rebels
50 z got cur guns trained on the supposed
"Johnnies," when they, somehow. by their
demonstrations made rs know that they were
cur friends The boats advanced 20 within
four miles Of the bluff that evening.
On the morning Of the 18th Of June the gun
boats were uader way. followed by the trans
ports and al q o'clock a. m. the sGth Ind. WAS
landed Just beyond the range Of the rebel guns.
While tie regiment was being landed. the gam
boat C0Best0ga commenced firing shells az the
bluff. As soon as landed. Cos and b were
oeployed as skirmishers. with Co. q - support.
As soon as these dispositions were made Col.
Fitch ordered an adFanc When within about
800 yards Of the bili the artillery aud infantry
opened FIRE. a charge Was ordered. and the
rebels were soon driven away from their guns.
aud possession had OF the hill aud guns
and most Of lis defenders.
This charge was made through deadeniug-
trees which have been girdled aud Killed.
place admirably caicu.a ted for defense, aud
with competent force would have been im-
pregnabie. The men behaved most CALAMITY,
And il apparently made no difference whether
tie force on the hall opposed 10 them was 500
or 5000.
While all this bad been taking place the
RuubOats had not been idle. Those gallant
fellows were not in the habit Of being idle
when there Was anything TO do. They always
had their foil share Of the hard knocks As
soon as the regiment was landed they laid off
in the stream just below the bluff. and within
easy range, aud gave the rebels back as good as
they sent until the Mound City had her steam
chest penetrated by shot from one Of the
rebels heavy guns. The boat was instantly
filed with sealding steam and the men were
driven out aud overheard. More than 100 men
were IN the water, some 50 badly scaided that
they could not swim, and sank at once The
rebel infantry az once commenced shooting al
the men IN the water and the boats Of the fleet
70 pick them Up. Seventy men were lost by
this one casualty.
A. soon as the rebels-under Fry who was
afterwards caught and shot in Cuba for has
guerrilla practices, fitting end Tor bim-com-
ncnced 10 shoot the men IN the water. the
Runboats were ordered 20 cease GrinR. aud our
regiment was ordered 10 make the charge
have fecbly described. At the time the order
was given 70 charge we were also told Of the
fact that the men ia the water were being shot
b. The rebels. TIE charge Was made, the vic
tory won, and the possession Of the river Sc
cured.
After the Mound City was struck she was
togea dO8n alongside 81 ihe steamer National.
An she came iH on the deck Of the gun
boat took hold Of a lanyard attached to q gun
that bad been made ready o. hre. aud ia the
struggles Of death pulled the string. disckaTg-
lHg The gun The shot passed through the
National ~OuBdlng Tie engineer and cutting
ole 81 Der steam pipes. i he deck OF this boat
was covered viii tie sick and wounded men,
bat a. fAe steam assembled but few were hurt
The EJECT remained at 81 Charles until tie
I'd VI june, when IL again started Up The river.
j hat cay aud Tie next tie boats continued 90
tie river having al almost constant Ggiit with
the rebels, " rather with RgerF!ias Of the worst
sort; but We were then compelled 70 return on
account u low water aud the river falling
Several trips were made up aud down the river
On the lookout for Curtis, but no tidings Of his
coming ceHld be got
Expeditions were sent ont into the country
% watch The roads upon which he was expect
90, bot al Of no avail. None Of these eEpedi /.
tons went Out without experiencing more Of
less lighting. IL Was usually a skrnish out
Enc back. Sometimes We were compelled 1,
keep Ia the timber all the way 10 the boats u
AVOID their superior force Of cavalry. And
when not thus under fire, We were under FIRE
from nshWhaekers and guerrilas.
On the 10Th Of June several regiments Of re,
Endorsements arrived, aud we had il better
We lad help. Ga one Of these trips Private s
y PeBnell. Of my company, discovered a dor
- peculiar place, aud called the attention d
Capt. Fred Fitch, Of 60. !, 70 him. He at once
trained q i2pOuud howllzer on the dog. and
bred charge u grape. Il was subseaueutlk
learned that four rebels were killed and NOR
wounded.
On our return 10 ST. Charles, At one Of In,
times We came there after going up the river
bill Was presented 10 Col Fitch In behalf 81
one Col. Beiknap, for things absorbed" by