archieclement
Colonel
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2011
- Location
- mo
A rather little known combined action at St Charles Ark, on the White River.
A union fleet was ordered up the white river to attempt to resupply Gen Curtis at Jacksonport, On June 17th the fleet consisting of 4 gunboats and some transports encountered Confederate batteries on the bluffs by St Charles. the transports disembarked infantry below and proceeded up river to engage the confederate battles, during the gunboat duel a confederate gun hit the USS Mound City in the boilers, instantly scalding and killing about 105 of the 175 man crew, wounding 44 others. Col Fitch orders the gunboats to withdraw to prevent further loss, and advances with the infantry, the 46th Indiana flanks the battery which forces them to withdraw and allows Union occupation of St Charles. Its a costly victory 160-177 Union causalities (accounts vary) to 7-26 confederates (accounts also vary) The majority of the losses are on the USS Mound City which ends up with more then 125 dying, the boat itself is able to be towed to back to Memphis and repaired
The attempt to resupply Curtis fails, as after securing St Charles the remaining boats minus the Mound City proceed upriver to Crooked Point cutoff then encounter low water preventing any further progress.
A union fleet was ordered up the white river to attempt to resupply Gen Curtis at Jacksonport, On June 17th the fleet consisting of 4 gunboats and some transports encountered Confederate batteries on the bluffs by St Charles. the transports disembarked infantry below and proceeded up river to engage the confederate battles, during the gunboat duel a confederate gun hit the USS Mound City in the boilers, instantly scalding and killing about 105 of the 175 man crew, wounding 44 others. Col Fitch orders the gunboats to withdraw to prevent further loss, and advances with the infantry, the 46th Indiana flanks the battery which forces them to withdraw and allows Union occupation of St Charles. Its a costly victory 160-177 Union causalities (accounts vary) to 7-26 confederates (accounts also vary) The majority of the losses are on the USS Mound City which ends up with more then 125 dying, the boat itself is able to be towed to back to Memphis and repaired
The attempt to resupply Curtis fails, as after securing St Charles the remaining boats minus the Mound City proceed upriver to Crooked Point cutoff then encounter low water preventing any further progress.