Indiana in the Civil War

Saint Charles, Arkansas County, Arkansas

The information on this page was given to me, either to prepare this site or give it another website to help us remember those Hoosiers who died in this Battle during the Civil War at St Charles, Arkansas. Those providing the information were: Edward G. Gerdes, Ralph Dumond, Jeri Helms Fultz, Glenn Marrs and Jeanie Vasseur

OFFICERS AND MEN KILLED ON THE USS MOUND CITY JUNE 17, 1862

This was a Union Gunboat. A single shot fired into the port hole and entered the boiler causing it to explode. This killed as well as burn most of the men on board, several jumped into the water, but were fired upon by the Confederate Troops entrenched on the bluff banks. Below are the list of names on men killed aboard the "Mound City".

Monument Inscription:

William Hickman Harte, Master U.S.N., born in Limerick, Ireland 1826 - killed in action June 17th, 1862. Near this thos June 17th, 1862 a decisive engagement was fought between the Confederate (entrenched) and the Federal gunboats.
Here was fired the most destructive shot of the Civil War, causing an explosion on the Mound City and the loss of 148 killed, besides many wounded.

"O Wheresoever These May Be Betwixt The Slumber Of The Poles. To-day They Count As Kindred Souls."

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Edward G. Gerdes writes:

There are 128, if i counted correctly, names on this side of the stone. The Master (Harte) on the other side would make 129. If there were more killed, they are not listed.

An elderly gentlemen who lives in St. Charles told us that the record in Washington claimed that the Mound City was only damaged and was towed away; however, he said that he had seen snag pullers on the river pull timbers from the boat and had seen metal parts removed that had the name "Mound City" on them.

At any rate, losing that many men from the crew, would be indictive of massive damage to the ship, indicating a boiler explosion or ammunition explosion or both.

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Saint Charles Arkansas

American Civil War

June 17, 1862

On the morning of June 17, USS Mound City, St. louis, Lexington, Conestonga, and transports proceeded up White River towards Saint Charles attempting to resupply Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis's army near Jacksonport. A few miles below Saint Charles, the 46th Indiana Infantry under the command of Col. Graham N. Fitch disembarked, formed a skirmish line, and proceeded upriver towards the Rebel batteries on Saint Charles bluffs, under the command of Capt. Joseph Fry, C.S.N. At that sametime, the Union gunboats wwent upriver to engage the Rebel Batteries; Mound City was hit and her stern drum exploded scalding most of the men to death. More than 125 sailors from the Mound City were killed, but the other ship was towed to safety. Col. Fitch halted the gunboat activities to prevent further loss and then undertook an attack on the Confederate batteries with his infantry. He turned the rebel flank which ended the firing from the batteries and left Saint Charles open to federal occupation.

Result(s):

Union victory

Location:

Arkansas County

Campaign:

Operations on White River (1862)

Date(s) June 17, 1862

Principal Commanders

Col. Graham N Fitch [US]

Cdr. Augustus H. Kilty [US]

Capt Joseph Fry, C.S.N. [CS]

Forces Engaged:

46th Indiana and Union Gunboat [US]

Fity men and C.S. boats [CS]

Estmated Casualties:

US - 135

CS - 155

Sources: US National Park Service and US Library of Congress

Shelby Foote's Narrative

The Mound City

Webpage compliment of Hoosier Pioneer Patriots Chapter, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Comments to:
Stephen D. Franklin
733 Pennsylvania Avenue
Sellersburg, Indiana 47172-1049
AC 812-246-2066

This site was last updated December 10, 1998