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Re: Steamboat Mary Patterson
In Response To: Steamboat Mary Patterson ()

Here's some information from the Official Records of her end.

George Martin

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JUNE 17, 1862.--Engagement at Saint Charles, Ark.
REPORTS.(*)
No. 1.--Lieut. John W. Dunnington, C. S. Navy.
No. 2.--Capt. A.M. Williams, C. S. Engineers.
No. 1.
Report of Lieut. John W. Dunnington, C. S. Navy.
C. S. GUNBOAT PONTCHARTRAIN,
Little Rock, Ark., June 21, 1862.
GENERAL: As the senior officer in command of the naval forces, in the absence of Captain Fry, C. S. Navy, I beg leave to submit the following report of the engagement between our forces and the enemy's gunboats at Saint Charles, on the morning of the 17th instant:
I reached Saint Charles on Monday evening, 16th instant, about 6 p.m., with the men I carried with me to work the two rifled 32-pounder cannon which I had previously placed there in battery. I found our forces there under arms. The smoke of the enemy's gunboats was plainly seen from the bluff, and the pickets who had come in reported two gunboats, one tug, and two transports below, advancing. Owing to the unexpected approach of the enemy, Captain Fry had not time to land his guns, but immediately placed his vessel across the river above my battery of rifled guns, and intended to resist their progress. Finding the enemy did not advance, after dark it was determined to sink the gunboat Maurepas, the transports Eliza G. and Mary Patterson, in a line across the river. The sinking of the transports was intrusted to Captain Leary. Captain Fry, with his own crew, sank the Maurepas, re-rosining on board until the gun-deck was submerged. The blockading of the river was necessarily so hastily done that no ballast or weight could be placed in the transports. About daybreak the last vessel was sunk, and the river blockaded temporarily. Supposing the enemy would make the attack at early daylight, one rifled Parrott gun and ammunition, in command of Midshipman [F. M.] Roby, was moved some 400 yards below the rifled battery and placed in position. The sailors who manned the different batteries were ordered to sleep in a few feet of their guns. Shortly after daylight two rifled Parrott 8 pounder guns, that had been sent to the rear for want of ammunition, were brought up and placed in position near the guns commanded by Midshipman Roby. These three guns were manned by the crew from the Maurepas, and Captain Fry in person superintended the fighting of them. One 12-pounder howitzer from the Maurepas, manned also by the crew, was sent down the river to assist Captain Williams in checking the enemy's advance by land.
At 7 a.m. on the morning of the 17th, the pickets reported the enemy getting up steam. At 8.30 they had advanced up the river to our lines, and two gunboats commenced throwing shell, grape, and canister among our troops on the right bank of the river. They advanced very slowly, attempting to find our heavy guns. When they arrived abreast of Captain Fry's rifled guns, they opened on his battery very rapidly for three-quarters of an hour, endeavoring to silence his guns. Failing to do so, they slowly moved up the river until they came within point-blank range of one of the rifled 32-pounders. The leading gunboat stopped to fight that gun; but, finding the gun still farther up was firing at her, she moved up the river to get its position, and, in doing so, placed herself between the two guns and in point-blank range. The other gunboat, in obedience to signal, I suppose, came abreast of the lower battery, and opened a brisk fire upon us. About this stage of the action, 10 a.m., Captain Fry sent me word the enemy were landing a large force below. All the available men that could be found were immediately sent to Captain Williams' assistance. At 10.30, a shot from the rifled 32-pounder farthest up the river penetrated the leading gunboat, and either passed through the boilers, steam-chest, or pipe, filling the entire vessel with steam, and causing all that were not killed or scalded with steam to jump into the river. The vessel was completely deserted, and drifted across the stream into the bank, near Captain Fry's battery. He immediately hailed, and directed their flag hauled down. They failing to do so, although the order was given by some of their own officers in hearing of our own people, our own men were directed to shoot those in the water attempting to escape. The two rifled guns were immediately directed to fire upon the lower gunboat, which was still engaging us. She was struck several times, and soon ceased firing, slowly dropping down the river, I think materially damaged, as she made no effort to assist the boat we had blown up, or save their friends in the river. Near 11.30, Captains Fry and Williams came to my battery and told me the enemy had completely surrounded us; the battery of small rifled guns had been spiked, and our people were in retreat. I trained one of the rifled guns to take a last shot at the enemy, and, as we fired, their infantry appeared over the brow of the hill about 50 yards distant, and opened on us with musketry. Captain Fry then proposed to make a stand with the sailors, and attempted to hold the guns, but they were only armed with single-barreled pistols, which they had fired at the enemy in the water. Nothing was now left but to save all the men we could, and, as the enemy had us under a cross-fire, the men were ordered to retreat, the officers bringing up the rear, until scattered in the woods. I had confined in single irons, at my battery, 6 prisoners, captured by Captain Fry at Little Red River. Deeming it inexpedient to bring them away, and as Captain Fry told me he had no positive proof against them, I left them for the enemy. The gallantry of Captains Fry and Williams was so conspicuous as to cause general notice and remark. To my own officers and several of Captain Fry's who served with me I am particularly indebted. Mr. William Smith (acting master), Mr. William Barclay (engineer). Midshipman Roby, who commanded one of the guns, Mr. W. L. Cambell, and Dr. Addison, of the Maurepas, acted with great gallantry, and displayed a coolness and courage unsurpassed by any one in the engagement. To Colonel Belknap, one of the citizens of Saint Charles, we are all indebted for the untiring energy and zeal with which he assisted before and during the action. He was always where he was needed, encouraging the men and assisting the officers. I am unable to furnish a list of killed and wounded, but do not think the numbers exceed 3 up to the time of the retreat. For the operations of the infantry, I respectfully refer you to Captain Williams. I herewith inclose a rough sketch of Saint Charles and the surrounding country, including the position of our batteries and that of the enemy's gunboats.
I am, sir, with great respect,
J. W. DUNNINGTON,
Commanding Gunboat Pontchartrain.
Major-General HINDMAN,
Commanding Trans-Mississippi District.

No. 2.
Report of Capt. A. M. Williams, C. S. Engineers.
HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT,
Little Rock, Ark., June 21, 1862.
SIR: I have to report that on the evening of the 16th information was brought me that the enemy's gunboats were advancing on Saint Charles, which was soon substantiated by advance of our pickets, posted down the river. We immediately made preparations to receive them, the artillerymen keeping their position at the guns during the night, and my command being thrown out to prevent a surprise. We also, to prevent the enemy's gunboats passing our position, under orders from Major-General Hindman, scuttled the steamboats Eliza G. and Mary Patterson. Captain Fry, of the C. S. Navy, who was in command at Saint Charles, scuttled the gunboat Maurepas, thus forming an obstruction across the river that could not be moved until our batteries were silenced. The enemy, however, made no demonstrations during the night. On the morning of the 17th, about 8.30 o'clock, two gunboats, two transports, and one tug appeared in sight and prepared to engage us. The men under my command, consisting of detachments from Captains Jones', Hearin's, Smith's, and Johnson's companies, Colonel Pleasants' regiment, numbering about 35 men, were, by order of Captain Fry, deployed as sharpshooters, and posted along the river below the battery. At 9 a.m. we engaged the enemy's pickets, and drove them in. The firing disclosed our position to the gunboats, from which the enemy commenced a furious fire of grape and shell, before which my men fell back to a more secure position. At this time the enemy opened fire upon our light battery of four guns, manned by the crew of the Maurepas, to which they replied gallantly. At 10 a.m. the heavy battery under command of Captain Dunnington, C. S. Navy, opened fire on them, and soon blew up one of their boats and silenced the other. When the explosion took place, the boat's crew j u roped in to the water and into boats, to escape the scalding steam that was pouring out of every hole and crevice. I immediately ordered all the sharpshooters that remained on the field, about 20 in number, to the river bank to shoot them. Numbers of them were killed in the water, At this time, about 11 o'clock, I discovered the enemy landing below, and immediately ordered men to take possession of Colonel Belknap's house, for the purpose of holding them in check. When we reached the top of the hill near the house, the enemy poured into us a furious fire of musketry, at a short distance. I at once made a reconnaissance of their position in person, and ascertained that we were almost surrounded by a force of several hundred men. I informed Captain Fry of our situation, and was ordered by him to fall back to the battery, which I did with the few men who remained with me. When we reached the battery the enemy were on our front and rightflank, and poured into us a galling cross-fire of musketry. Captain Fry gave the orders to retreat, and immediately the men scattered and ran the gauntlet of a heavy cross-fire for near half a mile, the officers bringing up the rear. I cannot make an accurate report of our loss, not knowing who have made their escape. It is, however, very slight. The enemy's loss must have been very heavy. They admit a loss of 140 killed, drowned, and scalded. All our stores and artillery fell into the hands of the enemy. I respectfully call your attention to the coolness and intrepid bearing exhibited by Captain Fry, our commander, who, from disease, could not make his escape, and was, I understand, severely wounded and taken prisoner. Captain Dunnington in this engagement has proved to the world that the Federal gunboats are not invulnerable. You are respectfully referred to his report for more minute information. I would also call your attention to the gallantry of a portion of my command, some 20 in number, whose names I cannot give, and particularly to the intrepid manner in which Privates [J. H.] Bruce and [G. W.] Everett, of Captain Hearin's company, behaved themselves. I take great pleasure in acknowledging the services of Colonels Belknap and Finch and Messrs. Herman and Margins. The thanks of the country are due them for assistance rendered in encouraging and cheering the men, and bringing them up. I must, at the same time, bring to your notice the cowardly conduct of Lieutenant [R.] Bland and Sergeant Grey, who could not be kept at their places, and, as can be substantiated by witnesses, ran away several times. When orders had been given to retreat, a portion of the company, some 15 in number, behaved badly, and were perfectly uncontrollable, and seemed to have been scared out of their wits.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A.M. WILLIAMS,
Captain of Engineers.
Colonel [R. C.] NEWTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General

[OR V. 13, pp. 929-932]

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