Capt. Joseph Fry, CSN

Union forces were one infantry regiment with naval support; the Confederate batteries had about fifty men plus some infantry support.

Both sides casualties were around 150, with the Union slightly better off.

On the morning of June 17, the USS Mound City, St. Louis, Lexington, Conestoga, and transports were moving up the White River towards Saint Charles in an effort 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 headed upriver towards the Rebel batteries on Saint Charles bluffs, under the command of Capt. Joseph Fry. At the same time, the Union gunboats moved to shell the Rebel batteries in a combined attack.

The Confederate shooting was good; Mound City was hit and her steam drum exploded, scalding most of the crew to death. More than 125 of her sailors were killed, but the other ships towed her to safety. Fitch halted the gunboat activities to prevent further loss and then started an attack with his infantry. He succeeded in turning the Rebel flank; they abandoned the batteries and left Saint Charles open to Federal occupation.

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Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.