Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 17, 1862

Monday morning clear & pleasant. Nothing doing until 1 P. M. when Three Gun Boats the Benton in the center lashed together dropped down to within long range of the upper Battery—Two others on the opposite side of the river. A tremendous heavy fire was now opened from the 5 Gun Boats and 8 mortars Which was responded to with considerable spirit—but without any effect. A cannon on board the St. Louis exploded during the heat of the action killing 2 and wounding 6, was all the men we lost during the action. The effect of our firing on their Battery can not now be ascertained, but we know of several Guns being dismounted.¹

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¹ For these movements see War Records, Series I., vol. VIII., pp. 115-117.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 238