January 13, 1863

St. Charles (Arkansas County) was captured, the result of a bloodless engagement that took place along the White River. It was part of a larger Federal movement up the river after the capture of Fort Hindman earlier in the month. In response to Brigadier General Willis Gorman’s request for naval support, Acting Rear Admiral David Porter provided the ironclads USS Cincinnati and USS Baron DeKalb, as well as the tinclads USS Romeo and USS Forest Rose. When they reached the town, they found it to be abandoned by the Confederates, who had moved up river to DeValls Bluff (Prairie County).