March 25, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
Lieut. FRITH, who blew up the Indianola, gives the editor of the Natchez Courier the particulars. He says that on Wednesday night a Federal gunboat, which he is pretty well assured was the Tuscumbia (afterwards turning out to be a Yankee scare-crow), and which, by the way, is represented as a very formidable iron-clad, made her appearance, within two miles of where the Indianola lay. Lieut. FRITH informs us that he had two 11-inch and two 9-inch Dahlgren guns, as also two howitzers – field pieces – on board the sunken vessel as a battery, with but five besides himself to man them. On Thursday night, at 11 o’clock, after throwing overboard three of the pieces, and making his preparations for bursting the 11-inch guns, he laid his train for the final destruction of the Indianola. Upon examination after the explosion, Lieut. FRITH found that it was complete, and she lay a total wreck. It is also stated that there was no discipline on the Indianola after she was taken; that she was literally pillaged by those on board, in order to possess […..] of the victory, etc. We regret to observe in this quarter an indisposition to communicate facts to the Southern public. The tone of exaggeration on the one hand, and concealment on the other, indicates weakness and apprehension at Vicksburg.