On
August 28, 1862, Union Lt. Col. William H. Raynor, commanding a 200-man
detachment of the 56th Ohio Infantry, led an expedition aboard the Federal
gunboat Pittsburgh down the Mississippi River from Helena to
Eunice to take possession of a large Confederate "wharf-boat"
and tow it back to Helena. On August 29, the Pittsburgh shelled
the shore at Carson's Landing, after which 175 men landed to rout a
Confederate encampment 2 miles inland. Thereafter, a 50-man contingent
was sent to eliminate a small band of Confederate querrillas nearby,
resulting in the capture of one soldier as well as military weapons,
supplies, a small quantity of cotton, and 9 horses. After scouring the
countryside for more enemy soldiers, the Pittsburgh proceeded
to Eunice on August 30. After dividing the "wharf-boat" in
two to facilitate towing, the expedition returned to Helena arriving
on September 3.
Confederates
fired on Union vessels on the Mississippi River from the vicinity of
Eunice on June 13-14, 1863. In retaliation, a Federal vessel shelled
the town on June 14.