Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-06-25
THE ENGAGEMENT ON TIE MISSISSIPPI

THE ENGAGEMENT ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT.
Fom the Arnay Correspondent Of the Richmond
Dispatch.
HERsANpo, Miss,
Saturday. June 8, 1862.
The stars and stripes floating over Memphis!
The Federals now occupy the city, and Yankee RUE
is about to shed its beauties upon people who
through the trying scenes of the past twenty four
hours have proven themselves as loyal as any com.
munity in the Southern Confederacy. Fort Pillow
was evacuated on Wednesday and Thursday, every
thing Of value being removed and the troops trans
ported down the river.
TIE NAVAL BATTLE
On Thursday night the Federal fleet made its ap-
pearance five miles above the city, where Its pres
ence was signaed by rocket from one OF our scout
boats, which Immediately chased, and burned
to prevent capture. Our own feet of rams, which
lad arrived only six hours previously at once pre-
pared for action, but the night passed without any
demonstration. At early dawn, the Federas adj
vanced, steaming slowly down in the following or
der: FIRST, series of eight rams then the heavy,
black, iron-cad gunboats, and behind swarm OF
transports, mortar boats, and tugs All together,
the number of the fleet was about thirty five Oar
own force consisted OF the following rams, seven IN
number and was under the command OF Commo-
dore Montgomery and his associate steamboat Cap
tains, Gen. Van Dorm, Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, JeK
Thompson. Gen. Lowell, Gen. Beauregard Sumter,
and Little Rebel.
The flag ship of the Commodore was the Van
Dorm but as she was the present occasion loaded
with over one hundred thousand pounds Of pow
der, and other valuable stores, he transferred his
flag to the Little Rebel, with instructions to the
other to remain in the rear of his squadron and
await his signal, when she was to make her way
with all possible dispatch down the river to place
Of safety.
Such were the immense odds against which our
little fleet were about TO cOntend-twenty boats TO
six, and eighty four guns to fourteen, our rams,
with the exception OF the JEFF: Thompson, which
had four, haTing only two guns each. Public opln-
ion may question the propriety of attempting re-
sistance in of such disadvantages but the Com
modore had no other resource. His fuel had given
out, and notwithstanding his repeated applications,
he was enabled to secure only eight hundred bar
rels-enough to last bis feet about two hours
Had he dri!ted towards Eicnshurg, the enemy would
have pursued and captured him without 4 blow
Had he run, public sentiment would have written
him down coward. His only resource, therefore,
was to fight or disgrace himself He promptly de-
termned upon the former. Calling council of his
off ,ers, he impaired his views and received their
hearty cooperation. At the same time it was unan-
imously agreed that TO boat should be surrendered
and no flag struck but, when disabled or sur
rounded, every craft was to be sunk, blown up, or
set on fire. The sequel will show how firmly this
heroic resolution was carried out, though not an
officer or man went into the fight expecting to
survive.
As soon as the Federals were discovered approach
ing, Com. Montgomery gave the signal" prepare
for action-and the little feet moved up abreast of
the city. Fire was first opened by the JEFF Thomp-
thofe IL.
a response. Soon, however, the cannonade COM
menced from the Federal gunboats. and for an hour
and thirty-fve minutes continued without inter-
mission, the Federal feet never hating and with
the exception OF the rams changing its battle
array When opposite the city one of the Yankee
rams made bold dash at the Gen. Lowell as she
was making turn, and striking her amidships the
latter sank on the Tennessee shore. Boats put off
to rescue the survivors struggling in the water,
when whole broadside Of grape and canister was
fired from one of the gunboats killing and manning
several as they swan Yankee sharp shooters, con-
cealed behind bales of hay also poured in destruc-
tive fire, picking off the men wherever they were
visble-a characteristic illustration of the baseness
and cowardlce which has from the beginning marked
their side of this contest. Among those killed in
this manner was Capt Win. Cable, of the Lowell
The ram now made dash for the Beauregard
but missing her, the latter sheered around, and
striking her antagonist tore an immense hole II
her side. She barely succeeded in reaching thu
Arkansas shore when she sunk. Another ram nov
made for the Beauregard, when the latter, in con
junction with the Price, prepared to reciprocate-
The Federal being in the diagonal of the two, how
ever, by sk,lful mansuvre, managed to escape
collision herself, and the two >Contederates coming
together, the Price received damaging blow, which
also drove her ashore on the Arkansas side to pre-
vent sinking Meanwhile, the fight was briskly
going on between the other boats-our little fee
falling back, with their bows to the enemy, anc
firing as rapidly as their small armament would
permit
The Little Rebel, with her signal flags, now 5e
came the target Of both rams and gunboats. Sho
and she'll fairly rained around and upon her. an,
no less than three attempts were made to run he
down without success. Finally, heavy 1913 bal
STRUCK her at the water line and passed completely
through her machinery. The pilot had barely tim
70 neau ner tor the Shore when a Yankee gun.boa
iaio alongside and poured broadside into her
WHICH, " use the expression of one of the men
ole" her 90 TOM out" At the same time, tn
sharp snooi &c their fearful work, and eight o
ten men fell pierced with bullets. SIX or seve
were drowned
REMARKABLE ESCAPE
Com. Montgomery and Capt Fowler took to tn
water, and swimming ashore, escaped in tho
of Arkansas Both these officers, have since lao n
ed, endured untold tormentS. For thirty hours tho,
alternately swan and waded through the doc
sloughs, prey to mosquitoes, insects and the col
OF the night which was intolerable. Soon thew h,
came separated and the Commodore was discoyer =,
by three Federal pickets. They had discharge
their guns at him as he was swimming swamp, q
OF which fortunately missed their object. AS |
landed, they demanded his surrender. Certainly
sala me- at esame time thrusting his sword throu
ule oodY OF one Of the men. His revolver beil
M ; would not go off, but he drew it on the renal
m two When they took to their heels and disa
poa,.a. The Commodore then made his way to
point some miles below, where he met u couple
gentlemen, one of whom took him on his horse Al
.astea him to crossing on the river. He then 81
y. .s IN reaching the Tennessee shore and arriy
Fo. .n's place. He IS now.safe at Grenada. Ca,
unSisso also came upon the Yankee pickets but
cones,9S ssred ey them, though for two hours he
rascals "a the bushes within thirty feet of t