Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-09
NAVAL BATTLE AT MEMPHIS.
THE REBEL FLEET DESTROYED.
DoINGs OF CAPT. ELLETrs RAMS,

DOINGS OF CAPT. ELLETTS RAMS.
WASHINGTON, June S.-The following dis
patch has been received at the navy depart
ment:-
U. S, STEAMER BENTON, off Memphis, June
6.-To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Of the
Nacy.-Sir: L arrived here last evening at
8 O'Clock, accompanied by the mortar fleet
under Capt. Maynadier, the ordnance steam
ers, store ships, &C., and anchored mile and
a half above the city. This morning 1 dis
covered the rebel fleet, which had been rein
forced, and now consisted of eight rams and
gunboats lying at the levee,
An engagement which commenced at $50
A. NJ, and ended at Z, terminated in run
ming fight was ably supported by the ram
fleet under command of Capt Elicit, who was
conspicuous for his gallantry, and is severe
ly hurt, but not dangerously wounded The
result of the action was the capture or des-
truction of seven vessels of the rebel feet, IS
follows: The Gen. Beauregard, blownup and
burned; the Gen. Sterling Price, one wheel
carried away; the jeff Thompson set on fire
by shell and burned and her magazine was
blown up; the Sumpter badly cut up by shot,
but will be repaired; and the "Lttle Rebel"
boiler exploded by shot and otherwise injured,
but will be repaired.
Besides this one of the rebel boats was
sunk in the beginning of the action; her
name is not known. A boat, supposed to be
the Van Dorm, escaped from the fotilla by
her superior speed. Two rams are in pur
suit. The officers and crews of the rebel
boats endeavored to take to the shore. Many
of their wounded and prisoners are now in our
hands.
The mayor surrendered the city to me after
the engagement, Col. Fitch came down at
eleven o'clock and has taken military pos
session. Signed, c. II. DAVIS,
Flag officer Commanding, pro TEN.
CAIRO, June s.-The regular packet Platte
Valley, the first boat through from Memphis,
arrived this morning. Our forces are in pos
session of Memphis The fotilla consisting
of five gunboats and eight rams, left fort
Wright at two o'clock Thursday morning.
Finding no distractions at fort Randolph, the
fotilla passed on, and at o'clock on Thurs
day evening the gunbOats anchored two miles
above Memphis The rams remained a short
distance above. A reconnaissance was then
made. The rebel fleet-consisting of the fol-
lowing vessels the Gen Van Dorm flagship
General Bragg, Gen. Lowell, jeff Thompson,
Beauregard, Little Rebel, and Sumter-were
discovered lying near Memphis.
During the night the rebel fleet moved
down the river, and at daylight were seen
coming up in line of battle. Our gunboats
had in the meantime weighed anchor, and fol-
lowed by several rBms, moved slowly towards
the rebel fleet, when a shot from the Little
Rebel, from a rihed gun at long range, fell
within a short distance of the Cairo, which
was in the advance. The Cairo replied with
a broadside, and soon the engagement became
general at long range. The rams had IN the
meantime advanced, and the rebel ram Beau
regard being in the advance was singled out
bv the federal rams Monarch and Queen of
the West, each striving to be first to stIike
the rebel craft. The Monarch succeeded in
striking her amidships, almost cutting her in
two, causing her to fill and sink Immediately
in the channel directly opposite the city.
At this juncture the Little Rebel made
dash at the Monarch, which by this time was
in the midst of the rebel feet but, by
skillful movement of the pilot of the Monarch,
she dropped out OF Jne way, anu the DlOW IN
tanded for her struck the rebel boat Gen.
Price, taking away her wheel, and making it
necessary for her to run ashore, when She
sent a shot, which, unfortunately for the reb-
els. struck their boat, the Gen. Lowell, rem
dering her unmanageable. Immediately af-
forwards she was run down by the Queen of
the West.
broadside from the Benton took effect in
the sides of the jeff. Thompson, when she
ran ashore and soon after was IN flames and
burned to the waters edge. -Four OF the
rebel boats having now been disabled, the
remainder of their feet retreated down the
river pursued by our boats, firing as they al
vanced. This resulted in the capture OF the
Sumter, Bragg, and Little Rebel winch had
been abandoned by most of their crews capt
Montgomery, the flag officer, with most OF tne
officers and men, succeeded IN making thelr
escane in the woods on the Arkansas shore
The rebel ram Lancaster was struck by the
Beauregard early in the engagement, and
SLIGHTLY disabled. Col. Elicit, in command Of
the federal rams, was struck in the breast by
n snIinter. and stunned temporarily, but soon
recovered, and continued on deck throughout
the engagement. This is the only casualty
on our side Our rams were manned by
sharpshooters, who did good execution in
picking off the rebel gunners at every oppor-
tunity. The enemys loss in killed, wounded,
and prisoners, is heavy, but not yet fully as
certaned Our tugs are busily engaged
picking up the crews of the enemy's disabled