The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-06-18
CAIRO, May 8. The regular packe
Platte Valley, first boat through from

Platte Valley, hrst boat through from
Memphis, arrived this morning. .4-.--
Our forces are in possession Of Mem
phis. The fotilla, comprising Eve gun
boats and eight rams, left Fort Wright
at two o'clock on Thursday morning, and
finding no distractions at Fort Randolph,
the Aotilla passed on, and at eight clock
Thursday morning the gun-boats an
chored two miles above Memphis7-the
rams remaining a short distance above.
| A reconnaissance was made of the enc
my's feet. which consisted of the follow
ing vessels: - s,
Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, Gen. Lindal,
jeff. Thompson, BeaureSard, sumter and
Little Rebel were discovered lying near
Memphis.
During the night the rebel feet moved
down the river, and at daylight were, out
of sight, but in half an hour, more. .vere
seen coming up formed in line Of battle.
Our gunboats had in the meantime weighed
anchor, and followed by several rams,
moved slowly towards. the rebel Acet.
The shot from the Little Rebel fell with
in short distance of the gunboat Cairo,
which was in advance The Cairo replied
with broadsidc. Soon. the senS Sage ueAt
became general at long range. The rams
in the meantime had advanced, and tn
rebel ram Reauregard being s5lne dis
tancc in advance, WAS singled out by the
Federal Monarch and Queen OF the West.
i The Monarch succeeded in striking her
amidships, almost cutting hcr. in two,
causing her to sink immc liatcly in tho
lehannci directly opposite the city. At
this juncturc the Little Rebel made "a
dash at the Monarch. which by this time
was in tho midst of the rebel feet but by
a skiliful movement of the pilot sLc
droppe out of the way, and the blow M
tended for her struck the rebel boat Gen.
| Price, taking away her wheel, inakihglsit 1t
necessary for her to run ashore, when shc
sent shot which, unfortunately for the
r rebels, struck the boat Gene Lowell 1rcn-
dering her -unnlanage abe Immediately
after she was run down by the. Queen OF
, the West. Brpadsile from the, Benton
took effect ON the sides of JEFF. Thom:s-.
son. She ran ashore soon after in Aames,
t and burned to the waters edge. = Four
rebel boats having been disabled, the. re-
!, mainder of the fleet .droppel down the
,, river, pursued by our boats, firing as they
| advanced, resulting in the capture of the
Sumter, Bragg and Little Rebel, which
$ had been abandoned by mast Of their
crews. Capt Montgomery. the flag ofil,cr
+ and his men succeeded in, mixing Their
/ escape in the woods on the ArkAnsa
r shore. The Federal ram Lancaster, struck
. bg the Beauregard early in. the engage
: m mt, was slightly disablel..lt.s.f rs-s,i
: Col, Elliot, commander of. tho Federal
rams, WAS struck in the bre .st by splin-
: ter, which stunned him temporarily, but
soon recovered AMI continued on deck
Throughout the action. This was the only
: casualty on oar side Our rams werc
: manned by sharpshootcrs, mostly from
Illinois. who did gre tt.exccution, picking
of the cnelnys gunners at every oppor-
tunitv. 4.sS il.a sfs asx
The rebel loss in killed, wounded aud
Eprisoners is very heavy, but not yet fully
aseertained A.sa.s. ~ s ,fi s.syss.sglsi,,i,f.
Our tugs are busily engaged in picking
| up the crows Of theirzdisabled boats.