The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-06-12

ANahNo'PHt HNoSNu Shj ~"N "V S'S"'
o'clock on Thursday evening the
gunboats anchoredtw miles above
Memphis. The rams remained q
short distance above. A recon
noissance was made, and the enc
feet, consisting of the follow
ing: General Van Dorm, flag ship,
General Price, General Bragg,
General Lowell, JEFF Thompson,
Beauregard, Sumter aud Little
Rebel, were discovered lying near
Memphis.
During the night the rebel fleet
moved down the river, and at day
light were ont of sight, but in half
an hour afterward were seen COM
ing up, formed in line of battle
Our gunboats had, in the NEAR.
time, weighe ed anchor, and followed
by several rams, moved slowly to-
yard the rebel feet, when a shot
from the Little Rebel, from a rihed
gun of long range, fell within a
short distance of the gunboat Cal
70, which was IN advance. The
Cairo replied with a %broadside,
and soon the engagement became
general at long range. The rams,
in the mean time, advanced, and
the rebel ram Beauregard, Icing
some distance in advance, was
singled out.b by the Federal rams
Monarch and Queen of the West,
each striving to be first to strike
the rebel craft. The Monarch
succeeded in striking her amid
ships, almost cutting her in two,
and causing her to fill and sink
Immediately in the channel, di-
rectly opposite the city. AT this
iuncture the Little Rebel made a
dash at the Monarch, which by
this time was in the midst of the
rebel fleet, but by a skillful move.
ment of the pilot of the latter she
dropped out of the way, and the
blow intended for her struck the
rebel boat General Price, taking
away her wheel, making it neces-
sary for her to run ashore, where
she sent a shot, which, unfortu.
, nately for the rebels, struck the
} boat General Lowell, rendering her
| unmanageable. Immediately after
> she was run down by the Queen Of
the West. A broadside from the
Benton took effect on the sides Of
!; the jeff Thompson, when she rar
ashore, in flames, and burnt to the
waters edge. Four rebel boat.
having been disabled, the remain
der of their fleet retreated dow
the river, pursued by our boats
! firing us they advanced, resulting
/. in the capture of the Sumter
!, Bragg and Little Rebel, which
had been abandoned by most o
their crews.
The Federal ram Lancaster wa
struck by the Beauregard early il
y the engagement, and was slight.
Vt disabled.
Our tugs were buslly engage
e picking up the crews of their di.
o abled boats.
After the return of the gdnboat
l. from the pursuit, Commodore Da
Ir Wis sent tie following note to til
0, Mayor of the city of Memphis
"U. S. Flag-steamer Benton,
d Of Memphis, June 6, 1852.
1T SIR: | have respectfully to r.
quest hat you will surrender tt
city of Memphis to the authorit
OF the United States, which l hay
t. the honor to represent.
am, Mr.. Mayor, with high
respect,
s. Your ob't servant,
I'd G. II. DAVIS, Flag Officer"
}; In reply, the Mayor said
ps "Your note is received. In r
.; ply, l have only to say, as the civ
d. authorities have no means of d
A tense, by force of circumstance
as the city is in your hands"
Immediately after a boats Gre
landed, and the National flag W
hoisted over the Post Office. II
party was followed by an excit'
at crowd, but they were not int
at. fered with. The Forty-third a,
re Forty-sixth Indiana regiments nc
,rs occupy the place.