Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-06-14
SCENES, INCIDENTS, &C., sc.


-
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette.I
GAroso HOUSE,, MEMPHIS, Tenn,
Friday Evening, jane 6.
Events in this quarter have crowded upon
each other so rapidly during the past thirty
six hours, that sufficient time has hardly
elapsed to record one before another fol-
low cd upon its heels. Yesterday Fort Pill.
low was taken possession of by our forces
aud the river opened to within five miles OF
Memphis; to-day great battle has been al
ready fought and won and the city occupied
by National troops.
Yes, Memphis, the commercial metropolis
of Tennessee and hot bed Of the rebellion in
the southwest-Memphis, the city of lying
newspapers and fire eating editors; Memphis,
the rival of Richmond aud Charleston 10 all
that is dshonorable, reasonable and dam
nable, has fallen at last. With the dust of
its streets clinging to my feet and surrounded
by an atmosphere tainted with disloyalty-
with the magnificent spectacle, still before
my eyes, Of its entire population huddled
together in one dense mass upon bluffs,
anxiously watching the progress of despe-
rate naval combat, upon which the fall of
the city hung--with the crashing discharges
or artillery, the rattle Of small arms and
the explosion O. shells still ringing in my
ears, seat myself to write an account of
the events of this morning, among The most
important that have occurred since the war
began. M
The Battle of Memphis.
Not one believed yesterday that any oppo.
sition would be made to our entry into Mem
phis, and when Flag officer Davies brought
his vessels to anchor five miles above the
city between eight and nine O'Clock in the
evening, the wonder was expressed that be
did not advance and seize his prize at once.
The lightscertainly cleaned triumphant
liz ia the distance, as if reckoning him on,
and two or three times during the night a
rosy fash lit up the back ground Of the
s lIs giving rice TO the fear that the town had
been fired.
DISCOVERY OF THE REBEL FLEET.
No move was made, however, till about
FIVE O'Clock this morning, when the Benton
and Louisville weighed anchor and leisurely
drifted down with the current TO within a
mile of the mouth of Wolf river which it
will be remembered empties into the Missis-
sippi just above Memphis. Here the rebel
feet, composed of the Gen. Van Dorm, JEFF.
Thompson, Gen. Beauregard Gen. Bragg,
Gen. Lowell, Gen. Price, Sumter and Little
Rebel-eight vessels in ALL under command
Of Capt ed. MOntgomery-was discovered
lying close to the Arkansas shore, directly in
front of Memphis. Believing that men fight
better on full than on empty stomaohs, Flag
Officer Davis did not desire to bring on an
engagement until the crews of his boats had
taken their usual morning meal, and there
fore retired This retrograde movement
was construed by the enemy into an igno-
minious flight, and Immediately the whole
rebel feet formed in line of battle aud start.
ed in pursuit.
GETTING RKAoV FOR ACTION.
Finding that the enemy were determined
TO have fight Immediately, the Flag Oficer,
unwilling 10 check the enthusiasm of his
men, who were not half 50 hungry for break
fast as for battle, signaled his three remain
ing boats, the ST. Louis, Darondelet and
Cairo, to join him at once. They promptly
weighed anchor, and ia a few minutes reach
ed the vicinity Of the Benton aud Louisville.
BY this time the enemy were nearly opposite
the mouth OF Wolf river, and cur boats were
perhaps mile and halt above, with heads
up stream, and drifting down en- the strong
current toward the foe.
OPENING OF THE BALL
The first shot was fired by the enemy at
precisely $50 A. NJ and passed over the
Benton, dropping into the river hall a mile
beyond. Two more were soon after fred by
the rebels, neither Of which took effect.
The distance between the opposing forces
Was now reduced 70 about mile, when the
atern guns on our boats opened upon the en-.
envy In the iiveliest manner, aud the fght
bJcBme general Nearer aud nearer togeih-
er came the two feetE, and louder and quick
er grew he sharp, crashing sound Of the
gune. The Numbering Memphians, who he
he thought when they lay down the night
before TO rest, that such a scene would be
enacled before their eyes the following morn
ing, were startled by the fret report Of srtil-
lery, ADD FASTENED 10 The bluff by thousands
All thought OF danger, if any had existed
among them, was forgotten In the excitement
Incident 10 such an Hnusnal and magnificent
a spectacle. Thereby the oontending fleets
in Ihe broad bosom o. tine mighty river. yOm-
Ting fire and EmOke, each doing is Utmost
to destroy the other. A gentle breeze swept
np the stream, carrying away the clouds al
most as soon as they we've generated BY the
guns, and enabling spectators 10 get very
satisfactory view % TIE battle.
NEW PARrsgRs IN RIA DANCE.
About ten minutes after the fight began,
when the fleets were not more than six or
ainhl hundred Yards aDarL. az q - iiiH
the Monarch and Queen Of the Vest, which
had been lying under the point just aOove
MemphB, VA me ATkanfaa eide, W0ere they
were obscured llom lhe euemys yiew, showed
out, and saiiipg eruund the iiouila, the
Queen Of The Wet, the flagship Of the ram
fleet, la advance, lney passed dOWu on ,he
Tennessee side al Their highest tate Of spe d
lo1dly cheered by 700 gunbOAt crews. be
.apptafduce OF iIess gerkrls seemed 10 take