The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-06-13
rhe Great Gun Boat Victory.
\ ,.roxAL FIorrlA. orr MExrHrs. TESS.I
Priday Morning. June 6. ls62.

me Great Gun Boat Victory.
MAR corrarDraenes Of cinrinnad zlmszLl
NATIONAL FsorIrtA. orr MEMPHIS. TESS.J
Pridsy Morning. June 6. ls62.
Rs,veen Eve and six o'clock this morning,
tho mos, spirasi and decisive battle that has
"a, occurred ~. the Mississippi was fought
oonosita Mer..i IS between five OF our gun
haats with two Of our rams and eight OF the
cnemy's gunnoa .. The engagement was
,xttnessed b, thousands of the citizens OF
Nemphis. who expected. no doubt, to see
me Uniouists driven from the river, n they
had freouentl, been told By Eward Mont
gomerv. that he would, when the proper time
same. annihsla.s the whole \ ankee heet.
Alas. for b,s ting and hectoriDg before
Dissemination n. heavy blows The Reb-
els sustained terrible defeat. and, what
vas worse, She city was about to witness
their discontinue and their shame.
This mornings fight was glorious one.
and few loyal eyes can read. the particulars,
However prosy their relation, without ieeiiog
a glow Of pride and sense Of patriotic ex-
ultation. Out OF eight of the hostile vessels.
seven we're destroyed, sunk or captured, and
but once escaped; while only one OF our rams
vas injured, and not soul was wounded
THE rIorIrLA srEAMSe TOWARD rHK CITY.
TIE Union gunboats, FIVE In number,
Benton, Cairo, Carondelet, Louisville and
st. Louis. and the two rams, Queen OF the
West and the Monarch the two rams from
Cincinnatil, left their moorings below Pad
dy's Hen aud Chickens, as the group OF
Islands FIVE miles above Memphis IS called
by steamboat men. about half-p four this
morning. and slowly steamed toward the
city.
The morning was clear and calm, balmy
and beautiful, and after passing bend IN
the river, we saw the city IN the distance.
reposing very quietly upon the border OF
the broad stream that has poured whatever
Memphis has OF wealth into her uograteiul
lap.
The river vas clear Of all craft. Not even
a skill dimmed its surface, and the officers
Of the fleet thought We should meet with no
opposition in our possession Of the city
The steamers were very fearful least this
would prove true. aud prayed after a strange
nautical fashion that the Rebel vessels would
come out and give us fight. Since the
engagement OF the 10th ult. the gunboat
crews have felt a. II that action required
continuation. and have been longing for
another battle most perseyeringly.
The sailors prisons seemed 10 be answered
The Flotlla was just opposite the upper
portion of tho city when the boats OF the
Rebel Fleet were seen in n slight bend ofthe
river, about mile and quarter below
Our crews cheered Justify at the grateful
vision, for they now knew there was pros
pect for fight.
The Flotilla still steamed leisurely along
aud the enemy soon advanced toward US
Commodore Davis did not wish to bring OF
an engagement at so early an hour, prefer
ring that the men should eat their break
fast. aud thus be qualified 10 fight better
material but perhaps correct view Of wha
IS known as courage-than when suffering
from physical depletion. tie therefore or
,lered the i've vessels under his command q
retreat, and the foe perceiv;nx this. gre'
evidently EemboIdened. believing We wer
anxious 70 avoid battle.
COMMENCEMENT or THk ACTION.
As We retraced our course, the enemy FOL
lowed, and in n few minutes the flagship
Little Rebel, on which was Commodore ID
Montgomery, fired a shot at the Bent0
which was in the van, without injuring hel
and then SECOND and third with the sam
effect
This braggadocio became iutolerabIe. an
Commodor. Davis must have so regarde
Il. for he n once ordered an advance; an
the Benton, Capt. ". l.. Phelps, and tn
Louisville. Capt. Il. NJ Drove. assumed III
front position. with the Cairo. Csp,. Bryant
the Carondelet, Capt. Henry Wake. and Oh
~ Louis. Capt. WiIson1 McGuningle, in tn
rear.
The hostile feet, in addition 10 the hag
ship. was composed Of the General Beaurs
gard. General Bragg, Jef, Thompson. ter
eral Lowell. General Price. Sumter and Ger
erai yaa Dorm: the Beauregard beng Oh
same vessel that, under the name OF th
McRae or Mexico. participated in the hgl
of Fort Pillow on the iOsh ult.
The Cairo was the first OF our boats I
discharge a gun at the enemy, and followe
II up BY two more that fell very near th
Little Rebel without striking her. The Ga
rondelet and Louisville initiated the worth
example, and the Lowell and Thompson
Bragg and Price on the other side. took pa
m the nautical entertainment. and lent q
deep base OF their guns TO the warlike col
cert.
In les than three minutes both fleets we
engaged in most animated action, an
every vessel was laundering away 10 q
hest OF ita capacity. They were gradual
approaching nearer each other, and the boa
we're cnveioped In such volume Of smol
that one could hardly be distinguished fro
tie other except when fresh. stid bfee
lifted the curtain OF the heavy vapor
Tho engagement continued thus Tor mo
than twenty minutes. and at the end OF III
time the c0mbatAnts we're more than halt
mile apart and were still firing heavily
We had frequently hlt their boat. but "a
had not touched ours. their gunaers being
a state ofexcitement or teryidstion that cat
ed them to IRE oilen very wildly. aud entir'
waste their ammunition.
CINCINNATI RkNs II rHH fIoHr.
At tbs juncturc the two Cincinnati ras
tho Queen Of tho West and Monarch, 4
peared about half mile behind the Flotil
and che enemy. a. soon az he preserved the
began 10 retreat. conscious. II he could
sustain the attack before. he would be .
less able 70 do it, after the rams hsd ense'
upon the scene.
The Queen OF the West dsrted out a
RAPID speed ahead Of its companion TOYS
the Bcaurexarl, which fred Al her oppons
four times without striking her oace. thou
IN one OF two instances no more than
wards distant. The ram. nothing discone
ted. ran in boldly. designing % butt
Rebel near the bow. aad would have done
had not the gunboat been 80 adrc
managed by her pilot that the Bcaareg
msved suddenly 70 the right as tho r
raised. causing the latter 20 mss her 4
altogether.
The ran. finding herself thus foiled.
termined 70 test her capacity upon anot
vessel. and 30 turned her attention %
General Price. and biz her heavily IN
wheelhonss before she could get out Of
arsf fnarfro ~ ~nosf fs,rtfan of