The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-06-13
THE SURRENDER OF MEMPHIS.
REBEL ACCOUNT OF THE FIGET.
From the mississippi.
CAIRO, June 8.

CAIRO, June s.
The regular packet Platte Valley, the
first boat through from Memphis, arrived
this morning, Our forces are in possession
of Memphis. The fotilla of s gunboot.
and rams left Fort Wright at 2 O'clock
Thursday evening, the gunboas anchored
two miles above Memphis, and the rams re
manned short distance above.
A reconnaissance WAS made, and the enc
my's fleet, consisting OF. the following yes
sells, Gen. Van Dorm, Flag Ship, jeff
Thompson, Beauregard, Sumpter aud Lit
tie Rebel, were discovered lying near Mem
phis. During the night the rebel fiel5
moved down the river, and at daylight welt
out of sight, but in half an hour atterward
were seen coming up, formed in line of bat
tie.
Our gunboats had in the meantime
weighed anchor, and followed by severa
rams, moved slowly towards the rebel fleet
when a shot from the Little Rebel, from a
ritied gun of long range, fell within short
distance of the gunboat Cairo, which was in
advance. The Cairo replied with broad
side, and soon the engagement became gen
eral at long range. The rams in the mean
time advanced, and the rebel ram Beaure-
gard being some disrance in advance, was
singled out 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 amidships, almost
cutting her in two, causing her to Eli and
sink Immediately, in the chanel directly op-
posite the city.
At this juncture the Little Rebel made a
dash at the Monarch, which by this time
was in the midst of the rebel fleet, but bv
sklIfull movement by the pilot of the lat
ter, she nropped out of the way, and the
blow intended for her struck the rebel boat
Gen. Price, taking away her wheel and
making it necessary to run ashore, where
she sent shot which unfortunately for the
rebels struck the boat Gen. Love-, render
ing her unmanageable. Immediately after,
she wss run down by the Queen of the
West. A broadside from the Benton took.
effect in the sides Of the jeff Thompson,
and she ran ashore soon after in flames and
was burned to the waters edge Four rebel
boats having been disabled, the remainder
of their feet retreate1 down the river, pur
sued by our boats, firing as they advanced,
resulting in the capture of the Sumter
Bragg and Little Rebel, which had been
abandoned by most of their crews Capt
Montgomery, the flag officer, with most of
the officers and men succeeded in escaping
to the woods on the Arkansas shore.
The Federal ram Lancaster was struck
by the Beauregfr early in the engagement,
and slightly disabled.
Col. Elicit, commander of the Federal
rams, was struck in the brest by splinter
and stunned temporarily, but soon recovered
and continued on deck throughout the ac
ton. This was the only casualty on our
side
Our rams were manned by sharpshooters,
mostly from Illinois, who did good execu-
ton in picking off the enemy's gunners at
every opportunity.
The rebel loss in killed, wounded and
prisoners is heavy, though not yet fully as
certalned.
Our tugs are busily engaged in picking
up the crews of their disabled boats.
After the return of our gunboats from
the pursuit, Commodore Davis sent the fol-
lowing note to the Mayor of the city:
U. S. FLAG SNIP Benton,
Oh Memphis, June e.
Sri have respectfully to request YOU
will surrender the city of NJ emphis to the
authority of the United States, which |
have the honor to represent
l am, Mr.. Mayor, with high respect,
Your obedient seryent,
G. H. DAVIS, Flag Officer.
In reply, the Mayor said: "Your note
is received, In reply, have only to say,
as civil authorities have no means of de
fence, by force of circumstances the city is
in your hands"
Immediately after boats crew landed,
and the national flag was hoisted over the
Postoffice. The party was followed by an
excited crowd, but were not irterfered
with.
The forty-third and forty sixth Ind
regiments now occupy the place, col. Fitch
in command. The city is quiet, no de-
monstrations whatever having been made
L is even asserted that it will not be neces
sary to declare martial law. Five of our
OuUDOdiS now llo dOi0dSb lH0 Guy. w e
captured five large steamers which were
moored at the leyee. The rebels burned
a Few gunboat which was nearly ready to
be launched.
The Vicksburg Wing of the 4th says
the Federals have landed six thousand
troops at Baton Rouge. The Memphis
Avalanche of the 9th says, that the loco
motives recently run up by rail road e,n
ployees were recovered. The same paper
says all the bridges between Memphis and
Humboldt are destroyed.
CHICAGO, June s.-Memphis Argus,
9th, account of the naval engagement
says:
Three shots were fired from the Confed
crate fleet before any reply was made by
the Federals. After the firing commenced
shots for some time fell wide of the mark
on both sides, when, on the arrival of sew
eral more of the enemy's gunboats, Com
modore Montgomery ordered the fleet to
fall back, which was done. Firing, howev-
err, was kept up vigorously. The rebel
fleet retired to opposite Bear street, no long
er in line Of battle, when one of the Fed
eral rams shot ahead of the remainder OF
their feet. The Beauregard prepared to
receive her. The contest was of short du-