The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-06-10

CA1Ro, June g. The regular packet
Platte Valley, the first boat through from
Memphis, arrived here this morning
Our forces are in possession of Memphis
The hotilla, consisting Of FIVE gunboats
and eight rams, left Fort Wright at two
clock on Thursday morning, and finding
no distractions at Fort Randolph, passed
on, and at eight O'clock on Thursday even
ing the gunboats anchored two miles above
Memphis. The rams remained short dis
lance above.
A Reconnaissance was made, and the enc
my's feet, consisting of the following boats,
Gen. Van Dorm, flag ship; General Price,
Gen. Bragg Gen. Lowell, JEFF. Thompson,
Beauregard Sumter and Little Rebel, were
discovered lying near Memphis.
During the night the rebel feet moved
down the river, ahd at daylight were out of
sight, but in half an hour afterwards were
seen coming up, formed in line OF battle.
Our gnnboats had in the meantime
weighed anchor, and, followed by several
rams, moved slowly toward the rebel feet,
when a shot from the Little Rebel, from
rifed gun of long range, fell within ashort
distance of the gunboat Cairo, which was
in advance.
The Cairo replied with broadside, and
soon the engagement became general at
long range. The rams in the meantime ad-
vanced, and the rebel ram Beauregard, be-
/ ing some distance in advance, was singled
out BY the Federal rams Monarch and Queen
of the West, each striving to be 6rst to
strike the rebel craft. The Monarch sue
ceeded in striking her amldsbips, almost
cutting her in two, and causing her to fill
and sink Immediately in the channel di-
| rectly opposite the city. AT this juncture,
the Little Rebel made a dash at the Mon
arch, which by this time was in the midst
of the rebel fleet, but, by skiiIful move
ment of the latter, she dropped out of tn
way, and the blow intended for her struck
the rebel boat Gen. Price, taking away her
wheel making it necessary for Der to run
ashore when she sent a shot, which unfor-
tunately for the rebels struck the boat Gen.
lowell rendering her unmanageabe. I'm
mediatefy 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 ran ashore in flames,
and burned to the waters edge. Four
rebel boats having been disabled, the re-
mainder OF their feet retreated down the
river, pursued by our boats, firing as they
advanced resulting in the capture of the
Sumner, Bragg, and Little Rebel, whica
had been abandoned by most of their crews.
Capt Montgomery, the e1ag officer, and
most of the officers and men succeeded ia
making their escape to the woods on the
Arkansas shore. The Federal ram Ian
caster was struck by the Beauregard early
in the engagement, and was slightly dam
aged. Col. Elliot, commanding the Federal
rams, was struck in the breest by a splin-
ter, and was stunned temporarily, but soon
recovered and continues on deck through
out the action. This was the only casualty
on our sde-our rams were manned By
sharpshooters, mostly from Illinois, who
did good execution, picking offthe enemy's
gunners at every opportunity. The rebel
loss in killed, wounded, aud prisoners, is
heavy, but not yet fully ascertained. Our
tugs were busily eDgnged picking up the
crews of their disabled boats.