The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-19
fHf ENclcelf s0a Tnf NIssisslepI


TIE EnclGEl1E1I5 aoa TaE MISSISSIPPI.
{ 4 'axApHyC ACCOUNT
taur Army carsssps5sn m the Southwest fur.
nishes The anbIoined arount u the recent naval ed
sagement before AlNnrhsAx Ii is the most com.
p,ete and sraphieasssstys pnLlisheds and while
some Of the leading lAfts 1Sre given in thc state.
mest copied into this nap~rs few days ago, ,ari-
ETY. Of Incident Is here introaueed that will well re-
pay perusal1 -s
4 aa HERSANpo, MISS,
Saturday, june e. lssf. { 81
The Stars and Strips are floating over Mem
phis! The Federala INV occupy the city. and an
kes rule s about 10 shed its beauties upon u peo.
Pile who through the trying scenes OF the past xen.
ty.four hours have proven thenlselvcs as loyal as
any community inftse Southern Confederacy. Fort
Pillow was evacuated ON Wednesday and Thurs
day, everything VI yalne being removed and the
troops transported down the river.
THE NAVAL RATTLE.
On Thursday nishA the Federal feet made Its ap-
pearanee i've miles above me CITY, where its pres
ence was sigualled by rocket from Of scout
boats, which was imsneti.itey chased, and burned
tn prevent capture. Onr own feet Of rams, which
had arrived only nix hours previouslyat once pre-
pared tor action huf sse n'gn, passed % without any
vsneed, steaming slowly down in the following or
der: First series OF eight rams, then the heavy,
black, iron-ciad gunboats, and behind a swarm Of
TRANSPORTS mortar boats and tuge. Altogether, the
humber of the feet was about thirty five. Our own
force consisted of the following rams seven In num-
beE and was under the command OF Commodore
Montgomery and his associate steamboat captains
Gen. Yauborn, Gen. Price Gen. Bragg, JEFF.
Thompson, Gen. Lowell, Gen. Beauregard, Sumter,
The dag ship OF The Commodore was the vnn-.
Dorm, but she was the present occasion loaded
49, 1x<l.A. a n< vxyuH
and other valuable sof6s he 4rnnsferrsd his nag
the Little Rebel with Instructions the other to re-
main in the OF his squadron and await his signal
when she was to make hcr way with all possible
dispatch down the river to a place Of safety
Such were the immense odds against which our
little feet were about to contend-twenty boats to
SIX and eightyfour guns to fourteen our rams with
the exception Of the JEFF. Thompson which had four
having only two guns each. Public opinion may
question the propriety Of attempting resistance In
view of such disadvantages, but the Commodore
had no other resource His fuel had given ont, and
notwithstanding his repeated applications he was
enabled to secure only eight hundred barrels.
enough TO last his feet about two hours. Had ne
drifted towards Vicksburg the enemy would have
pursued and captured him without a blow. Had he
run, public sentiment would have written him down
coward His only resource, therefore, was to fight
or disgrace himself He promptly determined upon
the former. Calling council of his officers, he I'M
parted his views and received their hearty co-0pfra
ton. At the same time /. was unanimously agreed
that no boat should be surrendered, and no nag
struck but, when disabled or surrounded, every
craft was 10 he sunk, blown up. or set On fre. The
sequel will show how firmly this heroic resolution
was carried ont, though not officer or man went
into the fight expecting 10 survive
Az soon az the Federals were discovered approach
Ing Com. Montgomery gave the signal prepare
for action'-and the little fleet moved up abreast
of the city. Fire was first opened by the JEFF.
Thompson, and several shots discharged without ell
citing response. Soon, however, the cannOnade COM
menced from the Federal gunboats, and for an hour
aud thirtyfve minutes continued without intermis
sion, the Federal fleet never hating, and with the
exception of the rans) never changing its battle
array. When opposite the city one of the Yankee
rams made a bold dash at the Gen. Lowell as she
was making turn, and striking her amdships the
latter sank the Tennessee shore Boats put off to
the survivors struggling in the water, when
a whole broadside OF grape and canister was fired
from one of the gunboats, killing and manning
several as they swami Yankee sharpshoOters, con
cealed behind bales of bay also poured in destruc
tive fire, picking OFF the men wherever they were
viabe-a characteristic illustration of the baseness
and cowardice which has from the beginning marked
their side of this contest. Among those killed in
this manner was Captain William Cable, OF the
Lowell.
The ram now made dash for the Beaure gard,
but missing her, the latter sheered around, and,
striking her antagonist, tore an immense hole i'll
her side. She barely succeeded in reaching the Ar
kansas shore, when she sunk Another ram now
made for the Beauregard when the latter, in con-
junction with the Price. prepared to reciprocate-
The Federal being in the diagonal OF the two,
however by skillful man9uvre, managed TO 60
cape collision herself, and the two COnfederates
coming together, the Price received damaging
blow which also drove her ashore the Arkan-
sas side to prevent sinking. Meanwhile the fight
was briskly going on between the other bOats-our
little fleet falling back with their bows to the
my, and firing rapidly their small armament
would permit.
The Little Rebel with her signal flags, now be.
came the target of both rams and gunboats. Shot
and shell fairly raned around and upon her, and no
less than three attempts were made to run her down
without success. Finally, heavy l2s pound ball
struck her at the water line and passed completely
through her machinery. The pilot had barely time
to head her for the shore, when Yankee ginboat
laid alongside and poured brOaaisde into her,
which, to use the expression OF of the men,
'blew her bottom out" At the sametme the sharp
shooters did their fearful work, and eight
fell pierced with bullets. Six seven Were drown
ed.
REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
Com Montgomery and Capt. Fowler took to the
water and swimming ashore, escaped in the swamps
of Arkansas Both these officers, have since learn
ed, endured untold torments For thirty hours they
alternately swan anu waded through the deep
sloughs prey to mosquitoes, insects, and the cold
of the night, which intOlerabe. Soon they be-
came separated, and the Commodore was dscov-
cred by three Federal pickets. They had dis
charged their guns at him As he was swimming a
swamp, all of which fortunately missed their OBJ
ject. AS he landed they demanded his surrender.
Certainly," said he, at the time thrusting his
sword through the body Of one of the men. His re-
volver being wet, would not go off, but he drew it
on the remaining two, when they took to their heels
and disappeared. The Commodore then made his
way to q point some miles below, where he met a
couple Of gentlemen, one Of whom took him on his
horse and carried him to crossing on the river. He
then succeeded in reaching the Tennessee shore,
and arrived at this place. He is now safe at Gre
NADIA Capt. Fowler also came upon the Yankee
pickets, but was undiscovered by them, though for
two hours be lay concealed IN the bushes within
hirfy faot nf hp l hQV mat i'm,
but he Is scarcely recognizable from the mosquito
bites which cover his person, wherever exposed,
from head to foot.
should here remark that previous TO the en-
gagement the Federal Commander had taken the
precaution to land three or four regiments on the
Arkausas Shore who stretched their lines for dis
tance of four miles or more below the city.
CLOSE OF THE ENGAGEMENT. ~
The fight was now thoroughly one-sided affair.
Our gunboats were all more Or less disabled The
Beanregard was in sinking condition, ana had
been run ashore; the Bragg and Sumter We're
maintaining unequal contest; the Jef. Thomp
son had been blown up by the officers. and the
Van Dorm, with her valuable cargo, was Tying
down the river towards Nicksburg. A few mo-
ments more and the battle was ended The Bragg
and Sumter were run ashore and set OH fire, but be-
fore the work Of destruction could BE- completed
they had fallen into the hands OF the Federal pur
suers The fire was extinguished; those OF this
crew who could not escape were captured, aud the
Federal fleet slowly returned to the city and drop
ped anchor.
upon the bluff many OF whom were women and
children. and though no one expected victory,
MANY a heartfelt prayer went up from that throng
for the safety of the gallant officers and men, Our
loss iu killed and drowned may be thirty or forty
The enemy claim in prisoners about one hundred.
QUEL QU'US.
"AN OplsIoS."-A late telegram to a Northern