Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-06-13
The lI1 capture Of Memphis /!
EXCETsNG GUNBOAT FIGHT
2HA Ia; A d BE-. FLEET DIS
Ts;DXEE. , - -.
FRI mont Pursuing jackson.
ALI QUIEr IN FRONT OF RICHMOND.
Col. siiel'iey, OF Maine, Appointed
Military Governor. OF R.oui.iauss...'
Capture Of three Rebel Steamers while
Attempting to Fun the Blockade. 3lf


d" Attempting to Fun the Blockade. b
,I --- ,ss-l T. Z
Fine Specimens of Rebel Lying
Our Loss 1000 at the Battle o.
Fair Oaks. cs.
TEXAS TO BE RESTORED TO TEE
UNION.
| ......... ..... NEW MADRID, June Z.
The steamer Platte Valley has lust arrived
from Memphis. She reports all quiet there
The city surrendered to the Federal flotiIls
without resistance.
p. ..- CAIRO, June 8.
The regular packet Platte Valley, the first
boat through from Memphis, arrived this
morning 70 ~ il.el s.,'1e. j.
| + Our forces are in possession of Memphis.
Our flotilla left Fort Pillow at 9 o'clock
Thursday afternoon, consisting of the gun
boats Benton, flagship tairo, Carondelet,
st. Louis and i.ouicvil:e, and the rams Mon
arch, Switzerland, Lancaster, Queen of the
West, Fulton, Mingo, Sampson and Hornet.
Finding no obstruct;ors at Ft. Randolph, tae
f1otil'a passed on, and at 8 o'clock Thursday
evening the gunboats anchored two miles
above Memphis, the rams rem aiming short
distance above. A reconno s*ance discovered
the enemy's fleet lying near Memphis, con.
sistlng of the following vessels: Gen. V4l,
Dorm, flag ship Gen. Price, Gen Bragg, Gen.
Lowell, jeff. Thompson, Gen. Beauregart!,
Sumter and Little Rebel all rams-under
command Of Capt. Ed. Montgomery. pf
During the night the rebels moved down
the river and at early dawn were out OF
sight, but in about half an hour were seen
coming up, formed in line of battle. Our
gnnboats had. in the meantime, weighed an
chor and, followed by several rams, moved
slowly towards the rebel fleet. A shot fion
the Little Rebel, from the long range riff d
gun, fell within a short distance of the gua-
boat Cairo, which was in advance. The Cairo
replied with brosdside, ard soon the en-
gagemcnt became general at long range. I hc
rams had in the mesrtine advanced and the
ram Beaureg'rd, being some distance III a.
vance, was singled cut by the Monarch and
Queen Of the West, each striving to be first
to strike the rebe! craft. The Monarch ste
ceeded in striking the Baauregard midships.
almost cutting her III two, causing her to iii
and sink Immediately, in the channel opposite
the city. At this juncture the ram Littl,.
Rebel made dash for the Monarch, which
was by this time in the m:ds. of the reba
fleet, bit by skilful movement of the pilot
of the latter boat, she dropped out of the way
| and the blow intended for hsr struck the rebel
boat Gen. Price, taking away her wheel and
making it necessary to run her ashore. where
she sent shot that entered the side Of the
Gen. Lowell, rendering her unmanageable,
and Immediately after she was ran down by5
the Queen of the West A broadsitie Fl ON
the Benton took effect in the sides of the jeff
Thompson and she was run ashore, and was
soon after in flames, burning to the waters
edge.
Four of the rebel gunboats having been
disabled, tie remainder of their feet retreat
ed down the river, pursued by our gunboats,
firing a. they advanced, resulting in the cap
ture of the Sumter, Bragg and Little Rebel,
which had been abandoned by most of their
crews, The latter was run ashore. Capt.
Montgomery and most of his officers and men
succeeded in making their escape in tn e
woods on the Arkansas shore.
The Federal ram Lancaster was struck by
the Beauregard early in the engagement,
slightly d sailing the former. Col. Elliott,
| IN command OF the rams, was struck in the
breast by splinter, stunning him temporari-
ly, but he soon recovered, and continued on
deck throughout the action. This was the
only casualty on our side.
Our rams were manned by sharp-shooters,
mostly from Illinois. who did good execution,
picking of the enemy's gunners at every or
portunity.
The rebel loss in killed, wounded and pris-
oners is heavy, but has not yet been fully as.
ccrtained. Our tugs were busily engaged
picking up crews of their disabled beats
After the return of the gunboats which had
gone down in pursuit Of the rebels, Com.
Davis sent a boat from The flag ship Bentoa
with the following not, to the Mayor Of the
city: -
~. s. Steamer Benton, off Memphis,
June 9Th, 1862 Sir: I have respectfully to
request that you will surrender the city Of
Memphis to the authority of the United
States, which have the honor to represent.
am, Mr.. Mayor, with high respect. your
| VOS0lCht cSA 'Nhe ~. L.. - AN1SS q
Flag Officer Commanding, &C.
To his honor Mayor of city of Memphis -
In about an hour u tug boat put out from
the levee, bearing the following message:
"Aoyor's office, Memphis, Juas 9Th, 1862
To Mr.. DAVIS, Flag officer Commanding
Sir: Your note of this date is received AMI
contents noted. In reply. have only to say
that as civil authorities have no means Of de-
fense, by force of circumstances the city is
in your hands. Respectfully,
JNo PARK, Mayor"
Immediately after boats S crew landed and
the National flag was hoisted over the Pos
Office. The party was followed by an eX
ci.ed crowd, but was not ,noltstetl.
The Add and 46th Indiana regiments nov
occupy Memphis. Col. Fitch IS in command
The city is quiet. No demonstrations what
ever have BEEN made, and it is even ass'rtet
thrt it will not be necessary to declare mar
tial law. d.
Five of our gunboats are abreast of tn
city. We captured five large steamers which
were moored at the le> &C. The rebels burne'
. new gunboat which was nearly rea y to b.
launched.
CAIRO, June 3.
no VickSOuTS VHfy, oi June ftii, cay
the Federals have landed 5000 troops a
Baton Rouge.
The Memphis Aualanehe, Of the 9th, say
|, that the Memphis and Ohio railroad reeoye,
e ed those locomotives which were recently ru
y off by employees of the road. The party Ina
n succeeded in destroying one small bridge.
All bridges between Memphis and Hun
!, boldt, except that over Wolf river, have BET
destroyed.