Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-09
DESTRUCTION OF TIE REBEL FLEET
Negro Brigade Disbanded.
KILLED AND WOUNDED OF FAIR OAKS


Thursday evening the gunboats anchored two
miles above Memphis. The rams remained
short distance above.
A reconnaissance was made, and the enemy's
feet, consisting of the following: Gen. Nandorn.
flag ship, Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, Gen Lowell,
JEFF Thomson. Beauregard. Sumter, and Little
Rebel, were discovered lying near Memphis
During the night the rebel feet moved down
the river ami at daylight we're out OF sight but in
half hour afterw ards seen coming up
formed in line of battle.
Our gun5oats had in the meantime weighed
anchor and followed by several rams moved
slowly towards the rebel fleet when shot from
the Little Rebei from ritied gun of a long range
fell within short distance of the gunboaI Cairo
The Cairo replied with a broadside, and soon
the engagement became general al long range.
The rams in the mean time advanced and the
rebel ram Beauregard, being some distance 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 Mon
arch succeeded in striking her amidships. almost
cutting her in two, and causing her to fill and
sink Immediately in the channel, directly oppo-
site the city.
At this juncture the Little Rebel made a dash
at the Monarch which by this time in the
midst of the rebel feet, but by skillful move
ment OF the Pilot of the latter she dropped out OF
the way, and the blow intended for her struck the
rebel boat Gen Price. taking away her wheel.
making it necessary for her TO run ashore, where
she went.
\ shot which, unfortunately for the rebels,
struck the boat Gen. Lowell and rendered her un-
manageable Immediately after she was run
down by the Queen OF the West.
4 brOadside from the Benton took effect on
the sides of the JEFF Thompson. which
ashore in flames and burned to the waters edge
! Four rebel boats having been disabled, the re-
mainder of their fleet retreated down the river
pursued by our boats, firing a they advanced, re
sultng in the capture OF the Sumter. Bragg and
| Little Rebel, which had been abandoned by most
of their crews.
Captain Montgomery, the flag officer aud most
Of the officers aud men succeeded in making their
escape to the woods on the Arkansas shore
The Federal ram Lancaster was struck by the
! Beauregard early in the engagement, and was
slightly disabled.
Col Ellet, commanding the Federal rams, was
struck by splinter, and was stunned temporari-
J ". but soon recovered, and continued on deck
throughout the action. This was the only casu-
atty on our side
Our rams were manned bv sharpshooters. most
ly from Illinois, who did good execution, picking
off the enemy's gunners at every opportunity.
The rebel loss in killed, wounded and prison
ers, is heavy, but not vet fully ascertained. Our
tugs were busily engaged picking up the crews of
their disabled boats
After the return of the gunboats from the pur-
suit, Com Davis sent the following note to the
Mayor of the city of Memphis:
UNITED STATES FLAG STEAMER BENToN.l
on Memphis, June 6, 1862
SIR-I have respectfully to request that you
will surrender the city of Memphis 10 the author
ity of the United States. which l have the honor
20 represent.
am, Mr.. Mayor. with high respect, your ODE
dent servant, G. IL. DAVIS, Flag Officer.
In reply the Mayor said:
Your note is received. In reply, | have only
to say, as the civil authorities have no means OF
defense by force of circumstances the city is in
your hands"
Immediately after a boats crew landed and
: the National flag hoisted over the Postoiiice
The party was followed by an excited crowd, but
they were not interlered with.
The AID and 10th Indiana regiments now DC
cupy the place. Colonel Fitch in command. The
city is quiet No demonstrations whatever have
been made. 1t is even asserted that it will not be
|. necessary to declare martha law.
Five OF our gunboats now lie abreast of the
city.
We captured FIVE large steamers which were
moored at the levee.
The rebels burned a new gunbOat which wa:
nearly ready to be launched.
The Vicksburg Wing of the 4th inst SAYS the
: Federals have landed 5000 troops at BatOr
Rouge.
The Memphis Avalanche of the 9th saws tn,
locomotives recently run off by railroad employees
were recovered.
The same paper says all the bridges between
Memphis and Humboldt have recently been de
stroyed.
3 The Memphis Argus of the 9th, in its account
of the naval battle. saws three shots were fire.
] from the Confederate fleet before any reply "a,
made by the Federals. After the firing com
menced the shots fell wide of the mark on boil
sides, when on the arrival OF seven more of In,
enemys gunboats Com. Montgomery ordered th'
: fleet TO fall back. which was done. The firing
however was kept up vigorously
The rebel fleet retired To opposite Beal street
no longer in line of battle, when one of the Fed
eral rams shot ahead of the remainder Of thei
? fleet, when the Beauregard prepared 10 receive
: her. The contest of short duration, as I'M
Beauregard avoided the blow intended for her
, and struck her adversary forward of her whee
house. The blow placed the Federal boat h0r
du combo, She hauled of, and made for th'
Arkansas shore, where she remained during th'
engagement.
la the meantime another Federal ram, IN,
Monarch, came TO her assistance. The Beaure
, gard attempted 10 run her down but missed he
and struck the Gen. Price on the wheel house
making complete wreck Of the boat. Oh
made for the Arkansas shore and sunk. mum
Der OF persons on board were killed and w0unde
/ by the enemy's sharp shooters
4 At this period four Federal iron clad boat
which had taken no part in the action excep
firing at long range, came down. On their arri
val the cannOnadng was fiercely renewed In
short time the Gen. Lowell pierced by larg
shot sunk. The Little Rebel soon after
wards struck by Federal shot and at once starte'
: for the Arkansas shore. The Beauregard. moth
ing daunted by the disasters which had befallei
others, continued vigorously firing. As 81
started towards the Point two or three of th
enemy's boats closed upon her, pouring IN broad
g side after broadside. She was struck seyeIa
:, times raking her fore and aft. A Federal "a Q
d coming up also dealt her blow. when she sum
rapidly in deep water opposite Jackson Mound
: The remaining Confederate boats rapidly move
down the river One OF them shortly afterTard
= was discovered in flames. A pursuit was mad
by the Federal boats, but in a short time re
I turned.
The conclusion arrived at Was that the re
= mander Of our feet shared the fate of the 9th
ers.
The loss of life in the engagement cannot b
estimated with any degree Of certainty. nun
Der are known 10 have fallen BY the enemy
e sharpshoOters- IL is supposed great numbe
went down with the sinking vessels The los
TO the enemy other than the damage 10 the raj
above mentioned, Is not known
n Their bOafs aif0pefho- 90 u,versrr ~ IN