Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-09

Col. Ellet, commanding the Federal rams, was
struck by a splinter. and was stunned temporari-
ly, but soon recovered, and continued on deck
throughout the action. This was the only casu.
atty on our side.
Our rams were manned by 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 yet fully ascertained. Our
tugs were busily engaged picking up the crews of
their disabled boats.
After the return of the gunboats from the DUR
suit, Com. Davis sent the following note to the
Mayor of the city of Memphis:
UNITED STATES FLAG STEAMER BESroSJ
Of Memphis, June 6, 1862.
eSrR-I have respectfully to request that you
will surrender the city of Memphis to the author
iy of the United States, which / have the honor
to represent.
| am, Mr.. Mayor, with high respect, your ODE
dent servant, G. H. 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 was hoisted over the Postofice.
The party was followed by an excited crowd, but
they were not interlered with.
The Add and 10th Indiana regiments now oc-
cupy the place, Colonel Fitch in command. The
city is quiet. No demonstrations whatever have
been made. 1t is even asserted thatit will not be
necessary to declare MARTA law.
Five of our g~unboats now lie abreast of the
city.
We captured five large steamers which were
moored at the levee.
The rebels burned a new gunboat which was
nearly ready to be launched.
The Vicksburg Wing of the 4th inst. saws the
Federals have landed 5000 troops at Baton
Rouge.
The Memphis Avalanche of the 9th says the
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.
The Memphis Argus of the 9th. in its account
of the naval battle, saws three shots were fred
from the Confederate fleet before any reply was
made by the Federals. After the firing COM
menced the shots fell wide of the mark on both
sides, when on the arrival of seven more of the
enemy's gunboats Com. Montgomery ordered the
feet 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 their
fleet, when the Beauregard prepared to receive
her. The contest was of short duration, as the
Beauregard avoided the blow intended for her,
and struck her adversary forward of her wheel
house. The blow placed the Federal boat hOrs
du combat She hauled off, and made for the
Arkansas shore, where she remained during the
engagement.
In the meantime another Federal ram, the
Monarch, came to her assistance. The Beaure-
gard attempted to run her down but missed her
and struck the. Gen. Price on the wheel house,
making a complete wreck of the boat. She
made for the Arkansas shore and sunk. Anum-
Der of persons on board were killed and wounded
by the enemy's sharp shooters.
At this period four Federal iron clad boats
which had taken no part in the action except
firing at long range, came down. On their arTl-
val the cannonading was fercely renewed. In a
short time the Gen. Lowell, pierced by a large
shot, sunk. The Little Rebel was soon after
wards struck by Federal shot and at once started
for the Arkansas shore. The Beauregard, moth
inc daunted BY the disasters which had befallen
others, continued vigorously firing. As she
started towards the Point two or three of the
enemy's boats closed upon her, pouring in broad
side after broadside. She was struck several
times. raking her fore and aft. A Federal ram
coming up also dealt her a blow, when she sunk
rapidly in deep water opposite Jackson Mound.
The remaining Confederate boats rapidly moved
Town the river. One of them shortly afterwards
was discovered in flames. A pursuit was made
by the Federal boats, but in a short time re-
turned.
The conclusion arrived at was that the re-
mainder of our feet shared the fate of the 9TH
ers.
The loss of life in the engagement cannot be
estimated with any degree Of certainty. A mum
Der are known to have fallen by the enemy's
sharpshooters. 1t is supposed a great number
went down with the sinking vessels. The loss
to the enemy other than the damage to the ram
above mentioned, is not known.
Their boats altogether were superior to ours in
every respect, therefore s~urtained small loss, save
in the hand to hand encounters.
The bluffs in front of the city were crowded
with spectators during the engagement. Bust
ness of every kind was suspended.
The engagement lasted an hour and FIVE min