Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-06-12

". % liam, SWITZERLAND,
OPPOSITE MEMPHIS, June z, M.
Hon. f. N. Stanton, Secretary Of War:
SIR: Yesterday, after the engagement with
the rebel feet had nearly terminated, and
the gunboats and one of my rams had pass
ed below, was informed that white flag
had been raised in She city. Immediately
sent my son, medical cadet, Chas. r. Ellet,
ashore with flag of truce and the follow
ing note 20 the authorities;
OPPOSITE MEMPHIS, June 6.--I understand
that the city Of Memphis has surrendered.
therefore send my son, with two u. S, hags,
with instructions to raise one upon the Gus.
tom house, and the other upon the Court
house, as evidence Of the return of your
city to the care and protection of Che Con-
stitution.
"CHAS. ELLET, JR., Commanding"
The bearer Of the flags and the above note
was accompanied by Lieut.. Col. Conkell of
the Filty-ninth Illinois regiment, and sixty.
two men of the boat guard.
The following is the reply Of the Mayor
Of the city:
MEMPHIS, Jnne 6.
COL Clsas Eila, Jr., Commanding, etc:
SIR: Your note of this date is received
and the contents noted. The civil authori-
ties Of this city are not advised of its sur
render to the forces Of the United States
Government, and our reply to you is simply
to state respectfully that we have no power
to oppose 4he raising of the flags you have
directed to be raised over the Custom House
and Postoffioe.
JOHN PARK, Mayor.
On receiving this reply the small party
proceeded to the postoifice to raise the Ma
tional flag, and were there Joined by the
| 10 L - AZ, Al,
of the Mayor and some of the citizens was
unexceptionable. The party was surround
ed by an excited crowd using angry and
threatening language but they assembled to
the top of the postofice and planted the
flag, though fired upon several times aud
stoned by the mob below. Still | believe
this conduct was reprobated by the people
of standing ia the place; 10 deed many evil
dences Of an extensive Union feeling there
reach me. Respectfully.
CHAS. ELLET. JR.,
Commanding Ram Fleet.
Opposite MEMPHIS, June 10.
TO Hon. E. N. Stanton, Secretary Of War.
SIR There are several facts touching the
naval engagement of the 9th inst, at this
place, which / wish to place on record
Approaching Memphis, the gunboats were
in the advance. | bad received no notice
on landing within eight miles of Memphis
that the enemy's gunboats had reiterated
: down the river. My first information Of tue
1 presence OF the enemy was shot which
r passed over my boat. l had four of my most
powerful rams in the advance and ready for
any emergency. The others were towing the
e barges and advancing TO the attack. ex
r pected, Of course, to be followed by the
4 Monarch, the Lancaster, and the Switzer
. land. The Monarch came in calamity. Some
o. the officers Of the Lancaster, which nov
r held the next place in the line became ex
d cited aud confused, but the engineers behaved
a well. The pilot erred in signals and duckeC
the boat ashore aud disabled her.
. The Ciplain of the Switzerland construed
= the general signal order to keep half mill
in the rear OF tue Lancaster to mean that h
+, was to keep halt a mile behind her in th
;, engagement, and, therefore, failed to partic
u ipate. Hence the whole brunt OF the 6gh
e fell upon the Queen and Monarch Hat
l. either the Lancaster or Switzerland followed
q as the Monarch did, the rebel gunboat Van
=, Dom would not have es aped, and my flag
l. ship would not have been disabled.
1t Three of the rebel rams and gunboaii
n which were struck by my two rams, suu
outright and were lost. The Gen. Price wa
- but slightly injured, and am now RAISING
D her, and purpose to send Der to my feet.
It CHAS ELLEr, in.
n Colonel Commanding.
10 New York, June lO--A letter in the Elk
Il press, dated "New Bridge, June 9Th" say
all the army, except PorIer's and Franklin
p" d visions and the reserve, have crossed tue
70 Chckahomny.
It A Washington letter states that official il
II telligence TO the Navy Department says n
rise in the james river occurred sufficient &
~ carry the gunboatF over the distractions a
e Fort Darling.
r. WASHINGTON, June IO.--The followin
? was received at the War Department thi
- morning:
! HEADQUARTERS Army IN THE FIELD
r HARRIs0NBuRG, Va, June 8, Pm (
10 TO Hon. +, A. SanoH, Secretary Of War
4 The attack upon the euemy's rear yester
:, day precpihted bis retreat. His loss 4
killed aud wounded was very severe. Thei
~ retreat is almost by an impossible roac
' along which many wagons we're left In I'd
:, woods, aud wagon loads Of blankets. clOll
" lug aud other equipments are piled up i
a. all directions.
k During the evening many of the rebel
,e were killed by shells from battery Of Ger
. eral StahPs brigade. Gen Ashby who coz
" erved the retreat with his whole cuyalr
D. force and three regiments, and who exhibite
at admirable skill aud bravery, was among th
killed
General Milroy made a Reconnaissance /,
day about seven miles on the Port Republ
nt road, and discovered a portion Of The en.
ID my's iOIce encamped 10 the timber.
10 j. q. FREMONT,
.1 Major General Commanding
CAIRO, June 10. II. MARYLAND, speci
y agent Of She Postofice d -partment, left hel
N, to-day for Memphis 10 open the postOfhce
a that place.
-, Tho rebel gunbOat General Bragg arrive
here this e7ening sac viii De repaired 10
medlately.
No arrivals from Memphis today.