Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-25
THE ENGAGEMENT ON THE MISSISSIPPI


A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT.
From the Army Correspondent Of the Richmond
q Dispatch
'IlERNANDo, Miss,
Saturday, June 8, 1862.
The stars and stripes floating over Memphis!
The Federas now occupy the city, and Yankee rule
is about to shed its beauties upon people who
through the trying scenes of the past twenty four
hours have proven themselves as loyal as any COM
munity in the Southern Confederacy. Fort Pillow
was evacuated on Wednesday and Thursday, every
thing of value being removed and the troops trans
ported down the river.
THE NAVAL RATTLE.
On Thursday night the Federal feet made its ap:
pearance five miles above the city, where its pres
ence was sgnaled by a rocket from of our scout
boats which was Immediately chased, and burned
TO prevent capture. Our own feet of rams, which
lad arrived only six hours previously, at once pre-
pared for action, but the night passed without any
demonstration At early dawn the Fcderais ad-
vanced, seaming slowly down in the following or
der: FIRST a series of eight rams, then the heavy,
black, iron-clad gunboats, and behind a swarm Of
transports, mortar boats, and tugs. All together,
the number of the feet about thirty five. Oar
own force consisted of the following rams, seven IN
number and was under the command OF Commo-
dore Montgomery and his associate steamboat Cap
tains, Gen. Van DORM Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, JEFF.
Thompson, Gen. Lowell, Cen Beauregard Sumter,
and Little Rebel.
The flag ship of the Commodore was the Van
Dorm, but as she on the present occasion loaded
with over one hundred thousand pounds of pow
der, and other valuable stores, he transferred his
flag to the Little Rebel, with instructions to the
other to remain in the rear Of his squadron and
await his signal, when she was to make her way
with all possible dispatch down the river to place
of safety
Such were the immense odds against which our
little feet were about to contend-twenty boats to
six, and eighty four guns to fourteen, our rams
with the exception of the jeff Thompson, which
had four, having only two guns each Public opin-
ion may question the propriety of attempting re-
sstance in view of such disadvantages but the Com
Inodore had no other resource. His fuel had given
out and Notwithstanding his repeated applications,
he was enabled to secure only eight hundred bar
rels-enough to last his feet about two hours
Had he drited towards Yicksburg the enemy would
have pursued and captured him without blow
Had he run, public sentiment would have written
him down coward. His only resource, therefore,
was to fight or disgrace himself He promptly de-
termined upon the former Calling a council of his
off ,erS, he impaired his views and received their
hearty cooperation. At the same time it was unan-
imousy agreed that no boat should be surrendered
aid no flag struck but, when disabled or
rounded every craft was to be sunk blown up, or
set on fire. The sequel will show how firmly this
heroic resolution was carried out, though not an
officer or man went into the fight expecting to
survive.
As soon as the Federsls were discovered approach
ing, Com: Montgomery gave the signal" prepare
for action"-and the little feet moved up abreast of
the city. Fire was first opened by the JEFF Thomp-
son, and several shots discharged without elciting
response. Soon, however, the cannonade COM
menced from the Federal gunboats. and for an hour
and thirty-ive minutes continued without inter-
mission, the Federal fleet never halting and with
the exception Of the rams) never changing its battle
array. When opposite the city of the Yankee
rams made bold dash at the Gen. Lowell as she
was making turn. and striking her amidships the
latter sank on the Tennessee shore. Boats put off
to rescue the survivors struggling in the water,
when whole broadside of grape and canister was
fired from one of the gunboats, killing and manning
several as they swan. Yankee sharp shooters, con-
cealed behind bales of hay, also poured ina destruc
tive ire picking OFF the wherever they were
visble-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 Capt Wr1. Cable of the Lowell
The ram now made dash for the Beauregard,
but missing her. the latter sheered around, and,
striking her antagonist tore an immense hole IN
her side. She barely succeeded in reaching the
Arkansas 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 how
ever, by sk1ltul manHuvre, managed to escape
collision herself and the two Contederates cominp
M.
also drove her ashore the Arkansas side to pre.
vent sinking. Meanwhile, the fight was brsklv
gong on between the other boats-our little feet
falling back, with their bows to the enemy and
firing as rapidly as 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 1913 ball
struck her at the water line and passed completely
through her machinery. The pilot had barely time
70 nead ner for the shore, when Yankee gun boat
laio Alongside and poured broadside into her,
winch, 10 use the expression of one of the men
"blew her bottom OUT At the same t,rno thn
sharp shoote S d their fearful work and EIGHT or
ten men fell pierced with bullets Six or seven
were drowned
REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
CON- Montgomery and Capt. Fowler took to the
wafer ana swimming ashore, escaped in the swamps
OF Arkansas Both these officers have since learn
ed, endured untold torments For thirty hours tbav
alternately swan and waded through the deem
sloughs, prey to mosquitoes insects and the cold
OF the night which was intolerabe Soon thew bc.
came separated, and the Commodore was discovared
Sy tnree Federal pckets. They hal discharged
their guns at him as he was swimming swami an
OF Whlcn fortunately missed their object AS he
landed, they demanded his surrender. "Certainlv ),
SAID he at same time thrustng his sword throHeb
the BODY OF one OF the men. His revolver BEING
wet would not go Oft but he drew it on the remain.
ing two, when they took to their heels and disan.
peared. The Commodore then made his wav 70 a
point some miles below, where be met a connIe of
sentemen one of whom took him on his horse ond
carrier MIN to crossing onthe river. He then suc-
ceeuee III reaching the Tennessee shore and arrived
ut tnas place. lie is now safe at Grenada c.,
Fowler also came upon the Yankee nicl,ots Ia o"P.
undiscovered BY them, though for two hos ~ Is1
concealed in the bushes within thirty feet of AZ,