The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-06-17
Correspondence Chicago Tribune.
THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT AT
MEMPHIS.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE.


PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE.
1t was but little after sunrise whe
the rebel commanders advanced to Civ
us battle. The sky was without a cloud
and there was nothing to obscure tn
gaze Of the $1,000 people congregate'
upon the roofs of the city and levee, ex
cept the dense volume of smoke ascend
ing from the stacks of the gunboats. Th'
rebel boats remained motionless awhile
with the exception Of the Little Rebel
which iarted about like corporal para
ding his squad. At length they begar
to move up stream, not rapidly, but lels
urely. They kept their lines, which hac
been formed in admirable order. Near
est the Memphis. in its front line view
was the Beauregard, then the Little Reb
ell, then the rice, and on the Arkansa:
side the Sumter. Behind the Little Reb
el, having the right of the line, was the
Lowell, then the JEFF. Thompson, the
Bragg and the Van Dorm.
The Federal gunboats were early il
line, the Benton being nearest the Tenn
essee shore, next the Carondelet, mex
the St. Louis, and lastly the C,iro-the
Queen of the West and Monarch having
been tied up TO the Arkansas shore. and
the Lancaster No. 3, and Switzerland
about mile up stream. When Commo
dore Davis saw that the rebels intended
to fight. he displayed the signal to pre-
pare for action. The crews leaped to
their quarters with cheers; decks were
cleared in twinkling; guns run out
shot and shell piled up near the guns
boarding pixies distributed marines beat
to quarters, and boarding netting stretch
ed, with an alacrity which showed that
the hearts Of the men were in the work
The time they had lonsed for had come
TO meet the rebels in fair and square
fight.
THE LITTLE RLBEi. OPENS FIRE.
AS soon as it was discovered that the
rebel commander was in earnest-that he
really intended 10 make the attack, the
signal was given to round 10. u to
this moment the fleet had been head Up
stream. The rebel commander saw the
movement, and evidently desrous OF
knocking some holes in the stern and
sides of the gunboats where they were
unprotected by iron plating. opened fire
The Little Rebel threw The first shot
with her bow gun-a thirty-two pound
ritled gun. 1t was thrown to obtain the
range. Ii was aimed at the Benton, and
was in good line. passing almost direct
ly over the flag ship, over the tug Jessie.
Benton's tender, which was near at hand.
and d opped into the wate, a,r up stream
towaI Is the transports. The rest of the
rebel ieet waited to see the effect of the
shot before opening FIRE. The Beaure-
gard saw it strike, depressed her left hand
bow gun, aud sent a sixty four pound
shot, which plowed into the water abreast
Of the Benton, but several feet to the
right. The Sumter followed, aiming at
the Carondelet sixty -four pound rifle
shot which pas sed close TO the muzzle OF
the left hand stern gun, and threw up
column of water between the Benton and
the Jessie, within few feet Of the latter.
The correspondent OF the Boston Journal,
9. c. Coffin, Esq was seated in an arm
chair on the top Of the Jessie's caboose,
making observations. He made note
ont" and kept his position.
Up TO this time the Federal war dogs
had remained silent. The Cairo having
a position on the Arkansas shore in conse.
quence of the bend of the river, war near
est the rebel fleet All were within es-
sy range-not more than three -fourths
Of mile distant from the enemy's line
Of battle, but there was disposition to
get within close range before going into
The work, but the Cairo, from her posi-.
tion, had 4 fair sight at the side of The
Little Rebel, she tried one Of her stern
guns. The shot spun through ,he All
and dropped into the water close under
The hull of the enemy's flag ship. 1t was
The signal for n general letting loose OF
The dogs. Bang from the Caroudelet-
bang from the ST. Louis and Louisville
aud lastly, bang from the iron mailed
Ben,on-each giving shot and watch
ng 10 see the effect. Some OF the guns
were too much elevated and one or two
100 much depressed. The rebels waited
while these civilites were extended, and
hen opened fire from all their boats and
MI their guns. Replies were given as
'ast and frequent. For fifteen minutes
he cannonade WAS very severe, shaking
he earth with thunder, and shutting out
be combatants from sight.
twas "A sublime spectacle. The air
was still-so calm that the dark volumes
'f smoke from the chimneys and the sui.
phnrous clouds from the cannons. ming
ed in one and hung thick and heavy, a
black pail slreaked into gray, over tie
,ombaants. shutting out the morning
sunshine. The gathered thousands on
he shore beheld it. too amazed at the
scene, too much absorbed. aud too much
Interested in the result to make any dem.
'nstration. In brealhess anxiety they
Watched the sudden flashes and The mar.
owing space between the TWO hostile
ieels.
The Federal gunboats slowly turned in
he stream, and while turning there was
! lull in tho cannonade on our side. but
zone from the euemy. There was a con.