Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-06-12
Grand Naval Fight at. Memphis.
REBEL RAMS USED UP.
THE SURRENDER OF MEMPHIS.

~ 49, sss~ ASOStO SvoSuotSu s"~e
lace on Tuesday night, leaving one
,ortar and two guns to answer us on
Wednesday. The work of destruc-
ion was complete. Barracks. hospi-
al buildings, horse sheds, forage, bar
res, and three large commissary de-
,ots full of stores were burned. Are
to Fulton, few miles
below, did not reveal any enemy, and
,ur fleet steamed directly for Men,
ohis.
A Cairo despatch, dated June 9th,
announces the arrival there Of the
Platte Valley, the first boat through
rom Memphis. Her news is high
y important. Memphis is in the pos
session of our forces. Our flotilla left
Fort Pillow at 2 o'clock Thursday P. NJ,
consisting of the gunboats, flagship
Cairo, Carondolet, St. Louis,
Louisville, Rome, Monarch, Switzcr-
land, Lancaster, Queen Of the West,
Fulto:, Mingo, Sampson and Hornet.
Finding no obstructions at Fort Ran
dolph, the fotilla passed on, and at s
O'Clock Thursday evening the gun
boats anchored two miles above Mem
phis, the rams remaining q short dis
tancc above the gunboats. A recon.
noisance discovered the encmy's fleet
lying near Memphis, consisting of the
following vessels Gen. Van Dorm,
(aagsbip), Gen. Price. Gen. Bragg.
Gen. Lowell, JEFF Thompson, Gen.
Beauregard, Sumpter and Little Rebel,
all rams, under command Of Captain
Ed. Montgomery.
During the night the rebel boats
moved down the river and at early
dawn were out of sight, but in hall
an hour they were observed coming
up formed in line Of battle. s.
Our gunboats had, in the meantime,
weighed anchor, and, followed by sew
eral rams, moved slowly towards the
rebel feet, when a shot from Little
Rebel fell near the gunboat Cairo,
which was in advance. The Cairo re.
piled with q broadside, and soon the
engagement became general. In the
mean time our rams had advanced,
and the rebel ram Beauregard being
in advance was singled out by the
Monarch and Queen of the West, each
striving to be the first to strike the
rebel craft. The Monarch struck the
Beauregard amidship, almost cutting
her in two, and causing her to fill ant
sink Immediately. At this junctur
the Little Rebel made dash at th
Monarch which was now in the mids
of the rebel feet, but by the skill Z
her pilot the Monarch slipped by an
the blow was received by the rebt
boat Gen. Price, taking away he
wheel and making it necessary for he
to run ashore, from whence she ser
a shot that entered the side of Genel
al Lowell, which rendered the latte
boat unmanagcble, and immediatel
afterwards she was run down by th
Queen of the West. A broadsid
from the Benton took effect in th,
sides of the JEFF. Thompson, when sh'
was run ashore and soon after was il
flames. She burned to the waters
edge.
Four of the rebel gunboats having
now been disabled, the remainder o
their feet retreated down the river
pursued by our gunboats, firing al
they advanced, resulting in the cap
ture of the Sumpter, Bragg and Lit
tie Rebel, the most of their crews es
Gaping to the shore.
The rebel commander, Montgomery
and most of his officers and men sue
ceeded in making their escape into
the woods on the Arkansas shore.
The Federal ram Lancaster wa,
struck by the Beauregard early in the
engagement, slightly disabling the
former Col. Elliott was struck in
the breast by splinter. stunning hin
considerably, but he soon recovered
and continued on deck during the &C.
ton. This was the only casualty on
our side. Our rams were manned by
sharpshooters, who did good exccu.
ton, picking off the encmy's gunuers
at every opportunity.
The rebel loss in killed, wounded
and prisoners is heavy, but has not
yet been fully ascertained. After the
return Of our gunboats, Com. Davis
sent a boat from the flagship Bentor
with the following note to the Mayor
Of Memphis /:
U. S. Flag Steamer Benton, !
June 6, 1862.
Sir-I have respectfully to reques
that you will surrender the CITY O
Memphis to the authority of the Uni
ted States, which have the honor t
represent. l am. &c.
a G. II. DAVIS,
Flag Officer commanding, &c
To his honor the Mayor, &c.
In about an hour q tug boat put
out from the levee bearing the follow
ing message:
Mayors Office. Memphis, June 6.
Q. ID. Davis, Flag Officer, &C.:
Sir-Your note Of this date is re.
ceived, and the contents noted. In re.
ply ! have only to say that, az the civ
il authorities have no means of de.
fence. by force of circumstances the
city is in your hands.
Respectfully,
JNo. PARK, Mayor.
On Tuesday. a boats crew landed