The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-06-11
MONDAYS NEWSl
The Capture OF alemphis.


The Capture OF Memphis.
CAMo. June 5.--Ths regular packet, the
Platte Valley, the first boat through rom
Memphis, arrived this morning.
Our iorces are IN possession OF Memphis,
The hotills. consisting Of five gunboats and
eight rams, LEFT Fort Wright at 2 O'Clock on
Thursday morning, the gunboats anchored
two miles above Memphis, the rams remain
ing q short distance above.
A reconnaissance was made and the enemy's
feet we're Iound to consist OF the following
vessels: Gen. Van Doren, flag ship; Gen.
Price, Gen. Bragg, Gen Lowell, JEFF. Thomp-
son, Beauregard, Sumter, and Little Rebel,
were discovered lying near Memphis. Dur
ing the night the rebel feet moved down the
river, and at daylight they were out Of sight;
but half an hour afterwards they were seen
coming up formed in line OF battle. Our
gunboats had in the meantime weighed an
chor and followed by several rams, moved
slowly towards the rebel feet, when shot
from the Little Rebels ritisd gun at long
range fell within short distance OF the gun
boat Cairo which was in advance.
The Cairo replied with broadside. Soon
the engagement became general at long range;
the rams bad in the meantime advanced, and
the rebel ram Beauregard being some distance
in advance, was singled out by the Federal
rams Monarch and Queen of the West, each
striving to be first TO strike the rebel craft.
The Monarch succeeded, striking her amid
ships, almost cutting her in two and causing
her to fill and sink Immediately in the chan.
mel, directly opposite the city. At this
juncture the Little Rebel made dash at the
Monarch, which, by this time, was in the
midst Of the rebel fee'; but by a skillful
movement of the pilot of the latter, she
dropped out OF the way and the blow inten-
ded Tor her struck the rebel boat General
Price, taking away her wheel, and making il
necessary for her 20 run ashore, where she
sent q shot, which, unfortunately for the
rebels, struck the boat General Lowell, rem
dering her unmanageable.
Immediately after she was run down by
the Queen Of the West. A broadside from
the Benton took effect inside the JEFF Thomp-
son. She then ran ashore, and soon after
was in flames, and burned to the waters
edge.
| Four rebel boats having been disabled, the
remainder of their fleet retreated down the
river, pursued by our boats, firing as they
advanced, resulting in the capture Of the
Sumter, Bragg and Little Rebel, which had
been abandoned by most OF their crews.
Capt. Montgomery, flag officer, and most
Of the officers and men succeeded in making
their escape in the woods on the Arkansas
shore. The Federal ram Lancaster was
struck by the Beauregard early in the en-.
gagement and was slightly disabled.
Col Elicit, Commandant OF the Federal
rams, was struck in the breast by q splinter
and stunned temporarily, but soon recovered
and continued on deck throughout the action
This was the only casualty on our side.
Our rams were manned with sharp shoot
ers, mostly from Illinois, who did good exc
cution in picking off the enemy's gunners
at every opportunity.
| The rebel loss in killed, wounded and pris-
oners is heavy, but it is not yet fully ascer.
tanned. Our tugs are busily engaged in pick
ing up the crews OF their disabled boats.
| Alter the return of the gunboats from
the pursuit, Com. Davis sent the following
note to the Mayor of the city:
| us. FLAG STEAMER BENTON,
Orr MEMPHIS, June 6.
SIR:-I have respectfully to request that
you will surrender the city OF Memphis to
the authorities Of the United States, which
have the honor to represent. .-
am, with high respect, your obedient ses.
want,
[Signed,1 G. H. DAVIS, Flag officer.
In reply the Mayor said: "Your po'e is
received. In reply, have only to say, that
as the civil authorities here have no means Of
defence by force, the command Of the city Is
In your hands.'
Immediately after the boats csew landed
and the national flag was hoisted over the
Post Office. The party was followed by an
excited crowd, but were not interfered with.
The 43d ard 48th Indiana regiments are
now occupying the place, Col. Fitch com.
manding. The city is quiet. No demon
strations whatever have been made. 1t is
even asserted that it will not be necessary to
declare marital law.
Five Of our gun boats now lie abreast of
the city. We captured five large steamers,
| which were moored at the levee. The rebels
burned the new gun boats which were nearly
ready to be launched.
The Vicksburg Wing Of the 4th, says that
the Federsls landed 5000 troops at Baton
Rouge.
The Memphis Avalanche Of the 9Th, says
| that the locomotives recently run off by the
employees, have been recovered. The same
paper says all the bridges between Memphis
and Humboldt are destroyed.
L