, 1862-06-09

Especial Dispatch !atl= Cllicigo Trinuno.1
Cairo, June Sth, 1s52-10 p. m.
The Steamer Platte Valley arrived at the |
leg.e about s1nfise this lnorfl:ng. From A.
ties direct from Memphis, hare full particu- |
lars Of the occupation Of the city. Contrary |
to general expectation, ard the tenor Of re- |
port tclegraphed from New Madrid last even
ing, to the effect that Memphis had surrender
cd without firing gun, nc have to record
brilliant naval engagement resulting in the
almost ENTIRE ASSIMILATION OF TIE
REBEL, FLEET AND DESTRUCTION OF
A LARGE NUMBER OF CoNFEDRATE
MARINES AND SOLDIERS. The incidents
of the fight will appear in narrative below.
WI. have received no account OF the engage
nlent from our special correspondent, and are
chiely indebted to mail agcat E. Maxwell, Of
the Platte Valley, to whose courtesy we ART
obliged for facts and for complete files OF
Southern papers.
Thursday afternoon at one o'clock, the na-
t;onaI tlotilla left Fort Pillow for that den Of
ec5ecesson, rattlc-snake, rebelliou5 city
Of Memphis, passing the much vaunted
and somewhat apocryph:sl fortlications ct Fort
Randolph, without being greeted with that
destructive broadslc which was said to be
laid up for the flotilla whenever it should at-
tempt to make the passage at that point. Tue
mortars, rams and gunboats steamed rapidly
down tile river, with guns shotted, magazines
opened, and every preparation made to answer
! shot frr shot. About nine O'Clock in the
| evening they made the bcud in the river above
| Memphis, and laid-to for dnJlight. During
A.. nDEtrati1nE Tn96a
Their appearance above the bend caused cou-
siderable Of . 1utteE .among tho citizens Of
| Memphis.
At carly dawn the rebel feet, composed Of
the Gen. Van Dorm (f}ag ship, Gen. Price,
| Gen. Bragg, JctT: Thompson, Gen Lowell,
Gen. BcauregaEd, Sumter and Little Rebel.
all ran,s-ani under the command Of Com
modore Ed. Montgomery. left their moorings
before Memphis and started up the river to
ot1er us battle Commodore Davis, wit
| Messing this movement, ordered the decks OF
the gunboats to be cleared and prepared for
action. When opposite the mouth Of Vol
River, while the Federal boats were still at
their moorings, the Little Rebel opened,
BIZ firing three guns, which 1ere an'
swered by lhc guuboat Cairo, and
immediately followed by the guns o
the entire 1otila. Brisk cannonaling VA;
kent up for some time without doing mucf
damaee on either side, when finally the Con
feaerate fleet fell back to point Opposite tn'
49,, oe n1or,rnts where Beal street runs 1ntt
the river, when the Federal ram Queen Cit.
shot ahead Of thu rest OF the fleet IN pursuit
There we're preparations made to receive nc
On th: part Of the rebel steamer Beauregard
and placing herself she struck the Queen CIR
.. in the wheel, partially disabling her: Tnl
; lid MT prevent her from continuing in tn
, | rrrscemtnt. The ram Monarch then cam
I fo her assistance and aimed heavy blow 4
the Beauregard, which barely missed her, bu
was received by her consort, the Gen, Pric'
This boat WAS struck squArely in the ~hee
= house and made complete wreck. 81
i s.camed towards the Arkansas shore, and DO
y end crew disappeared from mortal Eisio1
q The Benton, Caronlelet and Mound City the
appeared on the scene Of action, .directlr
l. their attention principally to the Gen. Love
= .rhicb soou after WAS struck auIidships 81
y snnL in deep water, with all on board. II
Little Rebel BY this time concluded that IN
II region was becoming too hot for her, a
q, made for the Arkansas shore, havi
~ received Federal shot in her hull VIII
d. caused her to fill and sink rapidly. Co
n Montgomery and portion OF his m
rpached the shore aud escaped. The Gt
B.au1egard was subsequently, made the rec
ient of Federal fAyors in thc shape OF q Temt
a dons bntt from the chief ram Of Capt Ellie
e. flock and soon after commenced sinking rap
r.3r-4<*