Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-06-12
THE FALL OF MEMPHIS.


THE FALL OF MEMPHIS.
Spirited GunJoat and Ran, Encounter off
the Cny-ZHe Rebel Boats DESTROYING
each otner- Our Fleet composed Of fire
Ganboafs and eight Roms- Rebel Yes
sells eight in num5er--Tne Rebel Ram
Beasregard sunk by the Monarch-The
Little rebel makes a Dash at the Monarch
bit Disa6!es the General Price Instead
The Gen. Price Fires en- oar Fleet but
hits the Rebel Gen. Loueu-THe Jeff.
Thompson run ashore and Burned
The Remaining Rebel Boats Retreat;nq
Docn the River-71ey are Pursued and
Three Captured-Escape Of the Rebel
Officers Com. Dagis Req uests the
Surrender Of Aemphis-7ze Mayor
Complies at once Peaceful Reception Of
oar Forces in that City--Indianians on
Guard-FTe Steamboats, Captured--
Unfinished Gun5oaf Burned-The Place
Quiet-Narfiai Lar Hardly Necessary
Sir Thousand National Troops at Baton
Rouge A Rebel Poper's Description
ofMe Fight.
CAIRO. June S.--The regular packet
Platte Valley, the first boat through from
Memphis. arrived here this morning. Our
forces are in possession Of Memphis.
The flotilla. consisting OF five gunboats
and eight rams. left Fort Wright at 2 o..
cleck on Thursday morning. and. finding
no distinctions at Fort Randolph. passed
on. and at o'clock on Thursday evening
the gunboats anchored two miles above
Memphis. The rams remained q short
distance above.
A reconnaissance was made. and the en-
Iemy's fleet, consisting of the following:
Gen. Van Dorm. flag ship; Gen. Price.
Gen. Bragg. Gen Lowell, jeff Thompson.
Beauregard. Sumpter and Little Rebel
were discovered lying near Memphis.
During the night the rebel feet moved
down the river. and at daylight were out
Of sight, but in half an hour aiterward were
seen coming up. formed in line of battle
Our gunboats had in the mean time weigh
ed anchor. and followed by several rams.
moved slowly toward the rebel fleet. when
shot from the Little Rebel. from a rined
gun of lang rauge. fell within a short
distance of the gunSoat Cairo, which was
in the advance. The Cairo replied with
q broaiside. and soon the engagement be-
came general at long range.
The rams. in the meantime, advanced,
and the rebel ram Beauregard being some
distance in advance. was singled ont by the
Federal rams Monarch and Queen OF the
West. each striving to be first to strike
the rebel craft The Monarch succeeded
in striking her amidships. almost cutting
her in two ami causing her to fill and sin k
Immediately in the channel directly oppo-
site the city.
AT this jnncture the Little Rebel made
dash at the Monarch. which by this time
was in the midst of the rebel feet, but by
q skillful movement of the pilot of the lot
ter. she dropped out of the way. and the
I.low intended for her struck the rebel boat
Gen. Price. taking sway her wheel, MAX
ing it necessary for her to run ashore.
where she sent shot. which. unfortunate
ly for the rebels. struck the boat General
Lowell. rendering her unmanageable. I'm
meiiately alter. she was run down by the
Queen Of the West. A broadside from
the Benton took effect on the sides of the
jeff. Thompson. when she ran ashore in
flames and burned to the waters edge.
Four rebel boats having been disabled.
the remainder Of their feet retreated down
the river. pursued by our boats. firing as
they advanced. resulting in the capture of
the Sumpter. Bragg. and Little Rebel,
which had been abandoned by most of their
crews. Capt. Montgomery. the Flag Off
Ger. and most of the officers And men. sue
ceeded in making their escape to the woods
on the Arkansas shofe The Federal ram
Lancaster was struck by the Deauregard.
early in the engagement. and was slightly
disabled.
Colonel Ellet. commanding the Federal
ram. was struck in the breast by splinter.
and was stunned temporarily. bnt soon re.
covered, and continued on deck through
ont the action. This was the only casual.
ty on orr side Our rams were named
by pshooters-mostlY from Illinois
who did great execution. picking off the
enemy's gunners at every opportunity
The rebel loss in killed. wounded aud
prisoners is heavy, but not yet fully ascer
tanned Our tugs were busily engaged
picking up the crews Of their disabled
boats.
After the return Of the gnnboais from
the pursuit. Commodore Davis sent tn,
following note to the Mayor Of the city o
Memphis:
~. S. FLAG STEAMER, BENTON.
"OFF MEMPHIS. june 6, 1862.
"SrR: l have respectfully to request tina
you will surrender the city of Memphi
to the authority the United States, which
have the honor to represent.
i II am. Mr.. Mayor. with high respect.
| Your obedient servant,
| &c. H. DAVIS. Flag Officer"
In reply the Mayor said:
"Your note is received. In reply hav
only to say. IS the civil authorities hav
no means Of defense. by force of circum
stances the city Is in your hands"
Immediately after. boats crew lande
and che national flag was hoisted over th
; post Office. The party was followed b!
ali excited crowd. but they were not inter
fcred with.
/ e un 20, , fc.a ILL.,: -.-:on,