The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-09
Correspondence between Com. Davis
and Mayor Frick.

anu -ha. VI iNN'
Teleg to the DAILY Rock Island Argus.
CAIRO, June She regular packet Platte
Valley, the first boat through from Memphis.
arrived this morning.
Our forces are in possession Of Memphis.
Our aotila left Fort Pillow n, . O'Clock
Thursday 7. NJ consisting Of the gunboats
Benton (hag.shipl, Cairo, Corondolet, st.
Louis, Louisville, and the rams Monarch,
Switzerland, Lancaster, Queen Of the West,
Fulton, Mingo, Sampson and llurnel, and
finding no distractions at Fort Randolph the
fotila passed on, aid at o'clock Thursday
evening the gunboats anchored miles above
Memphis, the rams remalnnga short distance
above.
A reconnaissance discovered the enemy's
feet lying near Memphis, consisting of the
following vessels, Gen Van Dorm flag ship,
Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, Gen. Lowell, JEFF.
Thompson, Cen Beauregari, Sumter and
Little Rebel. all rams, under command OF
Capt. Ed Montgomery.
During the night the rebel fleet moved
down the river, and at early dawn were out
Of sight, but in about halt an hour were OBJ
served coming up, formed in line Of battle.
Our gunboats had in the meantime, weighed
anchor, and, followed by several rams, moved
towards the rebel fleet, when q shot from tho
Little Rebel, from long range, rltled, fell with
in IL short distance Of the gunboat Cairo
winch was in advance. The Cairo replied
with A. broadsido, and soon the engagement
became general at long range. The rams had,
in the meantime, advanced, and the rebel
ram Beauregar1 being some distance in ai
vance, was singled out by the Monarch and
Queen of the West each strvngt, be first to
meet the rebel craft. The Monarch succeeded
in striking the Beauregard amidshps, almost
cutting her in two, causing her tofll and sink
immediately, in the channel of the river, OPP
poste the city,
At this iunctuie the ram, Little Rebel,
made a dash for the Monarch, which was by
this time in the midst Of the rebel feet. By
y skiltul movement Of the pilot OF the latter,
she dropped out Of the way, and the blow in
tended for her struck the rebel gunboat Price,
taking away her wheel, making it necessary
for her to run ashore when she sent q shot
that entered the side of the Gen. Lowell, rem.
dering her unmanageable and Immediately
after She was run down by the Queen Of the
West. A, broadsidc from the Benton took eff
feet in the sides of the jeff Thompson, which
was run ashore, and soon after WAS in
flames, burning to the waters edge.
Four of the rebel gunboats having been
disabled. the remainder Of their fleet retrcated
down the river, pursued by our gunboata,
firing IA they advanced, resulting IN the cap
ture Of the Sumter, Bragg aud Little Rebel
which had been abandoned by most Of their
crews, the latter getting ashore.
Capt. Montgomery aud most OF hls 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 engagement,
slightely disabling the former.
Col. Elliott, in command of the rams, was
struck in the breast by II splinter, stunning
him temporarily but he soon recovered, and
continued on deck throughout the action
This was the only casulty on our side
Our rams were manned Ivy sharpshooters,
mostly from Illinois, who did good execution,
picking off the enemy's gunners Mt every op.
portunity.
The rebel loss in killed, wounded and pris.
oners is heavy, but has not yet been fully as
certained
Our tugs were busily engaged in picking
up the crews of their disabled boats.
After the return of the gunboats, which
had gone down in pursuit Of the rebels, Com.
Davis sent a boat from the flag ship Benton
with the following note to the mayor of the
city.
L. S. Flag Steamer Benton,
OFF Memphis, June 9th 1862.
SIR have respectfully to request that
you will surrender the city of Memphis to the
authority of the United States, which have
the honor to represent. | am, Mr. Mayor,
with high respect, your obedient servant
Signed c. II. Davis,
Flag officer commanding.
To. his honor, the mayor of the city of Mem
phs.
In about an hour a tug boat put out from
the leyee bearing the following message:
Mayors Office. Memphis, June G.
To Com. Davis, flag officer commanding:
Your note of this date is received, and con.
tents noted. have only to say that as civil
authorities we have no means Of defense. BY
force Of circumstances the city is in your
hands. Respectfully yours,
John p Prick,
Mayor Of the city of Memphis.
Immediately after, "A boats crew landed and
the national flag was hoisted over the post of.
fee.
The party was followed by OIL excited
crowd, but was not molested
The 43d aud 10th Indiana regiments now
occupy Memphis.
Col Fitch is in command of the city. No
demonstrations whatever have been made, and
it is even asserted that it will not be necessa-
nv to declare martial law.
Five of our gunboats lie abreast of the city
We captured several large steamers which
were moored at the leyee.
The rebels burned new gunboat which
was nearly ready to launch.
The Nicksburg Wing Of the 4th says the
fedsrals had landed 5000 troops at Baton
Rouge.
The Memphis Avalanche of the 9th says
the NJ. 4 o. railroad recovered the locomo-
tives recently run off by the employees of the
road. The party had only succeeded in des-
troying ono small bridge.
NorE.--A telegram from Cairo the Sth
brings us substantially the same account of
the battle, taken from the Memphis Argus of
the 9th; We omit it as it contains nothing of
Importance beyond what we give above. The