Litchfield enquirer., 1862-06-12

Heintsleman's, s5s. sso 155 1894 Reyes, AS 1753 92l 3,122
 Total, sso s.s27 1922 5,7ss
 DooM hovers over wicked Charleston That viper's nest and breeding place of rebellion is, ere this time, invested by Union arms-perhaps already in our hands. If there is any city de- serving of holocaustic infamy, it is Charleston Should its inhabitants choose to make it's site a desert, blasted by fire, VIC do not think many tears would be shed. Travellers of to-day are quite undecided as to the location of ancient Carthage; travellers of 1862 may be in the same doubt about Charleston.
 MEMPHIS was possessed by our victorious troops on Friday. Commodore Davis, flag off, cer of the Mississippi flotilla appeared of the city on Thursday night. On Friday morning, he found a rebel fleet of eight rams and gunboats in his path He whipped them, of course, as that was what he went there to do. The fate of the rebel craft was emarkable-considering their names. The "Gen. Beauregard'' was blown up and burned the s Sterling Price, had wheel carried away; the "Jeff Thompson" was set on fire; the !" Sumter'' was riddled with shot; the s'Little Rsbep' exploded, and one supposed to bs the Van Dorn''-sueeesdsd in running away. At the elossof the engagement, the city was quietly surrendered. Accounts diff fer as to the feeling in the city. Some say the old flag was hailed with joy. Official dispatches say nothing about the burning of houses or cot ton, but others assert that 800 bales were de- | stroyed. No person was killed on our side, and but one wounded . The following are the dispatches received, describing the circumstances attending the na- val fight at Memphis, Surrender, Sc. l U. s. STEAMER BENTON, off Memphis . Friday, June 9th, 1852. ] To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Navy:
 SIR:-1 arrived here last evening at g o'clock, accompanied by the mortar fleet under Capt. Maynadier, the ordnance steamers, storeships &c., and anchored mile and a half above the city.
 This morning discovered the rebel fleet, l which had been reinforced, and now consisted of eight rams and gunboats, lying at the levee. The engagement. which commenced at 5:30 A. fight.
 | was ably supported by the ram fleet, under Col Elicit, who was conspicuous for his gallant ry, and is seriously hurt, but not dangerously wounded.
 The result of the action was the capture or destruction of seven vessels of the rebel fleet as follows:
 The General Beauregard blown up, and was burned.
 The General Sterling Price, one wheel carried away.
 | The Jeff Thompson set on fire by shell and burned, and magazine blown up The Sumter badly cut up by shot, but will be repaired.
 Beside this, one of the rebel boats was sunk in the beginning of the action; her name not known.
 boat supposed to be the Van Dorn, escaped from the fotilla by her superior speed Two rams are in pursuit.
 The officers and crews of the rebel boats en- deavored to take to the shore; many of their wounded are prisoners now in our hands.
 The Mayor surrendered the city to me after the engagement.
 Col Fitch came down at II o'clock, and has taken military possession.
 CHI. DAVIS,
 Flag Officer Com'g pro tem. THE SURRENDER.
 After the return of our gunboats from the pur-
  Mayor of the City of Memphis UNITED STATES STEAMER BENToN,l Off Memphis, June 9th. surrender the City of Memphis to the authority of ike United States, which have the honor to represnt.
 am, Mir. Mayor, with high respect, Your obedient servant, C. N. DAVIS, Flag Officer.
 In reply the Mayor says: "Your note received, and in reply have only to say, as the civil authorities have no means of defence, by the force of the circumstances, the city is in your hands,"
 Immediately after, our boats crews landed, and the National flag was hoisted over the Post Ofice The party was followed by an excited crowd, but was not interfered with. The 43d and 46th Indiana Regiments now occupy the place. Col. Fitch is in command. The city is quiet No demonstrations what | ever have been made. It is even asserted that it will not be necessary to declare martial law. Five of our gunboats now lie abreast of the city. We captured five large steamers which were moored at the levee The rebels burned new gunboat which was nearly ready to launch. REBEL ACCOUNT. CHICAGO, June 8th, 1862.
 The Memphis Argus of the 9th, gives an ac- count of the naval engagement, and says that three shots were fired from the rebel fleet before any reply was made by the Unionists. After the firing commenced the shots for some time fell short of the mark on both sides, when, on the arrival of several more of the enemy's gum boats, Com. Montgomery ordered the feet to fall back, which was done. a-1 H~ Firing was, however, kept up very vigorously. The rebel fleet retired to opposite Bear Street, but no longer in line of battle, when one of the Union rams shot ahead of the remainder of the feet The Beauregard prepared to receive her. After contest of short duration, the Beaure- gard avoided blow intended for her, and struck her adversary forward of the wheel house. The blow placed the Union hors de combat. She haul ed off and made for the Arkansas shore, where where she remained during the engagement. In the meantime another Union ram, the Ell onareh, came to his assistance. At first the Beauregard attempted to run her down, but miss ed her, and struck the Gen. Price (rebel) on the wheel house, making complete wreck of the boat, which made for the Arkansas shore and sunk. A number of persons on board were kill ed and wounded by the Union sharpshooters | At this period four iron clad boats, which had taken no part in the action except firing at long range, came up. Upon their arrival the can nonading was fercely renewed. In short time the Gen. Lowell was pierced by large shot and sunk. The Little Rebelwas soon afterward struck by Unicn shot, and at once started for the Arkansas shore. The Beau regard, nothing daunted by the disasters which had befallen the others. continued vigorously firing as she retreated towards the point. Two or three of enemy's large boats closed upon her, pouring broadside after broadside after broad side on her. She was struck several times, and IxoJ 1ofk