The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-06-10
Cairo. I'll. June 8.

Cairo, ILL.,, June 8.
Enc Memphis Argus of the 9TH give,
the following accounted the engagement
Three shots were fired from tho Confed-
erats feet before any reply Was made by
the enemy who, however, continued ad-
vancing. A short time afterward FIRE was
opened by the advancing boats of the
Federal feet, and brisk interchange of
cannonading was kept for some time, the
shots from both sides generally falling
wide Of the mark. Several more of the
enemy's gunboats now came in sight
Com. Montgomery ordered the feet to
fall back The order was reluctantly
obeyed, the firing, however, being kept
UP vigorously Our feet retired to oppo-
site Beal street, no longer in line of | at
tie, when one Of the Federal rams shot
ahead Of the remainder of the feet in
pursuit. Upon reaching the vicinity of
our feet. the BeauIegard at once prepar-
ed 10 strike. and they bore down on each
other in gallant style. The contest was
of short duration, rs the Bsauregard,
avoiding the blow intended for her struck
her adversary forward Of her wheel-house.
The blow placed the Federal advsnturer
hors dx combat, and she hauled off and
made for the Arkansas shore, where she
remained during the remainder of the en-
gagement. 10 the meantime another
Federal ram, Monarch, started to the
first's assistance, rapidly passing the city
under full head OF steam. The Beaure-
gard, having disabled her first adversary,
turned about to run into the Monarch. -
The Price was also moved up and the
three boats were rapidly coming together.
A heavy blow aimed by the Beauregard
at the Monarch missed and struck the
Price, which was unable TO get ont Of the
way. She Was struck squarely on the
wheel-housc which WAS torn completely
of, leaving the boat nearly wreck She
ut once made for the Arkansas shore and
sunk as deeply as the shallow water would
allow. A number Of persons on board
were killed and wounded by the enemy $
sharp shooters.
Just at this period the iron clad gun
boats of the enemy, none of which had
yet taken any other part in the engage
ment than firing ut long range, as trey
slowly advanced, moved down for the
scene OF the action. The cannonadine,
on their arrival, was furiously renewed,
aud in a short.time the Gen. Lowell was
pierced by large shot, which caused her
70 fill rapidly and settle down. The Lit
tie Rebel was soon afterwards struck by
one of the Federal shots, and she ct once
started for the Arkansas shore. The
Beauregard, nothing daunted by the dis
asters which had befallen the others. still
continued vigorously firing as she retired
towards the point Two or three Of the
epemy's large boats closed in on her, pour
ing in broadside after broadside. She
was struck several times by shot, which
rakec her fore and aft. A Federal ram
coming up also dealt her blow, aud she
commenced sinking rapidly in deep water,
opposite Jackson's mound. The remain
ing Confederate boats, the JEFF Thomp-
son, Van Dorm, Sumter aud Bragg now
rapidly moved down the river. Pursuit
was made by the Federal feet to the foot
of Presidents Island, the gunboats rapid
ly firing ms they went, shot occasionally
being returned from our feet. Ina short
time two of the Federal irnn-clad bon Q
were observed stesming back, accom-
panied by the Monarch. The conclusion
arrived at was that the remainder of our
fleet had met the fate of the others. TIE
iuss of life IN this engagement can not yet
be estimated with any degree of accuracy.
It is supposed that quite number went
down with the sinking vessels. The loss
of the enemy, other than the damage to
the ram, has not been ascer.ained. His
boats are altogether superior to ours in
every respect, and therefore sustained
small loss, save in hand 10 hand en-
counters. The bluffs in front Of the city
wore crowded with spectators, many Of
whom never witnessed anything of the
kind before Many ladies were seen with
the tears trickling down their cheeks,
Inundated at the triumph of the Federal
boats. All the stores, with few excep.
tions, we're closed. business of every kind
being suspended. Not less than 5000
persons were on the wharf The train
which left on the Mississippi and Tennes.
see Railroad was jammed and crammed
by our citizens, MANY of whom had re-
NAMED until the last opportunity to get
AWAY.