The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-06-14
The N.val rlxh, q, memphis.

simple TACT tnat fortS Pillow and Ran.
dolph, on the Mississippi riv er above
Memphis had been evacuated, and that
our gunboat feet. under Commodore
Divis, had sailed for Memphis. 1t was
the common expectation that Memphis
would surrender without fight, but such
was not the case Our feet arrived near
Memphis on Friday, and found the
whole rebel feet there evidently deter
minedito give battle. 1t was not in the
nature of Yankee sailors to avoid such q
challenge, and accordingly on Friday
morning one Of the fiercest naval contests
ever fought in American waters took
place in sight of the city of Memphis.
The following account of it we take from
the Memphis argus, a secession sheet,
whose editor was an eye witness, and
strangely tells the truth, his account
agreeing substantially with that given by
correspondents of Northern papers on
board the Federal feet during the battle.
II is only necessary to add that this
battle has wiped out the Southern navy,
the Van Dorm being the only vessel they
now have left, and that will doubtless be
eaptured or destroyed by themselves
Ofthe movements of our fleet after this
battle, we have only the fact stated that
It had started for Vickburg, there to meet
and shake hands with Commodore Farra-
gut; but of its arrival there we have as
yet no accounts.
As was generally anticipated, several
gunboats of the Lincoln fleet made their
appearance around the bend above the city
this morning, arriving below the island q
little before six clock. Their appearance
created an immediate movement in our
| fleet under the brave Commodore Mont
gomery, who had been awaiting them, aud
his boats were at once headed up stream
to offer them battle.
Our feet was composed of the Gen Van
Dorm alag ship, Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg,
Gen Lowell, jeff Thompson, Gen. Beaure-
gard, Sumter and Little Rebel all rams
under the supreme command of Com
Sd. Montgomery. Upon arriving opposite
the mouth of the Woolf, the Federal
boats in the meantime advancing from the
island, the order was given to open fire,
which was accordingly done by the Little
Rebel. Threeirhots were fiji ed from the Con-
federate feet before any reply was made
by the enemy, who, however, continued
advaBtimg. A short time afterwards fire
was opened by the advance boats of the
Federal Rect and brisk interchange of
commanding was kept up for some time,
the shots from both sides generally falling
wide Of the mark. Up 10 this time no
damage at all had been done The en-.
gagement had then continued probably
twenty minutes.
Several more of the cnemy's gunboats
now came in sight Aware thai upon their
arrival (Which would give the enemy great
superiority he could not continue the en-
gagenlent at that point with any hope of
success, Commodore Montgomery, who
was uaing the Little Rebel as his flag
vessel, ordered the feet ia fall back
The order was reluctantly obeyed, the
firing however, being kept up vigorously
our fleet retired to opposite Beal street. no
longer in line Of battle, when one Of the
Federal ra~s. name unk nown, 81 ut ahead
Of the remainder Of the fleet in pursuit
Upon reaching the vicinity of our fleet
preparations were made to rec Give her
The Beauregard at once preprred to strike.
The two bore down on each other in gal
lent style. The contest was of short du-
blow intended for her, struck her adverse
~ forward of her wheel house. The blow
placed the Federal adventurer virtually
hors al. combat and she hauled off and
made for the Arkansas shore, where she
renamed during the remainder OF the
engagement
In the meantime another Federal ram,
the Monarch. started to the fir.ts assist
ance, rapidly passing the city under full
head of steam. The Beauregard, having
disabled her first adversary, turned about
to run into the Monarch. The Price also
moved up. and the three boats were COM
ing rapidly together. A heavy blow, aim
ed by the Beauregard at the Monarch,
missed, and struck the Price, which was
unable to get out of the way. She was
struck squarely on the wheelhouse, which
was torn completely OFF. leaving the boat
nearly a wreck. She at once made for the
Arkansas shore, and at last accounts had
sunk as deeply as the shallow water would
allow. A number of persons on board
were:killed and wounded by the encmys
sharpshooters.
just at this period the four iron-clad
gunboats of the enemy, among them, we
presume, the Benton, Carondelet and
Mound City, none of phich had yet taken
any other part in the engagement than
firing at long taw as they slowly advanced,
moved down for the scene of the action
The cannonading. upon their arrival, was
iercely renewed, and in n short time the
Gen Lowell was piercrd by large shot
which caused her to fill rapidly and set
tie down. We had by this time lost two
boats, and the fighting was at close quar-
tiers.
The Little Rebel which was all the time
- 49, I,alyn of tt~ Eyi~x e.
wards struck by one of the Federal shots
She at once started for the Arkansas shore,
making it, and stopping near the General
Price. Commodore Montgomery and the
majority of the officers and men, perhaps
all, escaped.
The Beauregard, nothing daunted by
the disaster which had befallen the others,
still continued firing as she retired towards
the point Two or three of the enelny's
large boats closed in on her Immediately,
pouring in broadside after broadscde. She
was strucls several times by shot which
raked her fore and aft. A Federrl ram
coming up, also dealt her blow, and she
commenced sinking rapidly in deep water
opposite jackson Mound. As one Of our
reporter, who witnessed to conclusion of
the fight from the Mound, left, at quarter
10 eight o'clock, the gallant vessel had
already SUNK Until only ner upper oeck
and chimneys were visible AFederal tug
was sent to her assistance, in which the
officers and men were conveyed to the
Arkansas shore as prisoners,
The remaining Confederate boats, the
jeff. Thompson, Van Dorm. Sumter and
Bragg, now rapidly moved down the river,
aware that their only hope of safety, after
the loss of the other four, and the arrival
of the remainder of the Lincoln fleet, was
in further continuing to retreat They
soon::rounded the point, and from Memphis