Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-06-12
/ Tie Great Naval Battle al Il emphis,,
DeseFIbed BY an Bye-VyItness.

lSolEe=psl1esi9eu g me = t4qil1 kep1blieal. Il
Coming dowa fro On Fo-t Pilio,iS, lass night
our VESSELS anchored Isl abSfe he bend
that hides Memphis. Ne have 1--WE boat,
the Benton, Cairo Bouis vile, ST. L6nis and
Gafondelet. There they lay during the
hours OF darkness; bRtbelOlso ION the river
was active preparation. Steamers could
be heard, and the lights of Memphis seen
occasionally from the point tWinklipg
brightly on the bluds,
Daylight had hardly broken when the
nAgShip Benton aud Louisville dropped
slowly down, preceded by tug, as an
i aTant courier or scout. The latter putting
oficiOnsly, and making terrible fuss, as
these saucy craft always do, had barely pok-
ed Its nose around the point, when close
TO the Afkansas shore, EteAlthily lying in
4 wait, the rebel vessels were dise0Tered.-
First WAS large Gulf steamer, her color
dark, and the great walking beam above
the deck denOtinR low pressure engines.
From her bow peered ont two ugly look
ing muzzies, while the last sounds Of beat
Ing to quarters were just dying away At
the rear vessels. @ ssz4sisI
This boat was the old GRlVestonAndN New
Orleans packet Mexico, rechEistened Gen.
Bragg. Behind her lay other rebel boats,
seven in number, General Van Dorm, flag
ship Gen. Price, JeR. Thompson, General
Lowell, Gen. Beauregard, Sumter and Lit
tie Rebel, all strengthened 1t the bow as
rang, and bearing from three to FIVE guns.
Their commander was Commodore Edward
Montgomery. Discovering the enemy's in
tenti0n to struggle again for possession of
Memphis, and wishing his men to have
breakfast before trying the issue, Flag Of
hcer Davis had signals raised 10 retire.
Hardly had the Benton and Louisville,
however, commenced relrogads move.
ment before all was activity in the rebel
navy. Evidently imagining their superior
numbers bad hidden inferior powers, Mont
gOmery gave the signal for action.
Out into line stretching across the riy-
er rushed the rebel vessels, with Ghimneys
belching clouds of dark smoke, and their
speed telling them in that far superior TO
our vessels. Many oftheguns were mount
ed eH baT6ette, and cauuoniers could be seen
ready for duty. Instantly the Little Rebel
shot ahead, a puff of smoke lifted from her
bow and a ball whistled over the Benton,
1 striking and sktmming along the water be-
yond. Immediately the signal flags Of the
Benton again changed rapidly, aud her
commander, by means of the gay streamers
on the staff amtdships, told his fleet to &c
, into action. The first rebel shot had been
quickly followed by two others, all wild
. and harmless.
Nearest to our opponents was the Cairo
. aud she responded. Then the other great
iron.clads, first firing their stern guns, and
then, as they rounded to, opening With deaf
4 ening tones their br0adstdes, went into &C.
ton. Now came rapid roar of artillery,
\ the water in all directions was thrown NJ
: by plunging balls, and both sides bidder
In the smoke of their own discharges. Thi!
was but momentary The Gre OF the reb
els slackened, and. finding their opponent.
2 TOO powerful, they commenced falling back
The Union vessels redoubled their efforts
: the iron sides trembled, aud the deck
d seemed lifting up from the immense con
t cussions below. Shotfollowed shot, aud
Q storm of them whistled among the rebe
If craft, but wonderfully quick were the lat
y ter in movement, darling from side to sid
II aud constantly taking new positions. Nov
. and then one would suddenly loom up with
It in point blank range, yet, like Paddy's flea
: when hit, it WASN'T there.
n Occasionally a ball would pass through
r rebel craft, throwing up splinters ant
n strewing its path with victims. Yet Will,
!, our unwieldy monsters, governed by only
one wheel IN tue centre, were half steam
8 ing, half drifting through the intFicaciel
d OF fierce engagement, their vessels re
:. treating easily from reach, or advanced Il
: favorable positions Mt pleasure. The enc
: my seemed in fair way Of closing the en-
II gagement and obtaining safety BY flight
k Already one vessel had turned, when in
If stantly affairs changed, new instruments il
i modern naval warfare appeared. Sudden
o ~ a hurried putting, . dSshing az II. Nep;
IS tune himself was cOnvulsing Father Mis-
1t stssippi, and out from among our gu1bOatl
Il dArted the rams Qaeen and Monarch
d With a speed that half buried her prov
under water, the former struck boldly fol
y the nearest Confederate.
These were the assaiIants for which the,
had not prepared, yet Immediately the Ere
OF every gun was directed upon orr ad,
: venturops little vessel. Had shot strucl
3 her, the boilers only being protected by
: woodwork, and the hull not at all, theFI
u was an unpleasant chance of being disabled
: and falling captive, But she passed safe
J. y, the balls intended for her falling fal
beyond any of the feet, On Que vessel
the nearest, our little Queen bore doW1
with terrible velocity II appeared as Il
!. both at the shock would be dashed 4
: pieces, the rapid current aiding her power.
tut engines. A slight miscaIc1Iation on til.
3 part of the Queen, and desperate effort or
z that OF the rebel, enabled the latter to bare.
: " avoid her destructive adversary, and
= seat q shot through in passing. The ram
! however, with speed uudiminished, brush.
ing its opponents stern and knseking Of
some railing, darted thirty yards furt6e r on
and struck the General Price amidships.Z
u The collision was fearful; ths rebel gun.
boats side crushed In like paper, aud She
!. careened until her pipes almost touched tbf
water. It appeared as If she would sinI
Instantly, yet righttng again, endeayorr
were made to force her ashore, while ev.
: cry throe of the engines shook the crazy
wreck almost to pieces. Just reaching the
land, It sank. Meanwhile the first rebel
: boat had turned and came down upon thS
Queen, which lay helpless, her own ma
9 chinery being disarrangtd by the recent
Shock, and was unahla 20 intarnnsa a nm,