Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-06-10

MLLIANT NAVAL ACTION.
Hi - il
The Rebel nect cleaned out.
Four Rebel 0unboets Sunk, and
three Captured.
MEMPHIS OCCUPIED BY OUR
TROOPS.
Correspondence between Con. Davis
and Mayor FIX,
Reported Capture Of Rich.
9DeOnd.
Official Report Of the killed and
wounded at battle Of Fair
Oaks.
Important Foreign News.
English Opinion Of Gen.
Butler,y Proclamation.
Rumored Cauture Of Richmond.
PADUcAB, June Z.
The rumor is current here to-day that
Richmond is taken. 1t cannot be
traced to any reliable source.
->~>
The Surrender Of Memphis.
NBw Madrid, June Z.
The steamer Platte Valley has just
arrived from Memphis. She reports
all quiet there. The city was surren-
dered to the Federal fotilla without re.
sis:ance.
Naval Engagement at Memphis.
CAIRO. June 8.
The regular packet Platte Valley, the
first boat through from Memphis, arrived
this morning.
Our forces are in possession Of Mem
phis.
Our fotilla left Fort Pillow at 2 o'clock
Thursday P. NJ, consisting of the gun
boats Benton (dagship), Cairo, Carondo-
let, st. Louis, Louisville, and rams, Mon
arch, Switzerland, Lancaster, Queen Of
the West, Fulton, Mingo, Sampson and
Hurnel, and finding no distractions at
Fort Randolph, the dotilla passed on, and
at 8 o'clock Thursday evening, gunboats
anchored 2 miles above Memphis, the
rams remaining short distance above.
A reconnaissance discovered the enemy's
flectlying near Memphis, consisting of the
following vessels, Gen. VanDorn, flag
ship, Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, Gen.
Gen. Lowell, jeff. Thompson, Gen. Beau
regard, Sumter and Little Rebel, all rams,
under command Of Capt. Ed. Montgom-
cry.
During the night the rebel fleet moved
down the river, and at early dawn were
out of sight, but in about half an hour
were observed 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 a shot from Little Rebel, from
long range, rifed, fell within short dis
lance Of the gunboat Cairo, which was
in advance. The Cairo replied with a
broadside, and soon the engagement be-
came general at long range. The rams
had, in the meantime, advanced, and the
rebel ram Beauregard being some dis
lance in advance, was singled out by the
Monarch and Queen Of the West, each
striving to be first to the rebel craft. The
Monarch succeeded in striking the Beau
regard amidships, almost cutting her in
two, causing her to fill and sink immedi-
ately in the channel of the river, oppo-
site the city.
At this iuncture the ram Little Rebel
made dash for the Monarch, which was
by this time in the midst of the rebel
fleet. BY skillful movement of the pilot
Of the latter, she dropped out Of the way,
and the blow intendend for her struck
the rebel gunboat Price, taking away her
wheel, making it necessary for her to
run ashore, when she sent shot that en-
tered the side Of the Gen. Lowell, render
ing her unmanageablc, and Immediately
after she was run down by the Queen of
the West. A broadside from the Benton
took effect in sides of the jeff Thompson,
and she 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 retrcatcd down the river, pursued
by our gunboats, firing as they advanced,
resulting in the capture of the Sumpter
Bragg and Little Rebel, which had beer
abandoned by most of their crews, the
latter getting ashore.
Capt. Montgomery and most of his
officers and men succeeded in making
their escape in the woods on the Ar.
kansas shore.
The Federal ram Lancaster was
struck by the Beauregard early in the
engagement, slightly disabling the
former.
| Col. Elliott, in command of the rams
was struck in the breast by a splinter
stunning him temporarily, but he soor
recovered, and continued on deck
throughout the action. This was the
only casualty on our side.
Our rams we're manned by sharpshoot
ers, mostly from Illinois, who did good
execution, picking off the enemy's gun
ners at every opportunity.
The rebel loss in killed, wounded and
prisoners is heavy, but has not yet beer