The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-06-13
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE

Orr MEMPHIS, June 6.
Mr.. EDITOR: All the people of Memphis
and the country around have turned out to
share the excitement of the day, ard to see
what some never hoped for, Union victory.
Thousands now line the levee where the
forty-third and forty-sizth- Indiana lie
moered in transports to the shore. IT'S
now the middle of the afternoon and yet a
hot sun and long day has not diminished
the interest. 1t seems like some grand
festival to see the crowds coming and go
ing, but never lessening in numbers. The
river is full of our boats, many of them
taken from the rebels this morning. The
deck rings now with hurrah after hurrah,
as another prize is brought in from below.
IT'S the secesh ram that pitched into US so
on the 10Th Of May.
Another hurrah This time It's the
hauling down Of secesh flag in Memphis
! have plunged in nleaiGsres and now Ill
90 back and give you a short sketch of the
last two or three days.
On the 4th We had positive Information
from deserers and from the burning bar
racks that Fort Pillow was evacuated.
On the 9th at daylight we started and in
az hour ran down TO hat remained OF The
Fort-the entertainments and six or eight
cannon. The soldiers went on shore and took
possession. The gunboats lay lear there I'M
til noon when they came on with all possible
speed We passed several places where
they were burning cotton. | thought of be
spiteful man, who tried to bite his OWN nOse
off If he had lived in 1862 he would have
succeeded.
At2 P. N. we came in sight of large
rebel transport, the Sovereign, evidently
engaged in burning cotton. The Benton
and Carondelet opened ire on the skrdad-
cling rebel, when was soon out OF reach of
cur shot. Commodore DAVIS sent lug,
the Sp fire, mounting one e-pounder,
in pursuit. Both were soon out of sight,
aud-for several mi es we wele in DOUBT Of
the result. Al las, as we passed bend
in The river, we came in SIS BIT Of the little
Spitfra and her monstrous captive.
At 9 P. n. We anchored two miles from
Memphis. We SAT on deck for an hour,
watching lie lights Of the city, speaking
quietly Of our far away friends, aLd conn
denly, though suberly, Of the probable
events OF The morrow.
Juue b. Gray was turning 10 goI en-
when We heard the boatswains ahislle,
and The gruf command, All hammocks
on deck; aud in half an hour, Ali hands
up author"
The rebels opened the fight before our
anchors were up and We returned II With
interest. We watched the flag ship tor Or
ders They came at ias.-sEch Us only
a 6raUe man gives IL lime Of
danger The three little pieces VI buus-
ing, v hen read by the key, we're simply
II 49,, h
the Benton (Com. Uags) led the way, lar
in advance, into the fight. She was soon
followe by tue Louisville, Cafoudee. 81.
Louis, and Cairo and by several rams. The
rebels tad six large gurboats and several
rams. The shot flew fast and iuriousiy,
many striking in the water aud throwing a
jet de eau to the heIghth of 10 or % feet;
some striking the rebels aud making great
rents in the wooden boats, one killing
or ounding six Of the rebels. Win AL
steam on, we were hurrying to close
quarters, when our rams, the Queen Of the
West and Monarch, came down, making the
water foam at their bows as they shot past.
The Queen first, far among the rebel gun
boats seemed TO bear charmed life. We
were looking to see her blown 10 pieces,
when she struck The largest of tie rebel
iron -ciads, jeff Thompson, sinking her al
UlOSL lu1 U0uidtSiJ. III uNS IulAQlSS uOlullR
could be seen of the rebel smoke stacks
Some Of The crew escaped by swimming,
but many were drowned. The Queen next
attacke the Gen. Price, breaking beg post
wheel off, and cutting her nearly half in
two. The Monarch was equally successful,
disabling he Sumter and running down
the Gen. Loyell, and leaving the last on
FIRE. The burning of the General Lowell
was splendid sight, ending with the
bursting of a large number Of shells, the
explosion of the magazine, which sent flag
ments far and wide over the river, and the
sinking IF the hull.
The gun boats pressed the conflict some
six miles down the river, and then cane
back 10 the city. Some OF the rams nl
far below, aud have ouly just returned, Is
O'Clock p. N bringing in two pr'zes. We
have taken destroyed FIVE large gunboats,
two small ones, and have taken three OF
four transports.
For so ,quat a fight we have suffered
scar ce any damage. l have not heard OF
mans being killed or boat destroyed On
the two boats on which | have been, there
have b Gu some three or four men very
Slightly hunt by shells, but nothing serious.
1t is repJrIed that Jef. Pompsun was in
Memphis viewing the 6ght, after making
flaming speech the night before.
Saturday morning. could not send
this eff yesterday, and the Intelligence will
not be news 10 you. If you can it 40
other way you can light your cigar with it,
have tied 10 make it as short and coucise
possible.
Col. Fitch, commanding brigade, has
taken military possession of the city.
The events o. yesterday, given in full,
would make quite volume. / can give
no more now.
T. J. G
NJ The editor of the Terre Hante