The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-06-13
VElK OF GLORIOUS VIeflIls |
Fremont whales 'cnn !
The Pathfinder shows that he
is q General
MNMeMNs yAMsMs
Mitchell the astronomer makes
them see Stars.

CAIRO, June 8. The regular
packet Platte Valley, the fret boat
Though from Memphis, arrived here
this morning. Our forces are in
possessions OF Memphis.
Tho hotlls, consisting OF i've pun.
boats and eight rams, LEFT Fort
Wright at two O'Clock on Thursday
morDing, and, finding TO obstruc.
tions at Fort Rando'ph, passed on,
and at eight o'clock on Thursday
ovening the gnnboats anchored two
miles above Memphis. The rams
remained n short distance above.
A Reconnaissance was made. and
the enemy's fleet, consisting OF the
following: General Van Dorm, fiae.
ship; Gen Prico, Gen. Bragg, Gen.
Lowell, JEFF Thompson. Beauregard
Sumter. and Little Rebel, we're dis.
covered lying near Memphis.
During tho night the rebel feet
moved down the river. and daylight
we're out Of sight, but in halfan hour
afterward we're seen coming M,
formed in line of battle. Our gun,
10 ts had in the meantime weighed
ancbor, aud, followed by several
rams, moved slowly toward the rebel
fleet, when a shot from the Little
Rebel, from riflcd gun OF long
range, fell within short distance ol
the gunboat Cairo, which was in
the advance. The Cairo replied
with broad.i,le, and soon the en-.
J gagement became general at long
!. range.
The rama, in tho meantime, ad.
vanced. and the rebel Beauregard
being some distance in advance, was
=, singled ont by the Federal rams
Monarch and Queen Of the West
each striving 70 be first to strike the
, rebel craft. Tho Monarch succeed.
ed in striking her amidships, almost
cutting her in two and causing bcr
to fill and sink Immediately in the
} channel directly opposite the city.
At this jnncturc the Little Rebe
/, made q dash at the Monarch, whicl
+. by this t;no was in the midst of tn,
rebel feet. bnt by skillful move
t mcnt Of the pilot of the latter. sh,
2 dropped ont of tho way, and the
d. blow intended for her struck the re
bel boat Gen. Price taking away hel
wheel, making it necessary for hel
10 run ashore, where she sent a shot
which. unfortunately for the rebels
struck tho boat Gen. Lowell, render
, ing her unmanageable. Immedi
ately 6f or, she was run down BY III,
T Gu zen Of the West A broadsidt
= from the Benton took effect on IN,
sides of the jeff. Thompson. wher
she rin ashore in flames and burned
. TO the waters edge.
&. -Four rebel boats having beer
disabled, the remainder OF the fee,
retrea'ed down the river. pursued ty
our boats, firing as they advanced
resulting in the capture of the Sum
ter. Bragg and Little Rebel, which
had be n abandoned by most o.
their crews. Captain Montgomery
the flag. officer, and most of tho off
GERS and men, succeeded in making
their escape to the woods on the
Arkansas shore; The Federal ram
Lancaster was struck by tine Beau
regard early in the engagement, and
was slightly disabled.
Colonel Ellet, commanding the
Federal rams. was struck in the
breast BY splinter, and was stunned
temporarily, but soon recovered, and
continued on deck throughout the
action. This was the only casualty
on onr side. Our rams manned BY
sharpshooters, mostly from Illinois
who did great execution, picking of
tho enemy's gunners at every oppor.
tnnity. The rebel loss in killed,
wounded and prisoners is heavy, but
not yet fully asoertained. Our tugs
were busily engaged picking up the
crews OF their disabled boats.
Alter the return Of the gnnboats
from the pnrsuit, Commodore Davis
sent the following note to the Mayor
OF the city of Memphis:
~. S. FLAG STEAMER BrNroN)
"OFF MEMPHIS, June @.
"SIR:-I have respectfully to re-
quest that you will surrender the
city Of Memphis to the authority oil
the United States, which | have the
honor to represent.
81 am, Mr.. Mayor, with high re.
spect, your obedient servant, Q. IT,
DAVIS, Flag Officer"
In reply the Mayor said:
Your note ia received. 10 reply
have only to say, as the civil au.
lthorities have no means Of defense,
by force OF circumstances the city is
I'M your hands,"
immediately after a boats crew
landed and tho national flag was
hoisted over the Postoffice. The
party was followed by an excited
crowd, but they were not interfered
with.
The AID and 46th Indiana reei.
mcnts now occupy tho place, Col.
Fitch in command. The city is
quiet. No demonstrations whatever
have been made. 1t is even asserted
that it will not be necessary to do.