Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-06-11

nous for his gallantry, and is seriously but
not dangerously wounded. The result of the
action was the capture or destruction OF sew
en- vessels of the rebel feet, as follows: The
Gen. Beauregard was blown up and burnt; the
Gen. Sterling Price had one wheel carried
away; the Jeff Thompson was set on fire by
she'll and burned, and her magazine was
blown up; the Sumter was badly cut up by
shot, but will be repaired; little rebel steam
er had her boiler exploded by shot, and was
otherwise injured, but she will be repaired.
Besides this, one of the rebel boats was sunk
in the beginning of the action; her name not
known.
A boat supposed TO be the Van Dorm, es-
capped from the hotilla by her superior speed.
Two rams are in pursuit of her. The officers
and crews of the rebel boats endeavored to
take to the shore.
Many Of their wounded and prisoners are
now in our hands. The Mayor surrendered
the city to me after the engagement. Col.
Fitch came down at eleven O'Clock, and has
taken military possession Of the town.
G. Ii. DAVIS, Flag Officer.
WASHINGTON, June S.-The following mes
sage, in relation to the action of the rams in
the naval engagement off Memphis was re
ceired by the War Department this evening
0rPosITE MEMPHIS, June g.
via CAIRO, June s.
To Hon Z. II. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
The rebel gunboats made stand early
this morning opposite Memphis, and opened
vigorous fire upon our gunboars, which they
returned with equal spirit.
| ordered the Queen, my flag ship to pass
between the gunbOatS and run down ahead of
them, upon the two rams of the enemy, which
at first, boldly stood their ground. Lieut.
Col. Ellet, in which Capt Dryden is first mas
ter followed, gallantly. The rebel rams en-
deaTored to back down stream, and then to
turn and run, but the movement was fatal to
them. The Queen struck one of them fairly
and for a few minutes was fast to the wreck
After separating, the rebel steamer sunk.
My steamer, the Queen, was then herself
struck by another rebel steamer, and disabled,
but, though damaged, can be saved. \ pis-
tol shot wound in the leg deprived me of the
power to witness the remainder Of the fight.
The Monarch also passed ahead of our gun
boats. and went most gallantly into action
She first struck the rebel boat that struck my
flag ship, and sunk the rebel. She was
then struck by one of the rebel rams, but not
injured. She then pushed on and struck the
Beauregard, and burst open her side. Sim
ultaneously the Beauregard was struck in the
boiler by shot from one of our gunboats.
The Monarch then pushed at the gunboat
Little Rebel, the rebel flag Ship and, having
little headway, pushed her before, her, the
rebel commodore and crew escaping.
The Monarch then finding the Beauregard
sinking took her in tow until she sunk in shoal
water. Then - compliance with the request
of COL Davis, Lieut.. Col. EAet despatched
the Monarch and the Switzerland in pursuit
of one of the remaining rams and some trans
ports which had escaped.
The gunboats and two of my rams have
gone below.
the pilots and engineers, ana Military Guard
of the Monarch and Queen, the brave conduct
Of Captain Dryden. or the heroic bearing Of
Lieutenant CnIoncI Elet. | will name all
the parties to you in a special report.
| am, myself, the only person in nv feet
who was disabled. CHARLES ELLET. JR,
Colonel Commanding Ram Fleet
The following second despatch from Col
Ellct was also received this evening:
OrroStTE MEMPHIS june 6, !
Iia cairo, June s, 1862
TO tie Secrrtmycf Nar:
II is proHeg and due the brave men on the
Quecn and Monarch to say to you, briefly,
that two of the rebel steamers were sunk out
right and Immediately by the shock of my
two rams. One with a large amount of cot
tou, .tso., on board, was disabled by an acci
dental collision with the Queen, and secured
by her crew.
After | was personally disabled. another
boat, which was also hit by a shot from the
gunboatS, was sunk By the Monarch, and
towed to shoal water by that boat. Still an
other, also injured by the fire of our gunboats,
was pushed On the shore and secured by the
Monarch
CT the guuboats, can only say that they
bore themselves, as our navy always does,
bravely and well.
CHARLES III ut Tn