The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-06-14
3 OoIcnel lKlles,s Report.

WAsnIxsroN June l0-fhe following de-
spatches from Colonel Elicit were received this
morning at the War Department.:
tma9 q ID hs;q>U. 8. RAN SWITZERLAND,
) a5i eage Opposite MExPH1s; June p. m.
10 Hon. &. NJ Stanton, Secretary of War.
Sra: Yesterday after the engagement with
the Rebel feet had nearly terminated and the
gunboats and one Of the rams had passed below
I was informed that white flag had been raised
in the city. I Immediately sent my son,
Medical Cadet, Charles R. Elicit ashore with
flag 0of truce, and the following note to the
authorities = 9s ata's1f
I understand the city of Memphis has surren.
dered, therefore, 1 send my son with two United
States Gags, with instructions to raise one upon
the Custom House and the other on the Post
Office, % an evidence Of the return Of your city
To the care and projection Of the Constitution.
20 [Signedl sssa CHARLES ELLrr, Jr.,
.fto5s "a 7fgysis Col. Commanding
The bearer Of the flag and the note was &C
companied by Lieut.. Oountell, Of the seth ILL
nois regiment and two men of the boat guard.
The following is the reply Of the Mayor Of
the City: 5!l5 $50
% b 1ssa 1 - MrxpHrs, June 9Th.
Col. CHAs. ELLEr, Jr, Commanding:
Sir-Your note Of this date was received and
contents noted. The civil authorities Of this
of the o. 8. government, and our reply to you
is simply to state respectfully that we have no
forces to oppose the raising Of the fags you
have directed u be raised over the Custom
House and Post Office
~ (Slened) q JOHN PARKS, ayor.
On receiving this reply the small party pro-
ceeded to the post Office to raise the national
Gag ana were there joined by the Mayor. 1t is
proper to say that the conduct Of the Mayor
and some of the citizens was unexceptionsbie,
but the party was surrounded by crowd
using angry and threatening landguage. He as.
cended 70 the P. o. and planted the Gag though
fred upon several times and stoned by the mob
below. Still believe the conduct Of the ma.
jority Of the people standing in the place was
good. Many evidences of an extensive Union
sentiment there reach me.
CO (Signed) t7i{ y CHAs. ELLET,
- Col Com'dg Ram Fleet opposite Memphis
Hon. E. n. Stanton, Secretary of War:
June lO.-There are several facts touching
the naval engagement of the 9th inst, at this
f,place, which wish to place on record.
Approaching Memphis-the gunboats we're in
advance. 1 had received no notice that fight
was expected, but was informed on landing with.
in sight of Memphis, that the enemy's gunboats
had retreated down the river. Ny first infor-
nation Of the presence Of the enemy was shot
which passed over my boat.
had four Of my most powerful rams in ad-
vance. aud ready for any emergency. The 9th.
ers we're towing the barges (,
On advancing to the attack expected, of
course, to be followed by the Monarch, the Ian.
caster and the Switzerland. The Monarch came
In CALAMITY. Some of the officers of the Lam
caster, which now held the next place in the
line, became excited and confused, bnt the en-.
gineers behaved we'll. The pilot erred in signals
and ducked the boat ashore, and disabled her
rudder. The Captain of the Switzerland con.
strued the general signal order, to keep safe a
mile in the rear Of the Lancaster, to mean that
he was to keep half a mile behind her in the en-
gagemeDt, and therefore failed to Participate.
Hence the whole brunt Of the fight fell upon the
Lancaster and Monarch. -I..i, fs@,. ,.,..,
Had either the Lancaster or the Swift zerland
followed me as the Monarch did, the rebel gun.
boat Van Dorm would not have escaped, and my
flagship would not have been disabled. Three
Of the rebel rams and. gunboats which were
struck by my two rams, sunk outright and were
lost. The General Price was but slightly injur
ed. am now raising her and propose sending
her to my feet. ~"
[sigued. ] CHAS. ELLET, Jr.,
Colonel Commanding. t,Tp