Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-11
Correspondence Of the Morning Post
The Capture Of Memphis.

The most brilliant Nauai Battle ofthe War-7Ae
Entire Rebel Fleet Destroyed before Breakfast
-Fiuid Account ofthe FIght-Mafters ia Mem
phis-RebeI Hopes Blasted
MENPHIs June Z. 1862.
When our feet left Fort Pillow on Thursday
last. was in the suppOsition that the rebels had
fallen back" Ia some defensive position. At
Randolph. il was supposed the guns removed
from Fort Pillow would be found again in posi-
ton 90 oppose our progress. But in this supposi-
ton We found ourselves giving far too much
credit To the Wanted determination of the rebels
To defend every inch of sacred soil. Several
inches were ieft undeiended Net gun nor
garrison were found at Randolph and. though
some deserted earthwOrks were visible, not a gun
nor garrison were in sight. We did not pay the
place even the compliment of "A visit. but steam
Ell on toward Memphis. still in the expectation,
however, OF meeting opposition at some point be
fore reaching that city.
The irst sign of rebel warfare that met our
view after passing Randolph was at Island 81 ,
where a rebel transport discOv eI Ell. the SOve
reign. She discovered Us also nc the same mo
ment and took 10 her heels with all possible
speed. Severa. shots we're sent after her, which
did not hit her. and the chase iJr several miles
OF the liveest character ever known in Mis-
sssippi steamboat racing At length turning
point IN the river the rebel steamer seen Just
rounding another point couple OF miles ahead
Again fired at her without effect. \ boat
howitzer was then put on board the Lizzie Benton
-tcam tug which sent through the shute
behind island 81 10 head the steamer Off The
tug came out OF the chute a short distance be
hind tie steamer. but within good range, and
sent a shelf which warned the steamer that her
time was up. Her Captain ran her To the shore.
jumped of, ana took 10 the woods the crew rails
e. flag OF truce aud submitted TO the fate which
they could not escape They stated that the boat
hsd been sent up by the rebel authorities 10 burn
al the cotton they could fnd at plantations along
tie river. They had not succeeded in finding
any
Fort Harris. some thirty FIVE miles above Mem
ohis. found, like Fort Randolph. without &C
cupants. Nothing could be seen but some in
different ehrthwOrks. apparently unfinished. and
ia which evidently guns hid ever been mount
ed This was IN only fortifcaton We expected
10 ind above Nsmphis. save At the mouth ol
Wolf river. inst outside the envirous There il
Was presumed. ve should find batteries 70 Oppose
u; but ia this Suppositicn We we're again doomed
To disappointment
We reached Paddy's hen and chickens. q,
group Of islands n the mouth of Wolf river,
about o clock Thursday evening and anchored
alongside one OF the chickens" 4 suv went
down 10 recounciter, and IN the course oi an
hour returned. having al covered the reoel fleet
living against the Arkansas shore. oppos te tie
city OF Nemphis IL was evident that they
intended TO give a fight, aud eve, ything
Was put in readiness on our fleet for any emeT.
gency.
A, daylight IN the morning the feet we hel
anchor and dropped slowlydown the current unit
ne foremost gunbOat came in sight OF the rebel
feet lying IN cis;aut bend Of the stream They
Immediately Discovered Us and put their boats in
line OF battle. or rather in two lines one about
halt mile IN advance OF the other. The rebel
feet consisted of eight gunboats and rams. VIZ:
the Little Rebel. dag ship Gen Van Dorm.
Gen BeauTegard. Gen. Bragg. Gen Price. JEFF
Thompson. Gen Lowell and Sumter They wer.
all moCnted with guns Of various calibres and also
provided wIih strong iron clad pr0ss 10 be use
rams Scarcely any two of them we're alike in
appearance build or weight of metal SOme If
them were partially sheathed with iron over their
boilers while Others we're merely protected with
hesyy timber bulwarks Some Of them NAV n y e
been proYIdei with Cotton bale delenses, but
probably not III any we're 50 provided thew we're
those which went TO the bottom where an inspec-
tion Of their architecture is not jus, nsw conse
nient. None Of them were provided With shot
irrof ease- mate Ike our Own gunbost-