Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-06-13
SURRENDER OF MEMPHIS.
BATTLE ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Orrosrrs RANDoLrH.

or destroyed everything valuable Early this
morning. Ideut. Col. Elet and few men, in
a yawl, went sshore, followed Immediately
bv Colonel Fitch and part Of his command
The rurbosts then came down and anchor
ed across The channel. | proceeded, with
three rarss. twelve miles below the Fort, to
peirt opposite Randolph, and sent Lieut..
Gel. klot ashore with flag Of truce. to de-
mand the immediate surrender Of the place.
Thor forces had all left in two Of their gun
boats, only an hour or two before we APP
preached. The people seemed to respect the
flag which Lieut., Col. Ellet hoated. The guns
had been dismounted and some piles of cotton
were burning. | shall leave Lieut.. Col. FL
let here, in the advance, and return TO Fort
Pillow 10 bring on my entire force. The
people attribute the suddenness of the ovacu-
alton to the attempt made night before last to
sink ono Of their gunboats at Fort Pillow
Randolph, like Pillow, is weak and could not
have held out long against vigorous attack.
The people express a desire for the restora-
ton Of the old order Of things, though still
protesting to be secessionists.
(Signcd) CHAs. ELLEr, in,
Col Commanding Ram Flotilla.
U. S. STEAMER Benton,
off Memphis, June 6.
To Hon. Gideon Weles:
arrived here last evening at . o'clock &C
companied by the mortar feet under Captain
Maynatdier. The ordnance steamers, store
ships, &c, anchored a mile and half above
the city This morning discovered the rebel
fleet, which had been reinforced and now con-
sisted Of $ rams and gunbosts, lying at the le-
wee The engagement. which commenced at
50, A. NJ, and ended at o'clock, terminated
in running fight. was ably supported BY
the ram feet under command of Col. Elet,
who was cons pcuous for his gallantry, and
who is seriously, but not dangerously wound
ed. The result Of the action was the capture or
destruction of seven vessels of the rebel fleet
as follows The General Beauregard, blown
up and burned the Gen Sterling Price, one
wheel carried away the JEFF Thompson, set
on fire by shell and burned, and magazine
blown up the Sumter badly cut up by shot,
but viii be repaired the Little Rebel, boil
or exploded by shot, and otherwise injured,
but will be repaired. Besides this, one of the
rebel boats was sunk in the beginning of the
action; her name is not known. A boat, sup
poscu the be the Van Dorm. escaped from
the Aollla by her superior speed Two rams
are in pursuit of her The officers and crews
of the rebel boats ondeavored to take to the
shore Many OF the wounded and prisoners
arc now in our hands.
(Signed) c. H. DAVIS,
Flag Officer Commanding.
US. RAM SwITzERLAED, June 7, =. NJ.
Opposite Memphis.
10 Hon. Il. N. Stanton, Secretary of War:
yesterday, after the engagement with the
rebel fleet had nearly terminated and the gun
boats and one of my rams had passed below,
| was informed that white flag had been
raised in the city. | Immediately sent my
son, a medical Cadet, Charles II. Ellet, with
flag of truce, and the following note to the
authorities -
OProsTE MBMrHIs. June G. 1862
understand hat The city u Memphis has surrender
cd therefore send my son with two United States
Is with instructions TO raise upon the Custom
llu aud tie other upon tho Court House. evidence
VI he return Of your city 10 the and protection VI
Tho Consultation.
(sgned) CHARLES ELLET. in,
Colonel Commanding.
Tho bearer of the flag Of the above note was
accompanied by Lieut.. Crandell Of the 59th
Illinois regiment and two men of the boat
guard.
The following is the reply of the Mayor of
the city:
Mayors OFFICE, MEMPHIS, Tenn,
June 8, 1862.
Cha,hs Eii,tt, Jr Commanding Sc
S Your note OF this date is received and the
noted Inc civil au'horucs Of This city are not advised
mont and our reply you is simply state respect
only mat we have no forces 70 oppose the raising Of the
nta7 YOU have directed TO be raised over the Custom
House and Post Office Respectfully
tainedl JOHN PARK, Mayor
On receiving this reply, the small party
proceeded to the Post Office to raise the ma
tonal flag and were there joined by the
Mayor. 1t is proper to say that the conduct
of the Mayor and some of the citizens were
uncXcepuonable but the party was sur
rounded by an excited crowd, using angry
and threatening language. They assembled to
the top of the Post Office and planted the
flag, although fired upon several times and
stoned 10y the mob below. Still, | believe
this conduct was reprobated BY the people of
standing in the place. Indeed, many eyiden-
ces of an extended Union sentiment in the
place reached me. Respectfully,
lSigned) CHARLES ELLET, in,
CAIRO. June &.
The regular packet, Platte Valley, the first
boat through from Memphis, arrived this
morning Our forces are in possession of
Memphis. The notilla, consisting of five
gunboats and eight rams left Fort Wright at
2 o'clock Thursday morning. Finding no
distractions at Fort Randolph. the Aotilla
passed on. and at o clock ON Thursday even
ing the gunboats anchored miles above
Memphis. The rams remained a short dis
lance above. A reconnaissance was then made
The rebel fleet consisting Of the following
vessels: the Gen. Van Dom, Flag ship, Gen.
Bragg, Gen. Lowell, JEFF. Thompson, Beaure-
gard, Little Rebel and Sumter, were disoov-
cred lying near Memphis During the night
the rebel feet moved down the river, and at
daylight were seen coming up in line of bat
tie. Our gunboats had in the meantime
weighed anchor, and followed by several
rams, moved slowly towards the rebel fleet
when shot from the Little Rebel. from
rihed gun, at long range, fell within a short
distance Of the Cairo, which was in the adj
van e. The Cairo replied with a broadside,
and soon the engagement became general at
long range. The rams had in the meantime
advanced and the rebel ram Beauregard being
in the advance, was singled out by the feder-
al rams Monarch and Queen OF the West,
each striving to be first to strike the rebel
craft The Monarch succeeding in striking
her amidships almost cutting her in two,
causing her to Gil and sink Immediately in
the channel, directly opposite the city. At
ibis juncture, the Little Rebel made dash
az the Monarch which by this time was in the