Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-12
Tbo rebel fleet consisted Of eight vessels,


THE REBEL FLEET. -iHis to5'
The rebel feet consisted of eight vessels,
carrying excellent guns.
Little Rebel kFlag ship p.)....-...............2 guns
Gen. Beauregardi p" I
Gen. Price, ..,,.A ..
Gen. Sumteri- .....-..... -
Gen. ioN ell -.-..'.-.4 q .
Gen. Thong mpsons s-...-..... .........-.-....4 I"
Gen Bragg 5 80
Gen. Van DoTn ''
fetal .............. 2s guns.
RECoNSOIssAECE.
EARLY in the morning the Benton and
and Louisville having weighed anchor,
slowly dropped down towards the city,
which caused a visible sensation on shore.
Men and horses galloped to and fro, and
the increasing multitude made it evident
that there was to be an engagement. Sud-
denly the Little Rebel poked her nose out
from her, place Of concealment, steamed
across the river and took position nearer
the city, followed by the Beauregard,
which passed beyond the Little Rebel
One by one the others came out and formed
in two lines. Commodore Davis, notwish-
ing 10 pitch in till after breakfast, slowly
steamed back to his position at the "Pad-
dy's Hen and ChiokensF aafdEoGb I
PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE.
It was buta little after sunrise when the
rebel commanders advanced to give US bat
tie. The sky was without a cloud, and
there was nothing to obscure the gaze of
| the $4,000 people now cOngregated up
on the roofs of the city and the levee, ex-
\ eept the dense volume Of smoke ascending
from the stacks Of the gunboats. The reb-
Ell boats remained mOtionless awhile, with
the exception Of the Little Rebel, which
darted about like Q. corporal parading his
squad. At length they began moving up
stream, not rapidly, but leisurely. They
kept their lines which had been formed in
admirable order. Nearest the Memphis,
in its front line view, was the Beauregard,
then the Little Rebel, then the Price, and
on the Arkansas side the Sumter Behind
the Little Rebel, having the right of the
line, was the lowell, then the JEFF Thomp-
son, the Bragg, and the Van Dorm. -
The Federal gunboats were early in line,
the Benton being nearest the Tennessee
shore, next the. Carondelst next the st.
Louis, and lastly the Cairo-the Queen of
the West and Monarch having been tied
UP to the Arkansas shore, and the Lancas-
ter No. 3, and Switzerland about 8 mile
up stream. d When Commodore Davis saw
that the rebels intended to fight, he display
ed the signal to prepare for action The
crews leaped to their quarters with cheers;
decks we're cleared in a twinkling guns
run out; shot and shell piled up near the
guns boarding pixies distributed; marines
beat to quarters and boarding netting
stretched with an alaerity which showed
that the hearts Of the men were in the
work, The time they had longed for had
come-to meet the rebels in a fair and
square fight.
oPEENG THE FIGHT.
The Little Rebel opened fire upon the
Benton, the Beauregard and Sumter fol-
lowing. o. -to. re
Up to this time the Federal war dogs
had remained silent The Cairo having a
position on the Arkansas shore in conse-
ouence Of the bend Of the river, was near
est the rebel feet. All were within easy
range-not more than three-fourths Of
mile distant from the enemy's line of bat
tie, but there was Q disposition TO get
within close range before going into The
work, but the Cairo, from her position,
had fair sight at the side-of the Little
Rebel, she tried one Of her stern guns
The shot spun through the air and drop
ped into the water close under the hull of
the enemy's flagship. 1t was the signal
for q general letting loose of the dogs
Bang from the afondelet-bang from
the St. Louis and Louisville and lastly,
bang from the iron-mailed Benton-each
- ! oc
feet Some.of the guns we're too much ell
evated and one or two much depressed.--
The rebels waited while these civilities
were extended, and then opened fire from
all their boats and from all their guns
Replies were given as fast and frequent
For fifteen minutes the eannonade was
very, severe, shaking the earth with thun-
der, and shutting out the eombatants from
sight
Il was q sublime spectacle. The air
/ was stiH--so calm that.the dark volumes
of smoke from the .chimneys and the
\ suiph1rous clouds from the cannons,
mingled in one and hung thick and heavy;
black pail streaked into gray, over The
eembatants, shutting out the morning sun
shine The gathered thousands on the
shore beheld it, too much amazed at the
scene, too much absorbed, and too much
| interested inithe result to make any DEM
onstration In breathless anxiety they
/ watched the sudden flashes and the mar
rowing space between the two hostile
fleets, .a t ,5EhE
The Federal gunboats slowly turned in
the stream, and while turning there was a
/ lhllin heeannonade on our side, but none
from the enemy. There was continuous
7 sofedming Of shot, and explosion of shell,
one Of which burst above the Benton,
/ throwing fragments. upon her deck but
doing neiniary. = ~ y .u 81
THE QUEEN OF THE WEST SAILS M
When the Little Rebel opened the bali
4 the lareW of the Queen Of the West leRped
TO their stations with the same alacrity
and enthusiasmt that had characterized the
well-tried tars of the gunboats. i..s.-.
Col Kllet-braSe, daring having com
plete confidence in the ability Of the Queen
70 crush any rebel gunboat into kindling-
wood, called all hands to quarters The
sharpshooters seized their Austrian rifles,
Rndswith an eagerness surprising that Of
the boats crew Of g New Bedford Whaler
when they hear theory There she blowsli'
sprang each to bis appointed lOop-hole.
/ Immediately, black, pitch smoke rolled
from the smoke stacks of the Queen. The
hremen had caught the enthusiasm. There
/ was a. a.sqrging Of steamin the boilers as il
they also were being nerved up, and they
( were. Flesh, blood, bones, iron, STEEL
animate and inanimate, put On energy fol
the occasion.
.b The Queen, when she hsdpFepared her.
/ .alf nnt lnnaa frnm The shnra suin oin Z