Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-07
THE CAPTUEE OF 1EMPHIS
Anniversary Of the GuBbOat Fight In
Front Of the Clty-HOW a News.
paper Talked at That
Warllke Time.
A sketch Of the Fight ana Capture
of the City.

ARoACAAol wv " NNaNf was AuN
anniversary of the capture of Memphis
by the Federal forces, in 1862. A Mem
phis daily Argus Of that date is before
US. 1t was published and edited by
Messrs. Priddy & Brewer, on the corner
Of Adams and Second streets. The Con-
federate feet was commanded by Com
modore Montgomery, and consisted Of
the General Van Dorm (aagshipl Gen
eral Price, General Bragg, JEFF Thomp
son, General Lowell, General Beauregard,
Sumter and Little Rebel. The Federal
gunboats made their appearance
around the bend above the city
early in the morning, a little
before 6 o'clock, and at once advanced
down toward the mouth OF Wolf river.
The Little Rebel opened Ere, and in a
short time the firing from both fleets be-
came warm, but the shot fell wide Of the
mark. The Federal feet being large,
Commodore Montgomery, who was using
the Little Rebel as a flagship, ordered
his feet to fall back, but the firing was
briskly kept up. Opposite Beal street
the Confederate feet formed in line Of
battle. One Of the Federal rams steamed
forward and was at once met by the ram
Beauregard, who struck her Federal ad.
versary forward of the wheel.house and
placed her kors de combat, and she
steamed to the Arkansas shore and there
remained. The Federal ram Monarch
now steamed forward to attack the
Beauregard, which was assisted by the
General Price. The Beauregard missed
the Monarch but rammed the Price and
disabled her.
The engagement now became general,
The Lowell Confederate was sunk; the
Little Rebel also went to the bank dis
abIed. The Beauregard fell back to the
point below the city and was surrounded
by several vessels OF the enemy aud wal
sunk by their fire. The JET. Thompson
Van Dorm and Sumter, steamed awal
in fight, but one Of them was overtakel
and sunk. During the fight the blut
was crowded with spectators, including
a number of ladies. The business house
we're closed and the trains over the Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee railroad wer,
jammed and crammed with citizens fee
ing from the captured city. During tn
brief fight a.sixty four-pounder shot iror
a Federal gunbost struck the residene
Of N. Caveline, Esq, in South Memphis
passed through the roof, then demolishe
a tree, and passing on knocked down
I chimney and glancing upward went o
its way rejoicing. Another shell fell o
the bluff in the midst Of a crowd of pc,
pie, but it did not explode.
At the close Of the fight, so disastrou
to the Confederate feet, the FEEDER,
transports filled with soldiers, commanC
ed by colonel Fitch, of Indiana, cam
l down and tied on to the wharf, and tn
, city was taken; but not until the follow
| ing warlike and diplomatic correspOl
dence wat INDUCED in. Oommodor
Davis, of the Federal feet, wrote
Mayor John Park as follows:
u, S. FLAGSHIP Benton,
0PF MEMPHIS, June 6, 1862. !
To His Honor, the Mayor of Memphis;
SRI have respectfully to TequeI
. that you will surrender the city of Mer
phis to the authority Of the URitt
States, which | have the honor to repr
, sent.
, 1 am, Mr.. Mayor, with high respec
: your most obedient servant.
O. H.. DAVIS,
Flag Officer Commanding, etc.
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