The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-16

willing to snatch single leaf from the
brow OF civilian now sleeping in q SOL
dier's bloody but victorious grave.
the TRUE HERO OF THE BATTLE.
The true hero OF the battle Of Memphis,
fought June 9th, 1852, and the actual cap
tor of the city Of Memphis, was the late
Mr.. Charles Ellet IT,, Civil Engineer, act
ing at the time under Colonel's commits
sion, Of few weeks standing, from the
head department, and inindependent COM
mand Of small fleet of wooden rams,
hastily constructed under his personal
supervision:
In consideration OF the very unusual
circumstances attending this battle, | may
be excused for beginningsmY account OF
them with reference to clause in note
to phamphlet, published by Mr.. Charles
Ellet, it,, February 9th, 1862, in which he
called attention to the imminent danger
10 be apprehended from several steam
rams which, he felt confident, were in
course OF construction by the Confederate
Government upon plan which he had
for years been pressing on the attention OF
the United States Government and the
country. He referred on this occasion,
with special emphasis, to the Merrimac,
which he had repeatedly petitioned to be
permitted to encounter and disable before
II should attempt, as he felt satisfied II was
about to do, to attack our vessels in Hamp-
ton Roads. Just one month after this last
OF series Of warnings 10 the United
States authorities on this subject occur
red the memorable and disastrous surprise
in Hampton Roads, resulting, as Is well
known, in the destruction Of the ill.iated
Congress and Cumberland.
A few days after this disaster Mr.. Ellet
was sent for by the new Secretary OF War,
Mr.. Edwin NJ. Stanton, and was desired
by him to submit plan for the protection
oil the United States fleet on the Upper
Mississippi from the rams presumed to be
in readiness for the rebel service upon
that river.
There was no time for the construction
OF rams, according to Mr.. Ellets finished
plans, but he offered to tit up, with the
least possible delay, such river steamers as
could be obtained for the emergency to
act Temporarily as rams, and TO command
them In person, II authorized to do so. lie
received from the Secretary Of War full
authority for these purposes, with com
mission as Colonel In the United Statel
Army, with entire control over his fleet o.
rams when he should have constructed 1t,
wholly independent Of the Navy-ihe Sec
retary, however, commencing that he
should avoid conflict Of authority, as
pre]udicial to his public service.
With these powers Mr.. Ellet lett home,
the next morning, for the West, and went
10 work at Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, New
Albany and New Madrid, where in the
course Of few weeks, he had 30 altered
and strengthened eight ordinary river
steamboats, that, in his opinion, they might
| be trusted to ect temporarily as rams In
an encounter even with iron'clad vessels
These boats carried no guns, were protect
ed BY no iron platings, and were manned
by no disciplined force OF soldiers or sea
men; but they were furnished with al
iron wooden palisade for the protection
from rife aud pistol shots oil their yolun
teer crews.
These preparations were not entirely
completed about the Goth OF May, whet
Colonel Ellet received most urgent. dis
patches from the Secretary Of War desir
ing him to proceed at the earliest practi
cable moment to the support OF the gun
boat squadron, under command OF Fla
officer CharlesH. Davis, then lying abovl
Fort Pillow. This urgency was In conse
uuence OF the recent attack from the Tebe
rams, in which one or two Of our gun
boats had been sunk, ] believe, at thei
anchorage.
After joining the gunboats they re
NAMED Inactive until the 4th OF June
when Col. Ellet, who had been chaiul
with impatfeDce at the delay, noti6e,
Com. Davis Of his intention to procee'
down the river in quest Of the enemy, q
he accordingly did the next day, withou
further reference 10 the movements oil tina
officer. The ram feet stopped at Fort
Pillow and Randolph to enable Col. Ellet
To take possession OF these stronghold
which had been, 10 his modification
abandoned by the Confederates the ever
Ing before, and while waiting ct Fort Rar
B dolph for the arrival OF their coal barge
they were passed by the gunboats, whic
had weighed anchor, and which now pre-
B ceeded down the river, taking up the
station about mile and q hall above Men
. phis. The ram fleet followed aud was ST
toned for the night a few miles higher al
. and on the morning OF the 9th Of Jun
steamed down to join the gunboats, whic
they found anchored at the point mel
!. toned.
. At the moment Of the arrival Of tt
, rams, about sunrise,
THE REBEL FLEET OF ouNBoATs
and rams stationed before Memphis begu
to approach, opening at the same time
Are, which was instantly and vigorous
returned by our gunboats. AT the fiji
shot Colonel Ellet ordered the stars ar
stripes, his understood signal Of battle,
hs hoisted on his Gag ship, Queen Of U