Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-24
The Battle OF Memphis.

Memphis and its defeuses became no
longer tenable after Bsauregard's evacuation
OF Coriuth on the Both of Nay.
OnJune 5Lh, the feet with transports moved
down the river, anchoring at night two miles
above the city. The next morning at dawn
the River Defense feet was sighted lying at
the levee. They soon cast of, and moved
into the river, keeping, however, in front Of
the city in such way as to embarrass the
FIRE of the Union fotills.
The Confederate vessels, still under Mont
gomery's command, were IN number eight,
mounting from two to four guns each: the Van
Dorm, flag steamer; Gen. Price, Gen. Lowell +,
Gen. Beauregard, Gen. Thompson, Gen
Bragg, Gen. Sumpter, and the Little Rebel.
| The Union gunboats were five, namely:
| the Benton, Louisville, Csrondslet, St. Louis,
| recently taken charge OF by Lieut McGun-
| uegle, and Cairo. In addition, there were
| present and participating 10 the ensuing
| action, two Of the ram feet, the Queen of the
! West and the Monarch, the former COM
manded by Col. Eilet in person; the latter by
younger brother, Lieut-Col. A. W. Ellet.
| The Coniederates formed in double line
| for their last battle, awaiting the appro sch
1 of the hotilla. The latter, embarrassed by
| the enemy being in line with the city, kept
under way, but with their heads up stream,
dropping slowly with the current. The bat
| tie Was opened by shot from the Confeder.
ates, and then the hotills, csstiug away It's
scruples about the city, repliei with vigor
| The Union rams, which were tied up to the
bank some distance above, cast of at the
first gun and steamed boldly down through
the intervals separating the gunbosis, the
Queen of the West leading, the Monarch
, aoout hall mile aslerD. As they passed
the fotilla, now about three-qusrters OF q
mile from the enemy, turned their head:
down the river and followed, keeping up s
brisk cannonade; the flag ship Bsnto lead
ing. The nights above the city we're crowdeG
. by the citizens of Memphis, awaiting with
/ eager hope the result Of the fight. The ran
, attack was unexpected, and, by its sudden
ness and evident determination, produced
| some wavering in The Confederate line, which
had expected to do only with the sluggish anC
unwieldly guuboats. Into the confusion tn,
Queen dashed, striking the Lowell fairly anc
sinking her in deep water, where she wen
down out of sight. The Queen herself wa
Immediately rsmmed by the Beauregard anC
dis abled she was thea run upon the Arksn
sas shore opposite the city. Her commands
| received a pistol shot, which in the enc
caused his death. The Monarch following
was charged at the same time by the Beaure
gard and Price; these two boats, however
missed their mark and crashed together, thu
| Beauregard cutting the Price down TO th
water-line, and tearing off her port whesf
The Prince then followed the Queen, an'
laid herself up on the Arkansas shore. tn,
Monarch successfully rammed her late as
sailsnt, the Bsauregard, as she was dischsrg
+ ing her guns at the Benton, which repliet
with shot in the eyemy's toiler, blowin
her up and fatally scalding many of her PEG
ole. She went down near shore, being towe,
there by the Monarch. The Little Rebel i
the thickest of the fight got a shot throug
her steam-chest; whereupon che also mad
for the limbo on the Arkansas shore, wher
her officers and crew escaped.
The Confederates had lost four boats, tire
: OF them among the heaviest in their flee
The remaining four sought safety in ligh
from the now unequal contest, and q runnin
fight followed, which carried the feet TEL
miles down the river and resulted in the de
struction of the Thompson BY the shells c
the gunboats and the capture of the Brae
! and Sumpter. The Van Dorm alone mad
good her escape, though pursued some dis
lance by the Monarch and Switzerland, ar
other of the ram fleet which joined after tn
fight was decided This was the end OF tn
, Confederate River Defense Fleet, the six be
low having persisted when New Orleans fell
The Bragg, Price, Sumpter, and Little Rebe
: were taken into the Union fleet.
The city of Memphis surrendered the sam
day. The Benton and the hsg-officer, wit
S the greater part Of the feet, remained ther
, till June 29lh,