The National tribune., 1904-09-29

fastened to the top. The regiment pro-
ceeded to cut down the flag pole as we were
leaving to recross the river. About this time
(perhaps about two hours from the time
we had first landed at Memphis). some of
Davis's vessels were arriving abreast of
the city and soon their boats were in the
water.
In the history Of this affair as it ap-
pears in the official correspondence of Col.
Elicit, it will be seen that the demand for
the surrender of the city would be brought
by his son. At the time it was written no
vessel of his own feet was within hailing
distance, and he had no subordinate mill
and presume he intended to send his son,
with few soldiers, in yawl to demand
the surrender, but my arrival on the scene
with the Lioness changed his plans in part.
Col. Ellett's subsequent report of this
matter fav0rably mentions the gallant con-
His final report was in an unfinished con-
dition at his death, which occurred few
days later from the wounds he received in
that memorable action, in which impartial
history will accord him the most conspic-
u0us place.
This chapter of history was read at the
Reunion of the Marine Brigade in Buffalo.
Another account of the same affair was
read by Comrade James A. Lions, who
was also on the ram Lioness at the cap
ture of Memphis. He thys tells the story !:
after Col. Elicit had ordered Lieut.. Gran
dali to obtain the surrender of the city,
in obeying that command we at once made
for the landing at Memphis, and when we
got to the Levee there must have been
5000 or 1000 people-principally women
there, some of whom were standing in
the water, perhaps foot deep. right where
the boat touched the shore. The Captain
ordered the line TO be taken out, but the
crowd was so great that the man could
scarcely get there. He ordered me to dis
Ellett's son, one soldier by the name of
Mcdonald, and another, Cyrus Lathr0D
When they had been gone perhaps 80 min
utes. Capt. Throdes and / were standing
| together, and we saw a man. q large. fat
man, come running down the street with
dressed in light Summer clothes. and looked
as though he weighed $50 or 300 pounds
1t was the Mayor of Memphis. He worked
his way through the crowd and came up to
the boat and said:
Captain, the officers that you have sent
up there are on top of the Custom House,
and there is a mob around, and am afraid
they will mob Them
| ''The Captain said: You go back, and il
you have not guns enough. gather up your
citizens and give them clubs and dsperse
the crowd. and if my men are not back
here in 20 minutes we'll blow your city
of the earth
THE Mayor ran back up the street, and
in 20 minutes after that we saw Lieut.
Crandall coming down the street and i'm
mediately after went back with his men,
under arms, and soon returned with his
men and some rebel flags trailing in the
dust, and the Stars and Stripes fiyiny.
They had hoisted the American flag over
the Custom House. About the time OF
Mayor Parks returning up town a maya
zine boat exploded below the town. We
looked down in that direction, and could
see the timbers flying in all directions"
The city OF Memphis surrendered TO the
officials OF the Ram Fleet and not to the
officials of the navy. The navy boats had
drifted and run on down in the fight. and
did not get back to make a landing at the
Levee at Memphis until about two hours
after the surrender had been made to Col
Elicit. 1t was reported to Commodore
Davis that the American flag was ALREADY
flying over the Custom House and the CITY
was ours. but it seems that he then sent
another demand. The naval authorities al.
ways claimed that Memphis SURRENDERED
to them: but, the above are the literal fact
as to that event. just as I saw them from
the deck Of the Lioness. on which l was al
that time serving as shin Carpenter.