been promoted to the command of this prize by Com. Davis, for gallant and meritorious service. The tug Spitfire saved one rebel tug, while the tug Terror took charge of the Little Rebel.

The Beauregard was sunk early in the action by the Queen of the West. The wheel and one side was knocked off the Price by the Monarch. The Benton put three shots through her heavy One of the rebel gunboats, after burning to iron casemates, cotton and timber. She is sunk, the water's edge, blew up. Her boilers and a complete wreck. An eighty-four-pound shot magazines exploded. It was a terrific spectacle. was fired into the Jeff. Thompson's boiler. It Fragments of the wreck were blown a distance exploded, when she burned, and was finally blown of a mile. One of our gunboats passing at the to atoms. The Sumter and Bragg were captured, time she went off, fortunately escaped uninjured. and surrendered to the Benton. The name of the None of our gunboats, seamen or officers, sus-flag-ship that escaped is the John C. Breckinridge, tained the least injury during the engagement. and not Van Dorn, as reported elsewhere. We captured from eighty to one hundred prisoners from the rebel fleet. Their loss of life is over one hundred and fifty by drowning, scalding to death, and being shot by the ram sharp-shooters. We observed a number of poor men from the rebel gunboats, who were scalded, drowning. They shouted lustily for help, when small boats were lowered, and a number rescued. We have nine or ten prisoners scalded.

We regret to learn that Col. Ellett, commanding the rams, was wounded by a splinter. He was on the Queen of the West when she received a shot from a rebel gunboat. We have heard of no others injured in his command.

As our fleet passed Memphis, a gang of three hundred of Jeff. Thompson's men, under his personal command, fired on our gunboat men from the shore, without effect, however. He then made his escape by railway, for Grenada, Mississippi.

Thousands of men, women, and children lined the Memphis wharf and bluffs, as our fleet passed down fighting the rebel gunboats. There was a tremendous cheering from a portion of the populace when they saw that we were victorious.

The hull of a new and large steamer, building on the ways, together with the tug Queen of Memphis, were fired and burning, as our gunboats passed the ways, at Fort Pickering. There is a strong Union feeling in Memphis, yet the rebels are very rabid. They shouted for Jeff Davis, and used other obnoxious language.

The following note, addressed "to any Federal Lincolnite," was found on the desk of the telegraph office:

"I leave this office to any Lincolnite successor, and will state that, although you can whip us on the water, if you will come out on land we'll whip you like hell. "OPERATOR."

(Signed)

addition to the gunboat and ram fleet, five steam-
Col. Fitch has a strong infantry force here. In
ers lying at the wharf are also Federal prizes.
reigns in Memphis, under the protection of the
This is glory enough for one day. Order now
Federal flag.
In haste,

C. D. M.

MEMPHIS APPEAL" ACCOUNT.

Memphis has fallen. But it is a source of pride to us, in this our first issue from another theatre of operations, to record the fact, that she fell honorably, and with her "flag nailed to the mast-head." For months the city has been the object of Federal hopes and aspirations, not only because of its important position with reference to the Mississippi valley, but because it was believed that there existed among its people a Union sentiment which would extend and give tone to the community of the entire State. At last they have succeeded in attaining their object. Their gunboats now swarm before her portals; the Stars and Stripes are now flaunting from her public edifices; her streets are guarded with Federal soldiery, and a Federal commander has usurped the powers which belong to her municipal rulers. Yet not one voice, to our knowledge, has been raised in behalf of the new administration-not one heart has throbbed in sympathy with the invader.

The city council met at three P.M., when the Mayor made a formal surrender of the city to Com. Davis and Col. Fitch. The Council, at the suggestion of the Mayor, tendered two hundred policemen to assist in the preservation of order, and closing of all coffee-houses and bars. There was only one confederate flag flying over Mem- In order to convey to our readers a comprephis. It was on a staff in front of the Commer-hensive account of the surrender, we should obcial Hotel, where the last Star-Spangled Banner, serve that the evacuation of Forts Pillow and made and presented by Mrs. Anna Crandall, Randolph had taken place two days before. All floated to the breeze thirteen months ago. The reign of terror is now over in Memphis. Our flag now waves over the city in tranquillity and triumph.

Master G. W. Reed, of the Benton, delivered the last letter from Com. Davis' and Col. Fitch, to the Mayor.

During the forenoon, while the battle was raging, the office of the Memphis Appeal was removed to Grenada, Miss., by railroad. Jeff. Thompson and his men escaped in the same direction, by rail,

of the ammunition, stores, and many of the guns had been brought away. Yet, so quietly was this done, that notwithstanding the close proximity of the enemy, they were not aware of the fact until the last man was miles away from the position, en route for Memphis, and the last dollar's worth of confederate property either removed or rendered valueless.

Thursday morning found the troops all in Memphis, about to depart for another sphere of action. Thursday night the Federal fleet followed close upon their footsteps, and anchored five

house, which so disabled her as to make it necessary to run her ashore to prevent her from sinking, and the crew from drowning.

miles above the city with steam up. At the same time seven Federal regiments were landed and marched down from Mound City to Hopefield, and deployed on the Arkansas shore to the distance The Federal ram Monarch made directly for of four miles below the city. At nine o'clock on the confederate fleet, and passed down rapidly. Thursday evening the scout-boats of Com. Mont-The Beauregard and the Price now made for the gomery notified him of the presence of the Federals, by sending up rockets, which was the sign agreed upon, when a signal-gun was discharged from the flag-ship. Contrary to public expecta. tion the enemy did not advance during the night, but at early dawn they were discovered slowly rounding the point behind which they had lain concealed. They formed in line of battle at the foot of the island above the city.

The confederate fleet consisted of the following boats: General Van Dorn, (flag-ship,) General Price, General Bragg, Jeff. Thompson, General | Lovell, General Beauregard, Sumter, and Little Rebel, all rams, and was under the command of Com. Montgomery. Owing to the fact that the Van Dorn had on board over two hundred thousand dollars' worth of public property-a part of which was one hundred thousand pounds of powder-the flag of the Commodore had been transferred to the Little Rebel. Each of these boats carried an armament of two guns, with the exception of the Jeff. Thompson, which had four. The instructions given in by the Commodore to the captains, were that they should fight as long as their coal lasted, or until they were disabled, when they were to sink, burn, or blow up their respective crafts, rather than allow them to fall into the hands of the enemy.

Monarch, all three coming rapidly together, but, unfortunately, the blow aimed by the Beaure gard at the Monarch missed its object, and struck the Price on the wheel-house, which was entirely torn off, and from which injuries she subsequently sank in shoal-water on the Arkansas side. Her hull is still visible.

Soon after these collisions had taken place, it was discovered that the General Lovell had been struck by a shot, which disabled her machinery. She was then headed for the Tennessee shore, but before reaching the same she was struck by a ram, and instantly sunk in deep water about two hundred yards from shore, at the foot of Huling street. While the Lovell was sinking, several boats, manned by non-combatants, left the shore to aid the crew who were struggling in the water, when, with a brutality characteristic of Yankee conduct during the war, two broadsides were fired at them from two of the passing gunboats of the enemy. Among the killed, by the sharp-shooters, of the crew of the Lovell, was Capt. William Cabell, the pilot, who received a shot through the head and died instantly. Another boat, the Little Rebel, was disabled about this time by a ball, when a Federal gunboat ran alongside, and depressing her guns, poured in a broadside below her guards, which, to use the

bottom out." Most of those on board escaped by swimming ashore, Com. Montgomery being among the number. His escape was made after an encounter with three Yankee pickets, who demanded his surrender as he was nearing the shore. In the fray we have every reason to think somebody was hurt.

The Federal gunboats consisted of the follow-language of one of her crew, "fairly blew her ing: the gunboat Benton, (flag-ship of Commodore Davis,) Captain Phelps commanding; she mounts fourteen guns; gunboat St. Louis, Capt. McGanegle, thirteen guns; gunboat Mound City, Captain A. W. Kelley, thirteen guns; gunboat Louisville, Captain Dove, thirteen guns; gunboat Cairo, Captain thirteen guns; gunboat Carondelet, Captain Walke, thirteen guns; three mortar-boats, and twenty rams and transports, including the Monarch, Queen of the West, Lancaster No. Three, John H. Dickey, Henry Von Phul, Cheeseman, and others, the whole fleet numbering forty-two. This overwhelming force advanced, as near as we can describe it, with several of their rams in front, their iron-clad gunboats in the centre, two and three abreast, and their mortar-boats and transports bringing up their rear.

The fight was commenced by the confederate ram Jeff. Thompson, which fired several shots, to which no reply was made. Soon after, however, the firing became general, and for three quarters of an hour the booming of the heavy artillery was incessant, the Federal fleet firmly advancing and our own little fleet slowly retiring. During this cannonade an attempt was made by a Yankee ram, the Lancaster Number Three, to run into the Beauregard; but, by a skilful manœuvre, the latter eluded the shock, and in turn dashed into her Federal antagonist, striking

Here the narrative of the fight_terminates. The Jeff. Thompson, Beauregard, Sumter, and Bragg were respectively disabled, run ashore, or set on fire, their Crews meanwhile escaping to the woods. The Jeff. Thompson is blown up, the Beauregard sunk near the shore, her upper-works remaining above the surface. The Sumter and Bragg were the only boats that could be brought off, and these were subsequently anchored in front of the city, with the odious flag of the invaders flying at their mast-heads.

Finding that the Van Dorn, after a long pursuit, could not be overhauled, a portion of the Federal fleet returned to a position in front of the city, when a boat, bearing a white flag, ap proached the levee and landed an officer and three men, who at once proceeded to the Mayor's office, and presented the following demand for the surrender of the city:

U. S. FLAG-STEAMER BENTON,
OFF MEMPHIS, June 6, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to request that you will

her a tremendas blow just forward of her wheel-surrender the city of Memphis to the authorities

of the United States, which I have the honor to
represent.

I am, Mr. Mayor, with high respect, your most
obedient servant,
C. H. DAVIS,
Flag-Officer Commanding, etc.
To his Honor the Mayor of the City of Memphis.
Mayor Park replied as follows:

MAYOR'S OFFICE, MEMPHIS, June 5, 1862.
C. H. Davis, Flag-Officer Commanding, etc.:
SIR: Your note of this date is received and
contents noted. In reply, I have to say, that the
civil authorities have no means of defence; by
the force of circumstances it is in your hands.
Respectfully,
JOHN PARK,

Mayor.

After a consultation between the commander of the Federal land forces and the Mayor, the city was placed under the control of a strong guard of Federal troops. During a walk through the streets after midnight Friday night, we passed several of the patrolling parties. Everything was quiet, and but few persons were seen upon the streets. During the afternoon succeeding the battle, the business houses were all closed. The people kept aloof from the enemy, and they were not interfered with until a squad was sent to remove the confederate flag from the mast on Front row. This the crowd refused to permit to be done, when two companies were landed from one of the transports and marched to the spot. After surrounding the pole, and a dispute of sev The first of the public buildings visited by the eral hours, during which a collision was several small squad that came ashore was the post-office, times imminent; it was cut down amidst the exover which the Federal flag was raised. In pass-ecrations of those present against their invaders, ing through the streets no disturbance occurred, and vociferous huzzas for the Confederacy, Jeff but the crowd at every corner gave the most un- Davis, etc. mistakable signs of their hostility to the government whose ensign was about to be thrown out. It was reported that one pistol-shot was fired at the men on the post-office engaged in raising the flag, but we were unable to obtain any authentication of the rumor. Groans and hisses greeted the enemy's banner, and the spirit of the populace was so strongly manifested, that it was thought advisable by the Federal officers to place a guard around the flag, which was done.

During the afternoon Mayor Park received a second communication from Čom. Davis announcing that he had placed the city under military authority, and that he would be pleased to have his cooperation. We subjoin the correspondence:

}

U. S. FLAG-STEAMER BENTON, OFF MEMPHIS, June 6, 1862. SIR: The undersigned, commanding the military and naval forces in front of Memphis, have the honor to say to the Mayor of the city, that Col. Fitch, commanding the Indiana brigade, will take military possession of the city immediately. Col. Fitch will be happy to receive the cooperation of his Honor the Mayor, and the city authorities, in maintaining peace and good order; and to this end he will be pleased to confer with his Honor at the military headquarters, at three o'clock this afternoon.

The undersigned have the honor to be, with high respect, your most obedient servants,

C. H. DAVIS,
Flag-Officer Commanding Afloat.
G. N. FITCH,
Colonel Commanding Indiana Brigade.

To his Honor the Mayor of the City of Memphis.

REPLY.

To Flag-Officer C. H. Davis and Col. G. N.
Fitch:

GENERALS: Your communication is received,
and I shall be happy to cooperate with the Col-
onel Commanding in providing measures for
maintaining peace and good order in the city.
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN PARK,

Mayor.

That the fleet of the enemy was vastly superior to ours, not only in the number of vessels, but also in the weight of ordnance, was well known before it was determined to give battle. Why this conclusion was arrived at, will be explained by the report of Commodore Montgomery, and until that document appears we decline all comment. Our men commenced the fight gallantly, and prosecuted it bravely. No censure can attach to their conduct, which was witnessed by thousands who had congregated upon the bluff. Our loss of men will not, we believe, exceed fifty in killed and wounded, and one hundred prisoners. On the boats captured and destroyed, there was but a small quantity of stores and munitions, and everything in the city of value to the government had been removed. Beyond the mere fact of obtaining possession of the position, the victory of the enemy was a barren one. They have only learned of the existence of a condition of things which we are proud to record of the Bluff Citynamely, that her citizens remained loyal to the confederate cause, and that none of that Union spirit which has so long been charged as existing among her people was manifested. The city is conquered, but her people are not crushed, or converted to Lincolnism-neither have they lost a particle of hope in the ultimate success of the South. They almost unanimously pledged themselves to the cause at the ballot-box a year ago, and they remain true to the pledge, even under the great adversity that has overtaken them. To their honor be it recorded!

Doc. 61.

OPERATIONS OF A REBEL GUNBOAT.

THE following is the report of Captain Fry to
Major-General Hindman, detailing his operations
on the White River from May twenty-second to
June sixth.

C. S. GUNBOAT MAUREPAS,
DES ARC, ABK., June 6.
GENERAL: I arrived at this place on the twen-

ty-second ultimo, with a crew of less than ten men, exclusive of my firemen and coal-passers. It was absolutely necessary, if I proposed doing anything besides frightening the enemy, that I should have the coöperation of a land force, which, despite all my efforts, I was unable to obtain. One or two companies of cavalry would have sufficed if I could get no more; but the first colonel I could hear from concluded I was under his command, and ordered me to stay where I was until further orders. This order, of course, I disregarded; as, according to my judgment, no man under the rank of a Brigadier-General can possibly form a correct judgment of the contingencies governing the movements of a gunboat.

Having armed a few citizens, I proceeded with them to act as sharp-shooters up the river to Jacksonport. At Grand Glaze some two hundred of the enemy's cavalry preceded us ten minutes. The turns of the White River resemble a bow-knot, and cavalry, and even infantry, by cutting across points could keep ahead of us; and in ambuscade, could have killed every man on board of us. We, however, never saw the enemy till we got near Jacksonport, which place had been evacuated in part in anticipation of our arrival with a large land force. The enemy (Ninth Illinois cavalry) retreated in time across Black River. I fired about ten shots into the woods in the direction of their flight.

The gentlemen who volunteered their services to me rendered efficient assistance in rolling out and burning the cotton. My crew destroyed the sugar. The river had fallen so that we rubbed hard in getting up, and was falling so rapidly that I had not a moment to spare. I barely saved the boat as it was, and had to leave unburned about nine hundred bales. These were housed, and our party had determined to burn the house containing them, but on the representation of a person who came to me and said that it would burn the town, I prevented it. I learned subsequently that it might have been destroyed without risk to the city.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, FORTRESS MONROE, VA., June 6, 1862. Major-General John E. Wool, Fortress Monroe, Virginia.

SIR: I have the honor to report that I left Hampton Roads about three o'clock A.M., on the morning of the second inst., in charge of the privateersmen, prisoners of war-eighty-five in number-and five men, taken from merchant vessels while attempting to run the blockade, on board the steamer Massachusetts for City Point, Va., where in accordance with your instructions, I was to endeavor to effect the release of our officers held as hostages by the rebels, by delivering their privateersmen within their lines on parole.

I communicated with the enemy about two o'clock P.M., of the second, sending your letterenclosing a list of the prisoners-to Major-General Huger, to whom I also sent a letter informing him of my presence there with the prisoners, and my readiness to release them upon the condition mentioned in your letter. To this letter, I received a reply from the Headquarters, Department of the Appomattox, at Petersburgh, in which I was informed that at ten o'clock A.M., of the third inst., an officer would be sent to "receive the paroled prisoners, and with such instructions relating to them as the government imposed." The citizens, in their enthusiasm, got some of Accordingly, during the afternoon, Major Ash, my men drunk, and my citizens in some instan- aid-de-camp of Major-General Huger, came to reces left off work to plunder. One got the Pro-ceive the prisoners, in case I saw fit to turn them vost-Marshal's trunk, containing his commission, over to him, or to await the reply of the “govuniform, and some papers. I have the original ernment," which would be delivered to me at ten book containing the oath of allegiance exacted o'clock A.M., the next day, June fourth. I acfrom the citizens as the price of their being at knowledged the receipt of this, and added that liberty and exempt from plunder. my instructions would not permit me to act unless the exchange was simultaneous.

About five o'clock P.M., June fourth, I received a letter stating that there was some misunderstanding as to the extent of General Huger's promise in his letter of May third, which could only be settled by conference, and time must be allowed for that.

A man named Peoples rides a fine horse, goes heavily armed, and pilots Federal scouts on foraging expeditions. At his nod one is spared and another sacrificed. His house was close to the Federal camp. I stopped at his place, burnt the house, corn-crib, etc., considering it important as a retaliatory measure. I have taken prisoners several persons who have voluntarily taken I replied to this by inquiring whether they the oath of allegiance, arrested suspicious persons, would confer with me on this business, or with and caused the arrest of a traitor spy named whom and when. I waited for a reply to this Lewis Smith, who has served in our army, and until five o'clock of the fifth, having, at three was greatly trusted. I have the Federal vouch-o'clock, gone ashore, and left a letter with a

picket, to be forwarded to Petersburgh, informing discovered a portion of the enemy's forces enGeneral Huger that, having already waited twen- camped in the timber. ty-four hours for a reply to my communication, I would return to Fortress Monroe, and that any communication on the subject of the exchange would be forwarded by the navy. I then returned to this place, reaching here about eight o'clock A.M., to-day. Owing to the fog the boat could not run last night.