From Corinth to Stone Fiver 137

some courage, under whose separate command theyhad been somewhat oddly placed. From Fort Pil-low this strong armada hastened downstream toMemphis , which the fall of Corinth had alreadymade untenable, but which the Confederate Com-modore Montgomery had too chivalrously deter-mined not to abandon without fighting to the death.Against Davis’s five gunboats and Ellet’s fourrams he could bring eight gunboats, some of themarmed with beaks; and on the 6th of Naval tattleJune, at six o’clock in the morning, of Memphis ,under the high bluff crowded with anxious citizensgathered in the blazing sunshine to watch the scene,he advanced to the trial of arms, which was short,sharp, and final. At half past seven the specta-tors dispersed to their homes, the men mutteringcurses, the women in tears. Of their eight gun-boats three were captured, three were sunk, andone was blown up; only one had escaped. Oneof the Federal ships was seriously injured, and twoor three men were wounded, but not a man onthat side was killed. Memphis surrendered thatday, and thus the Mississippi was opened as fardown as Vicksburg .

After his capture of New Orleans , Farragut hadproceeded up the river, receiving the surrender ofBaton Rouge , the capital of Louisiana , and othertowns ; but on the 18th of May his progress had