THE WESTERN FLOTILLA.

449

guard duty. This engagement was sharp, but not decisive. From the first tothe last shot fired by the Carondelet, one hour and ten minutes elapsed. Afterthe battle, long-range firing was kept up until the evacuation of Fort Pillow.

On the 25th seven of Colonel Ellet’s rams arrived,—a useful acquisition toour fleet. During the afternoon of June 4th heavy clouds of smoke wereobserved rising from Fort Pillow, followed by explosions, which continuedthrough the night; the last of which, much greater than the others, lit upthe heavens and the Chickasaw bluffs with a brilliant light, and convincedus that this was the parting salute of the Confederates before leaving for thelower Mississippi . At dawn next morning the fleet was all astir to take pos-session of Fort Pillow, the flag-steamer leading. We found the casemates,magazines, and breastworks blown to atoms.

On our way to Memphis the enemy’s steamer Sovereign was intercepted byone of our tugs. She was run ashore by her crew, who attempted to blowher up, but were foiled in their purpose by a boy of sixteen whom the enemyhad pressed into service, who, after the abandonment of the vessel, took theextra weights from the safety-valves, opened the fire-doors and flue-caps,and put water on the fires, and, having procured a sheet, signaled the tug,which came up and took possession. It may be proper to say that on ourway down the river we respected private property, and did not assail ormolest any except those who were in arms against us.

The morning of the 6th of June we fought the battle of Memphis, whichlasted one hour and ten minutes. It was begun by an attack upon our fleet bythe enemy, whose vessels were in double line of battle opposite the city. Wewere then ah a distance of a mile and a half or two miles above the city. Theirfire continued for a quarter of an hour, when the attack was promptly met by

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FORT BILLOW ARD THE WATER-BATTERY. AFTER A SKETCH BY REAR-ADMIRAL WALKE

VOL. I. 29