THE WESTERN FLOTILLA.

45i

through her steam-chest), and our Queen of the West , all disabled, were runon the Arkansas shore opposite Memphis ; and the Monarch afterward raninto the Little Rebel just as our fleet was passing her in pursuit of theremainder of the enemy’s fleet, then retreating rapidly down the river. TheJeff. Thompson , below the point and opposite President’s Island, was the nextboat disabled by our shot. She was run ashore, burned, and blown up. TheConfederate ram Sumter was also disabled by our shell and captured. TheBragg soon after shared the same fate and was run ashore, where her officersabandoned her and disappeared in the forests of Arkansas . All the Con-federate rams which had been run on the Arkansas shore were captured.The Van Born , having a start, alone escaped down the river. The rams

“ CARONDELET.” “BENTON.” *' ST. LOUIS.” “CAIRO.” “ LOUISVILLE .” “QUEEN OF THE

IN THE DISTANCE CONFEDERATE FLEET ADVANCING. WEST.” 'MONARCH.”

• : .^3SP

THE BATTLE OF MEMPHIS (JUNE 6, 1862), LOOKING SOUTH. AFTER A DRAWING BY REAR-ADMIRAL WALKE.

Monarch and Sivitzerland were dispatched in pursuit of her and a few trans-ports, but returned without overtaking them, although they captured anothersteamer.

The scene at this battle was rendered most sublime by the desperate natureof the engagement and the momentous consequences that followed veryspeedily after the first attack. Thousands of people crowded the high bluffsoverlooking the river. The roar of the cannon and shell shook the houses onshore on either side for many miles. First wild yells, shrieks, and clamors,then loud, despaiiing murmurs, filled the affrighted city. The screaming,plunging shell crashed into the boats, blowing some of them and their crewsinto fragments, and the rams rushed upon each other like wild beasts in

& See paper on “ Ellet and his Steam-rams at Memphis, ” page 453.— Editors.