IN THE DISTANCE : “ PRICE,” " LITTLE REBEL,” " QUEEN OF THE WEST,” AND " MONARCH.” UNION GUN-BOAT8.

" VAN DORN ” " JEFF. THOMPSON.” "BRAGG.” "SUMTER.” "BEAUREGARD” (SINKING 1 . "LOVELL” (SUNK).

THE BATTLE OF MEMPHIS, JUNE 6 , 1862 (LOOKING NORTH). RETREAT OF THE CONFEDERATE FLEET. AFTER A SKETCH BY REAR-ADMIRAL WALKE.

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ELLET AND HIS STEAM-RAMS AT MEMPHIS .

BY ALFRED \V. ELLET, BRIGADIER-GENERAL, U. S. V. |

O N the 8th of March, 1862, occurred the memorable catastrophe at Hamp-ton Roads. The possibility of such a disaster had been repeatedly urgedin warning terms by a gentleman who had vainly endeavored to avert it. Irefer to the late eminent civil engineer, Charles Ellet, Jr., the inventor of thesteam-ram as a vehicle of war destruction. On the 6th of February, 1862,Mr. Ellet wrote in a pamphlet as follows:

“ It is not generally known that the rebels now have five steam-rams nearly ready for use. Ofthese five, two are on the lower Mississippi, two are at Mobile, and one is at Norfolk . Thelast of the live, the one at Norfolk, is doubtless the most formidable, being the United States steam-frigate Merrimac, which has been so strengthened that, in the opinion of the rebels, itmay be used as a ram. But we have not yet a single vessel at sea, nor, so far as I know, incourse of construction, able to cope at all with a well-built ram. If the Merrimac is permittedto escape from Elizabeth River, she will be almost certain to commit great depredations on ourarmed and unarmed vessels in Hampton Roads, and may even be expected to pass out underthe guns of Fortress Monroe and prey upon our commerce in Chesapeake Bay . Indeed, if thealterations have been skillfully made, and she succeeds in getting to sea, she will not only be aterrible scourge to our commerce, but may prove also to be a most dangerous visitor to ourblockading squadrons off the harbors of the southern coasts. I have attempted to call theattention of the Navy Department and the country so often to this subject during the last sevenyears, that I almost hesitate to allude to it again ; and I would not do so here but that I thinkthe danger from these tremendous engines is very imminent but not at all appreciated. Experience,

| After the death of Colonel Ellet, the command of the ram-fleet was conferred upon the writer, byorder of the Secretary of War.— Editors.

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