The Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia CS
The Engagement on the Mississippi.
A Graphic Account.
[Our Army correspondent in the Southwest furnishes the subjoined account of the recent naval engagement before Memphis. It is the most complete and graphic narrative yet published, and while some of the leading facts were given in the statement copied into this papers few days ago, a variety of incident is here introduced that will well repay perusal.]

Hernando, Miss .,
Saturday, June 8, 1862.
The Stars and Stripes are floating over Memphis! The Federal now occupy the city, and Yankee rule is about to shed its beauties upon a people who through the trying scenes of the past twenty-four hours have proven themselves as loyal as any community in the Southern Confederacy. Fort Pillow was evacuated on Wednesday and Thursday, everything of value being removed and the troops transported down the river.

The Naval Battle.
On Thursday night the Federal fleet made its appearance five miles above the city, where its presence was signalled by a rocket from one of our scout boats, which was immediately chased, and burned to prevent capture. Our own fleet of rams, which had arrived only six hours previously, at once prepared for action, but the night passed without any demonstration. At early dawn the Federal advanced, steaming slowly down in the following order: First, a series of eight rams, then the heavy, black, iron-clad gunboats, and behind a swarm of transports, mortar boats, and tugs. Altogether, the number of the fleet was about thirty-five. Our own force consisted of the following rams, seven in number, and was under the command of Commodore Montgomery and his associate steamboat captains: Gen. Van-Dorn, Gen. Price, Gen. Bragg, Jeff. Thompson, Gen. Lovell, Gen. Beauregard, Sumter, and Little Rebel.
The flag ship of the Commodore was the Van-Dorn, but as she was on the present occasion loaded with over one hundred thousand pounds of powder, and other valuable stores, he transferred his flag to the Little Rebel, with instructions to the other to remain in the rear of his squadron and await his signal, when she was to make her way with all possible dispatch down the river to a place of safety.
Such were the immense odds against which our little fleet were about to contend--twenty boats to six, and eighty-four guns to fourteen, our rams, with the exception of the Jeff. Thompson which had four, having only two guns each. Public opinion may question the propriety of attempting resistance in view of such disadvantages, but the Commodore had no other resource. His fuel had given out, and notwithstanding his repeated applications he was enabled to secure only eight hundred barrels--enough to last his fleet about two hours. Had he drifted towards Vicksburg, the enemy would have pursued and captured him without a blow. Had he run, public sentiment would have written him down a coward. His only resource, therefore, was to fight or disgrace himself. He promptly determined upon the former. Calling a council of his officers, he imparted his views and received their hearty co-operation. At the same time it was unanimously agreed that no boat should be surrendered, and no flag struck; but, when disabled or surrounded, every craft was to be sunk, blown up, or set on fire. The sequel will show how firmly this heroic resolution was carried out, though not an officer or man went into the fight expecting to survive.
As soon as the Federal were discovered approaching, Com. Montgomery gave the signal-- ‘"prepare for action"’--and the little fleet moved up abreast of the city. Fire was first opened by the Jeff. Thompson, and several shots discharged without eliciting a response. Soon, however, the cannonade commenced from the Federal gunboats, and for an hour and thirty-five minutes continued without intermission, the Federal fleet never halting, and (with the exception of the rams) never changing its battle array. When opposite the city one of the Yankee rams made a bold dash at the Gen. Lovell as she was making a turn, and striking her amidships the latter sank on the Tennessee shore. Boats put off to rescue the survivors struggling in the water, when a whole broadside of grape and canister was fired from one of the gunboats, killing and maiming several as they swam. Yankee sharp-shooters, concealed behind bales of hay, also poured in a destructive fire, picking off the men wherever they were visible — a characteristic illustration of the baseness and cowardice which has from the beginning marked their side of this contest. Among those killed in this manner was Captain William Cable, of the Lovell.
The ram now made a dash for the Beauregard, but missing her; the latter sheered around, and, striking her antagonist, tore an immense hole in her side. She barely succeeded in reaching the Arkansas shore, when she sunk. Another ram now made for the Beauregard, when the latter, in conjunction with the Price, prepared to reciprocate.--The Federal being in the diagonal of the two, however, by a skillful manœuvre, managed to escape collision herself, and, the two Confederates coming together, the Price received a damaging blow, which also drove her ashore on the Arkansas side to prevent sinking. Meanwhile the fight was briskly going on between the other boats — our little fleet falling back, with their bows to the enemy, and firing as rapidly as their small armament would permit.
The Little Rebel, with her signal flags, now became the target of both rams and gunboats. Shot and shell fairly rained around and upon her, and no less than three attempts were made to run her down without success. Finally, a heavy 128 pound ball struck her at the water line and passed completely through her machinery. The pilot had barely time to head her for the shore, when a Yankee gunboat laid alongside and poured a broadside into her, which, to use the expression of one of the men, ‘"blew her bottom out."’ At the same time the sharp-shooters did their fearful work, and eight or ten men fell pierced with bullets. Six or seven were drowned.

Remarkable Escape.
Com. Montgomery and Capt. Fowler took to the water, and swimming ashore, escaped in the swamps of Arkansas. Both these officers, I have since learned, endured untold torments. For thirty hours they alternately swam and waded through the deep sloughs, a prey to mosquitoes, insects, and the cold of the night, which was intolerable. Soon they became separated, and the Commodore was discovered by three Federal pickets. They had discharged their guns at him as he was swimming a swamp, all of which fortunately missed their object. As he landed, they demanded his surrender. ‘"Certainly,"’ said he, at the same time thrusting his sword through the body of one of the men. His revolver being wet, would not go off, but he drew it on the remaining two, when they took to their heels and disappeared. The Commodore then made his way to a point some miles below, where he met a couple of gentlemen, one of whom took him on his horse and carried him to a crossing on the river. He then succeeded in reaching the Tennessee shore, and arrived at this place. He is now safe at Grenada. Capt. Fowler also came upon the Yankee pickets, but was undiscovered by them, though for two hours he lay concealed in the bushes within thirty feet of the rascals. I have since met him, but he is scarcely recognizable, from the mosquito bites which cover his person, wherever exposed, from head to foot.
I should here remark that previous to the engagement the Federal Commander had taken the precaution to land three or four regiments on the Arkansas shore, who stretched their lines for a distance of four miles or more below the city.

Close of the engagement.
The fight was now a thoroughly one-sided affair. Our gunboats were all more or less disabled. The Beauregard was in a sinking condition, and had been run ashore; the Bragg and Sumter were maintaining an unequal contest; the Jeff. Thompson had been blown up by the officers, and the Van-Dorn, with her valuable cargo, was flying down the river towards Vicksburg. A few moments more and the battle was ended. The Bragg and Sumter were run ashore and set on fire, but before the work of destruction could be completed, they had fallen into the hands of the Federal pursuers. The fire was extinguished; those of the crew who could not escape were captured, and the Federal fleet slowly returned to the city and dropped anchor.
The unequal battle was witnessed by thousands upon the bluff, many of whom were women and children, and, though no one expected a victory, many a heartfelt prayer went up from that throng for the safety of the gallant officers and men. Our loss in killed and drowned may be thirty or forty. The enemy claim in prisoners about one hundred.