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On June 7, 1862, a fleet of gun-boats steamed down the
Tennessee River, flanking our positions on the
Mississippi River, and a fleet moved down the
Mississippi, bombarded
Island No.10, reduced it, bombarded
Fort Pillow and reduced that fort, and then attacked
Memphis and took possession, after a manful resistance with an inadequate force.
After this disaster followed close the
siege of Vicksburg, which was repelled by the assistance of our ram, the
Arkansas, under
Captain J. N. Brown.
From the 15th to the 18th of June, the enemy endeavored to sink the
Arkansas with heavy shells from their mortars, and an attempt was made to cut her out from under the batteries; but it failed, with the loss of one of their boats.
On the 27th both Federal fleets retired, and the siege, which had lasted sixtyseven days, was ended.
Two powerful fleets had been foiled, and a land force of from 4,000 to 5,000 men held at bay. Then followed the
battle of Baton Rouge, and the destruction of the
Ram Arkansas to save her from the enemy, and their return to New Orleans defeated.
