[letter of Charles Ellet, Jr., as transcribed and copied at a later date]
Opposite Memphis
June 6, 1862
My dear Daughter
Your Mother, if able, will probably leave for Cairo
or Memphis before you receive this. Still lying disabled here, I
want to tell you how much my pride has been excited by Charles’
gallant bearing to-day.
He was not in the fight–but asleep when I left our last
night’s post at day-light this morning–when I stepped on the Queen
to lead the way down the river. I was very sorry to find that he and
Eddie were not with me, knowing how much they would wish to be in the
advance.
I landed my temporary flagship just above the gun boats–half
a mile above Memphis. The Monarch, with your Uncle Alfred in chief
command, was tied just above us. Remaining there a few minutes, we
were surprised by shot from a rebel gun boat in the river opposite
Memphis which whistled over us. I motioned to your uncle to go into
the fight–commanded my boat to throw off the lines–which they
were every unwilling to do–cheered them on for a few moments rejoic-
ing at the chance before us–pushed out against the urgent represen-
tations of Captain and pilots–who assured me we were lost–going in
so between two fires etc. I drove them on–dashed in between two of
our own gun boats and went at the rebels–Alfred following. I
struck my steamer fairly, and she sank in a few minutes; but her con-
sort came right into me, and disable, though she did not sink my
boat. Alfred next came into her and sank her to the bottom. He got
a blow also, but was uninjured, and was able to push on and cripple
two others so that they were disabled.
The rest of my fleet failed at the moment of trial. Indeed
I never counted on any boat but those on which I and Alfred commanded
in person.
I rec’d a pistol shot wound in my leg which disabled me.
This whole thing was done in sight of our gun boat fleet and
hundreds of people on the levee in Memphis.
Now for Charles. He came down in my steamer-the
Switzerland. Showed deep interest in my condition.
Immediately despatched him as the bearer of a flag of truce to
the military and civil authorities of Memphis–taking a lieutenant
and two men with him. He took a pistol in his belt–the only arms
in the party. They were surrounded on landing by a mixed throng who
with threats and violence conducted him to the Mayor–who was civil
and summoned the authorities. Charles laid my note before them
demanding that the flag of the country should be raised over the Post
Office and Custom House, as evidence that the city had returned under
the protection of the Constitution, and rec’d his reply.
The Mayor accompanied this party of 4 to the Post Office amid
a rude and angry crowd.
Charles entered. The doors were locked. He demanded tools
and forced them open. Ascended to the top of the building, and were
there fired on by pistols and stones. Charles stepped forward to
the edge of the roof and addressed the crowd in a most pertinent and
manly tone–some howling and some cheering.
He raised the flag and began to come down–where the crowd had
entered and refused to permit him to descend. One man drew a pistol
and proclaimed himself an officer of the Confederate army, and would
tear that flag down. Charles told him that if he advanced his foot to
the steps he would kill him. The ruffian quailed. The people came in
between and maintained the peace. Charles and his party remained in
the building a little while.
In the mean time citizens came over to tell me the state of the
facts, and I sent a request to Col. Fitch to send a force to protect
the party. In the meantime, however, quiet was restored–and my men
returned.
The whole bearing of the boy was manly in the extreme. A very
respectable gentleman came across the river to see me–and when I
expressed my apprehension and spoke of my son’s inexperience he re-
plied that he was bearing himself most nobly.
Charles says that on his return through the city the girls
came out and took his hand affectionately.
I enclose you a piece of cord from the wounded leg of my
pantaloons–for Nina–my darling little Nina.
My dear daughter you have no need to be ashamed of your kindred
to-day.
Your devoted Father
Charles Ellet Jr
MSS 276
