"The _General Lovell_ drew out from their line and steered straight for the _Queen_. Like two great monsters, the boats rushed at each other. We forgot to cheer; we heeded not the thunder of battle; we could only look at these two vessels rushing to what seemed certain destruction. "Even the excited cheering of the crowd on the bluffs grew silent. With tense nerves and white faces, they watched the two vessels. Coming as they were, it meant the destruction of both. Would not one swerve to avoid the coming blow? Still standing on the deck of his vessel, his eye fixed on his prey, Ellet drove the _Queen_ forward--not a hair's breadth would he swerve. "Just before the shock came, the _General Lovell_ swerved to try to avoid the coming blow--but too late. Full amidships the _Queen_ struck her, cutting her through like a great knife, and the vessel sank beneath the turbid waters of the river, all the crew not killed struggling in the water. "From the thousands on shore there came a mighty groan--a wail of agony which seemed to throb and quiver through the air, making itself felt even above the roar of the battle. "Now was our turn. The _Monarch_ struck the _General Price_ a glancing blow, not sinking her, but shaving off her starboard wheel; and she was out of the fight. "Before the _Queen_ could be disentangled from the wreck of the _General Lovell_, the _Beauregard_ and _Van Dorn_ both attacked her. Colonel Ellet fell with a ball through the knee; but as he lay on the deck, he continued to direct the fight.[9] [Footnote 9: Colonel Ellet died of his wounds.] "The _Monarch_ saw the danger which threatened the _Queen of the West_, and straight for the _Beauregard_ she went, crashing into that vessel's side, and putting her out of the conflict. "The Confederate fleet thought only of escape now. The battle drifted down the river, past the city. The gunboats joined in the chase, and but one Confederate vessel escaped. Those that had not been sunk or disabled were run on the shore on the Arkansas side and set on fire by their crews, before escaping into the swamp." "Carl," cried Lawrence, "I would have given ten years of my life to have seen that battle, and, like you, to have been a part of it." "Very little part I had," replied Carl, modestly, "except to fire a few shots when we were at close quarters. But after the fight--ach! Lawrence, that is something worth telling." "What was it, Carl?" "Toward the close of the fight, a white flag was run up in the city of Memphis. Colonel Ellet sent his son, a medical cadet, no older than yourself, Lawrence, to demand the surrender of the city. He chose three men, of whom I was one, to accompany him. "We rowed ashore in a small boat, and landed in the midst of a howling, excited mob of thousands.