The remainder of the Confederate squadron now turned and fled for safety, but the shells from the government flotilla were too swift for them. The _Thompson_ was sunk, and the _Bragg_ and _Sumter_ surrendered. Only the _Van Dorn_ escaped. On the whole, this was the most interesting day in the history of the flotilla. The fight was soon over (Memphis was in the hands of the flotilla at 11 o’clock), but the Confederates fought with the greatest gallantry until four of their ships were destroyed. The chief feature of the fight, from a naval point of view, was the destructive work of the rams, for therein one may find a foreshadowing of what shall come to pass if ever two modern squadrons are arrayed in battle. Three ships were rammed out of the conflict within fifteen or twenty minutes; the actual time does not appear. It was the first fight of steam rams in the history of the world. [Illustration: _Carondelet._ _Benton._ _St. Louis._ _Lovell._ _Cairo._ _Bragg._ _Louisville._ _Van Dorn._ The Battle of Memphis--First Position. _From a painting by Admiral Walke._] [Illustration: _Sumter._ _Beauregard._ _Louisville._ _Benton._ _St. Louis._ _Carondelet._ _Cairo._ After the Battle of Memphis. _From a painting by Admiral Walke._] While the flagship remained at Memphis until June 29th, the river was practically opened as far as Vicksburg by this fight. An expedition to coöperate with the army was sent up the White River in Arkansas, where, at Charles City, a combined attack was made by the gunboats and an Indiana regiment under Colonel Fitch, on the Confederate works. The _Mound City_ was leading the gunboats, and had arrived within 600 yards of the Confederate fort, when a shell entered her casemate, killing three men and bursting her boiler. Of 175 officers and men on board, but three officers and twenty-two men escaped unhurt from the frightful blast. Eighty-two died of wounds and the scalding, and forty-three were drowned or shot in the water when they jumped overboard to escape the steam, for the Confederates continued firing at her crew when they were swimming away from her. The other gunboats continued battle until Fitch was ready to make an assault from the rear, when they ceased firing, and Fitch carried the works by storm. The Confederate commander was Capt. Joseph Fry, who was captured and executed by the Spaniards in the _Virginius_ expedition, of which he was the leader. On June 29th Flag Officer Davis steamed down the river from Memphis, and early on the morning of July 1, 1862, came upon a government fleet lying just above Vicksburg, under the command of Admiral Farragut. The story of Farragut’s journey from the Gulf of Mexico to this point will be told in the next chapter. [Illustration: _Van Dorn._ _Jeff. Thompson._ _Bragg._ _Sumter._ _Louisville._ _Cairo._ _Carondelet._ Battle of Memphis--The Confederates Retreating. _From a painting by Admiral Walke._] CHAPTER XII