her, eight of
them. They formed in two lines, in front of the city.

Nearest the city, in the front line, was the General Beauregard; next,
the Little Rebel; then the General Price and the Sumter. In the second
line, behind the Beauregard, was the General Lovell; behind the Little
Rebel was the Jeff Thompson; behind the General Price was the General
Bragg; and behind the Sumter was the Van Dorn.

These boats were armed as follows:--

General Beauregard, 4 guns
Little Rebel (flag-ship), 2
General Price, 4
Sumter, 3
General Lovell, 4
General Thompson, 4
General Bragg, 3
General Van Dorn, 4
--
Total, 28

The guns were nearly all rifled, and were of long range. They were
pivoted, and could be whirled in all directions. The boilers of the
boats were casemated and protected by iron plates, but the guns were
exposed.

[Illustration: NAVAL FIGHT AT MEMPHIS, June 6, 1862.

1 Federal Gunboats.
2,2 General Beauregard.
3,3 Little Rebel.
4,4 General Price.
5,5 Sumter.
6,6 General Lovell.
7,7 General Thompson.
8,8 General Bragg.
9,9 General Van Dorn.
Q Queen City.
M Monarch.]

The accompanying diagram will show you the position of both fleets at
the beginning and at the close of the engagement.

Slowly and steadily they came into line. The Little Rebel moved through
the fleet, and Commodore Montgomery issued his orders to each captain in
person.

The Benton and St. Louis dropped down towards the city, to protect the
tug. A signal brought us back, and the boats moved up-stream again, to
the original position.

There was another signal from the flag-ship, and then on board all the
boats there was a shrill whistle. It was the boatswain piping all hands
to quarters. The drummer beat his roll, and the marines seized their
muskets. The sailors threw open the ports, ran out the guns, brought up
shot and shells, stowed away furniture, took down rammers and sponges,
seized their handspikes, stripped off their coats, rolled up their
sleeves, loaded the cannon, and stood by their pieces. Cutlasses and
boarding-pikes were distributed. Last words were said. They waited for
orders.

"Let the men have their breakfasts," was