First Battle of Memphis
Mississippi River at Memphis, Tennessee, USA
What happened
A Union river fleet under Charles H. Davis and Charles Ellet Jr. fought the Confederate River Defense Fleet under James E. Montgomery and M. Jeff Thompson. Confederate troops had already left Memphis. The Confederate ships could not get enough coal to escape, so their captains chose to fight the Union boats on the river just north of the city. In less than two hours, nearly all the Confederate ships were destroyed or captured.
Why it matters
Memphis surrendered by noon that day and stayed under Union control for the rest of the war. With the Confederate navy almost gone from this part of the river, the Mississippi was open down to Vicksburg.
What came next
Ellet's ram boats became the Mississippi Marine Brigade, and four captured Confederate ships were repaired and added to the Union fleet.
Did you know?
It was the last time civilians with no military experience were allowed to command ships in combat.
Timeline
- Jun 1861Tennessee leaves the Union and Memphis becomes a Confederate stronghold.
- Early Jun 1862Confederate troops abandon Memphis.
- 6 Jun 1862Battle of Memphis; the city surrenders by noon.