1862 June 8 opposite Memphis

NATIONAL TELEGRAPH LINES
                         TO
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis
             Chicago, New Orleans,
            AND ALL INTERMEDIATE PLACES
OFFICE, NO. 105 SOUTH THIRD STREET, BELOW CHESNUT ST.
                 PHILADELHIA

Opposite Memphis 6th

Dated    via Cairo June 8   1862
To        Mrs Col Davenport
                 1207 Walnut St

My dear aunt.
                                I wish
you to let my dear
mother know that though I
was disabled by a gun
or pistol shot in the
naval engagement off Memphis this
morning it seems only to
be a flesh wound above
the knee I sank one
of the two (2) Rebel gunboats
I engaged & Alfred sank
two (2) & took another so
that we have her in
possession--Alfred behaved most
gallantly & is unhurt  I wish
William Wainwright to provide for
my wife to reach me
here or at Cairo if
I should go there--
                              Chas Ellet Jr
94/384  pd

Charles Ellet, Jr., noted engineer and Union colonel in command of the Queen of the West in the battle for Memphis.
Alfred Washington Ellet,  1820-1895, his brother, commanded the United States Ram Fleet.


MSS 276