The Battle of Memphis as We Saw It!
The View from the River's Edge
(or GameMaster's Slightly Warped Eye)
Battle was joined when the Federal ram
fleet - USS Switzerland, Queen of the West, & Monarch -- came into sight
of the
Confederate River Defense Fleet which proceeded to open fire.
Admiral Karl Markgraf, manning the right
of the Rebel line advanced with his squadron - CSS Sumter & Jeff Thompson
-- with
hopes of slipping past the flank of the rams. On the far left of his line,
Sub-Sub-Lieutenant Seth -- plowed ahead as well with the
CSS Bragg and Gen Price. His main hopes were to remain afloat and do as little
damage to his compatriots as possible!
The center of the Confederate line was
commanded by Captain Gaby and a newly appointed commander who I cannot name
- my apologies.
Their plan was to hold slightly back and try to entice the Union boats forward,
thus bringing about the hoped for envelopment.
The boats under these commanders were: CSS Little Rebel, Van Dorn, Lovell,
and Beauregard - two per squadron.
Manning the flotilla for the Union were Admiral Pottinger aboard
the USS Benton in the center, with Captains Checovich and Porter on the right
and
another un-named Captain - again, my apologies - on the left. Each Federal
commander controlled one of the rams as well as an Eads Gunboat.
Union plans were to attempt to exit one of the rams as well as a chaperoning
Gunboat past the Rebel fleet.
The Benton made its' presence known early on by nailing the Rebel
right flank early and often. With his huge Dahlgrens bellowing distruction
with every shot, Adm. Pottinger was earning his nickname of "Dead-eye"
in earnest!
In the Union center, Captain Checovich made an early probe towards
the Rebel line but was quickly foiled by a Confederate counter-thrust that
saw his
Ellet Ram, the Queen of the West, the target of a well-aimed ram by the feisty
Rebels. Weathering this early concussion was to be the lynch-pin
of what would be a slim Union victory!
Meanwhile on the Rebel's far left, S-S-Lt. Seth led with his
chin - er, Gen Bragg, and came a-cropper for his efforts.
Trying his best to show a stiff upper lip, the Bragg attempted to maneuver
into ramming position but got naught but a fusillade of
Union gunnery. This made a shambles of the poor Bragg and she was a wounded
(but plucky) duck for the rest of the battle.
On the Rebel right, Admiral Markgraf confronted the Union gunboat
(having missed the ram enroute) and saw the error of his ways.
Union gunnery being five times stronger than Rebel, it was but a matter of
time before it began striking home and carrying the day.
Both of the Confederate Admiral's boats were to become sadly aware of the
shortfall in gunnery as time wore on.
(more coming soon)