Jeff.  Thompson and his Predictions.—­A Cry of Indignation.—­Memphis Humiliated.—­The Journalists in the Battle.—­The Surrender.—­A Fine Point of Law and Honor.—­Going on Shore.—­An Enraged Secessionist.—­A Dangerous Enterprise.—­Memphis and her Antecedents.—­Her Loyalty.—­An Amusing Incident.—­How the Natives learned of the Capture of Fort Donelson.—­The Last Ditch.—­A Farmer-Abolitionist.—­Disloyalty among the Women.—­“Blessings in Disguise.”—­An American Mark Tapley.

The somewhat widely (though not favorably) known Rebel chieftain, Jeff.  Thompson, was in Memphis on the day of the battle, and boasted of the easy victory the Rebels would have over the National fleet.

“We will chaw them up in just an hour,” said Jeff., as the battle began.

“Are you sure of that?” asked a friend.

“Certainly I am; there is no doubt of it.”  Turning to a servant, he sent for his horse, in order, as he said, to be able to move about rapidly to the best points for witnessing the engagement.

In an hour and three minutes the battle was over.  Jeff, turned in his saddle, and bade his friend farewell, saying he had a note falling due that day at Holly Springs, and was going out to pay it.  The “chawing up” of our fleet was not referred to again.

As the Monarch struck the Lovell, sinking the latter in deep water, the crowd stood breathless.  As the crew of the sunken boat were floating helplessly in the strong current, and our own skiffs were putting off to aid them, there was hardly a word uttered through all that multitude.  As the Rebel boats, one after another, were sunk or captured, the sympathies of the spectators found vent in words.  When, at length, the last of the Rebel fleet disappeared, and the Union flotilla spread its flags in triumph, there went up an almost universal yell of indignation from that vast crowd.  Women tore their bonnets from their heads, and trampled them on the ground; men stamped and swore as only infuriated Rebels can, and called for all known misfortunes to settle upon the heads of their invaders.  The profanity was not entirely monopolized by the men.

This scene of confusion lasted for some time, and ended in anxiety to know what we would do next.  Some of the spectators turned away, and went, in sullen silence, to their homes.  Others remained, out of curiosity, to witness the end of the day’s work.  A few were secretly rejoicing at the result, but the time had not come when they could display their sympathies.  The crowd eagerly watched our fleet, and noted every motion of the various boats.