First Battle of Memphis

First Battle of Memphis
Part of American Civil War
Battle of the Rams by A. R. Waud
Date June 6, 1862 (1862-06-06) Location Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Charles H. Davis Charles Ellet, Jr. †	James E. Montgomery M. Jeff Thompson
Units involved
Benton Louisville Carondelet Cairo St. Louis Ram Queen of the West Ram Monarch Ram Lancaster Ram Switzerland	CSS General Beauregard CSS General Bragg CSS General Sterling Price CSS General Earl Van Dorn CSS General M. Jeff Thompson CSS Colonel Lovell CSS General Sumter CSS Little Rebel
Strength
5 ironclads 4 rams	8 rams
Casualties and losses
1 ram disabled 1 mortally wounded	7 rams destroyed or captured approx. 100 killed or wounded approx. 150 captured

The First Battle of Memphis was a naval battle fought on the Mississippi River immediately north of the city of Memphis, Tennessee on June 6, 1862, during the American Civil War. The engagement was witnessed by many of the citizens of Memphis. It resulted in a crushing defeat for the Confederate forces, and marked the virtual eradication of a Confederate naval presence on the river. Despite the lopsided outcome, the Union Army failed to grasp its strategic significance. Its primary historical importance is that it was the last time civilians with no prior military experience were permitted to command ships in combat. As such, it is a milestone in the development of professionalism in the United States Navy.^[1]