MEMPHIS, TN
\mˈɛmfɪs], \mˈɛmfɪs], \m_ˈɛ_m_f_ɪ_s]\
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was laid out as a village in 1820 and incorporated in 1831. During the Civil War it was early held by the Confederates with a fleet of eight vessels under Commodore Montgomery. It was rendered defenceless and captured by the Federals June 6, 1862. Commodore Davis left Fort Pillow June 4, with nine Union vessels, and proceeded at once to Memphis, before which the Confederate fleet lay. An attack upon these ships was immediately begun. Four ram-boats under the Union commander, Ellet, joined Davis and did much toward destroying the Confederate fleet. Several of the Confederate ships had their boilers shot through and their crews scalded to death. Their fleet was utterly demolished. During 1870-80 the city was ravaged by yellow fever.
By John Franklin Jameson