First Battle of Memphis

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.

MainTimelineWikipediaGalleryBibliographyTableSearchFiles

1862  Wikimedia, Wikidata
Battle of Memphis
naval battle, United States, Confederate States of America, United States, 

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Location: 35.1291, -90.1558, KML, Cluster Map, Maps,
6 places

Loading map...

• 

  ⓘ
  

1862-06-06T00:00:00Z

1862-06-06T00:00:00Z

1862 First Battle of Memphis

1864-08-21T00:00:00Z

1864-08-21T00:00:00Z

1864 Second Battle of Memphis

{"selectable":false,"showCurrentTime":false,"width":"100%","zoomMin":100000000000}

Frameless

Memphis-naval-battle

The Great Naval Battle Opposite the City of Memphis, June 6, 1862 - Alexander Simplot

Memphis h42367

Colonel Ellet's Ram Approaching the City of Memphis, Tennessee, to Demand its Surrender

Memphis I Battlefield Tennessee

3b15407u (17289550431)

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
event	armed conflict	1862	First Battle of Memphis	United States, Confederate States of America, naval battle	Wikidata
event	armed conflict	1864	Second Battle of Memphis	battle	Wikidata
site	fort		Fort Prudhomme	unincorporated community in the United States, fort	Wikidata
site	fort	1739	Fort Assumption	fort	Wikidata
site	fort	1795	Fort San Fernando De Las Barrancas	fort, human settlement	Wikidata
site	fort	1810	Fort Pickering	fort	Wikidata
commons	image		Memphis-naval-battle		Commons
commons	image		The Great Naval Battle Opposite the City of Memphis, June 6, 1862 - Alexander Simplot		Commons
commons	image		Memphis h42367		Commons
commons	image		Colonel Ellet's Ram Approaching the City of Memphis, Tennessee, to Demand its Surrender		Commons
commons	image		Memphis I Battlefield Tennessee		Commons
commons	image		3b15407u (17289550431)		Commons