Along the river, the boys from Illinois observed chimneys standing alone and cheerless, the houses having been burned to the ground. It became an all-too-familiar sight.
Earlier in the summer, the national fleet had maneuvered down the river under the command of Commodore Charles Henry Davis. Early on the morning of June 6th , the fleet attacked the Confederate fleet lying in, front of Memphis. During the battle the river bluff was lined with spectators. The Union victory was convincing, as Davis either sunk or captured seven of the eight Confederate ships, while suffering damage to only one of his own.
By 11:00 a.m. the city surrendered, and two infantry regiments accompanying the national fleet went ashore and took possession. Nearly six months later the 130th Illinois Infantry was on its way to Memphis to perform provost duties in the city.
