Starting on March 3, garrison commander Brig. Gen. McCown, defended New Madrid and Island No. 10 from a siege by the Union's Army of the Mississippi under command of Brig. Gen John Pope. McCown was promoted to Major General on March 10, 1862, and ordered the evacuation of positions at New Madrid to Island No 10. on the evening of March 13 after several days of siege. McCown was criticized for abandoning arms and supplies in a hasty withdraw from positions at New Madrid. Amid the criticism, McCown was accused of drunkenness and was replaced by William W. Mackall during the Battle of Island Number Ten. However, McCown was later vindicated by an April 4 letter from Henry S. Foote's son Henry S. Foote Jr. that attributed the rumors circulated because of McCown's brother "who I'm told drinks freely" and because of jealousy at McCown's recent promotion. Foote called his son's letter a "patriotic act" in "these days of general fault finding and vulgar crimination".&lt;ref name="Crist/Dix/Williams"&gt;&lt;/ref&gt; Following the surrender of the Confederate garrisons after the battle, he commanded the 2nd Division of the Army of the West from April until June 20, when he assumed overall command of the Army of the West.