, 1862-02-11

E94 FOUNDER, smooth.
E-&l Founder. smooth /
G-MasaziEc.
u-Thfee 6-pounder field pieces.
Carmicbael's and Nolan's cavalry companies,
and Schwartz S and Duncan's batteries. These
were commanded by Gen. McClernand.
The troops being landed, the steamers inl-
1nediatc1y disappeared down the river, to bring
up Gen. Smiths Division, consisting Of the
t'tA Illinois, Col. 4 Mcrsey; 12th Illinois,
Col. John Macarthur; A0th Illinois, Col. s. G.
Hicks; 41st Illinois, Col s. q. Pugh; 18th In
diana, Col Lew; Wallace; sd Indiana, Col.
W. L. sanderson; sth Missouri, Col Ii. L.
Smith; Hopkins's, Wizards, and Buelps bat
teries; Illinois Cavalry; Thielnan's Cavalry,
and two companies OF the 18th Cavalry Of reg
ulare
In addition, was a portion Of Gen Painc's
command--the It'll Illinois, Col. John Cook;
2sth Illinois, Col a. 4. johnson; 11th Hi
nois, Col. n. HI. Wallace: Goth Illinois, Col
c. C. Marsh; 22nd Illinois, Col Dougherty;
the 7th Illinois Cavalry, and two companies Of
the First Cavalry, and Taylor's and Houghtcl-
ing's batteries.
Aportion Of these troops came from Smith
land, Probably our list is imperfect, rs it is
ono Of the hardest things in the world to keep
correctly Ios.ed !7po: The composition Of ar
army, especially when they are drawn from
different points
The whole force numbered about twenty
thousand.
While the steamers were down the river,
4c4 41,u T.
Sex, proceeded up the river upon rcconnois-
sancc. They went within mile and q half Of
the fort, and threw several shells into the en-
trenclmcnts, which elected reply-just
what was wanted from a24pound rided gun,
which WAS admirably aimed, sending shot
through one corner Of the top works Of the
Esscx-the cabin which Captain Porter had
constructed outside the Essex, merely for the
convenience of himself and officers, and
which, as lie informed me Il few days since,
'1e expected would be bloWed to thunder if
they vent into flght.''
Meanwhile also land reconnaissance was
made Oh tie east side, and the rebel pickets
encountered. 4 few shots were fired and the
pickcts driven in By our cavalry. One man
was Killed and onewoundcd On our side.
The next morning the forces from Paducah
and smitl1and arrived and we're landed on the
west side near Pine Bluff to operate against
the 1r1an. During the night, however, there
was severe thunder storm and heavy rain,
which made it anything but comfortable for
our troops, aud Which made the ground al
most impossible It also raised the river to
| IN unusual height, flooding all the low roads.
filling tlc river with driftwood and raising tile
creeks, which, while it made the Notifications
stronger against an attack By land, enabled
Commodore Foota to pass up the shallow side
OF the Island and keep out Of range OF the
| r:ncd guns till hc Was near enough to open.
The plan Of attack was for the fleet to open
/ 1T half past twelve O'Clock. Gen. Grant was
to move ut an earlier hour and get in rear Of
tEv camp, TO cut off al communication with
| Dover. Commodore Footc assured the Gene
raj that The ball would open precisely at that
hour. He also expressed his fears that the
troops would be behind On account Of the bad
roats, and added, "General, shall have the
Fort i'll my possession before yon get into
Your position" The General told him to 60
ahead- He started the columns, Gen McC1cr-
uand's up the eastern bank, and Gen. Smiths
| mp the western, himself remaining at the land
in. to direct operations from that point. The
| forces Of tic enemy were yariously estimated
from eight to twelve thousand. 4 small por-
ton Of their force WAS ut the redan-tlc
largest number being On the eastern side,
but not MI within the fort. Several regiments
were posted on the road leading to Dover:
at ten and a half O'Clock, Thursday fore
noon, Commodore Foots gave the signal from
his flagship to get under way. He had presi.
ously given Ills Instructions to the officers and
men. He determined to fight only with his
how guns, and to come to close quarters. HI
believed that the gnnboats would stand II
quite as long Us the earthworks. His inten
tions were to keep slow steam, to take de1ib
cratc aim, to fire slow, and to kacp cool! H,
told lis men that one shot that was delber
ately aimed was more effectual than tn.
badly aimed. He did not want them to vast
ammunition, but to drop every shot where i
would tell; for by firing slow they wou1
not heat the guns, and by keeping cool the
| would have perfect confidence till the rebe
fng should give place to the Stars and Stripes
| He told them that he intended to take the fol-
!, OF 60 to the bottom!
> The gunboats were as follows:
; Cincinnati, dag shIp,} Capt. T. n. Stombel, !
, | guns.
a Essex, Commander Il: D. Porter, 18 guns.
e Coneetoea, Lieut.. Phelps, guns.
t Lexington, Lieut. j. ". Short, guns.
Taylor, I1ept. ". Gwin, grns
+ The Cincinnati, st. Louis and Garondel
G arcnew boats, iron plated at the bows vii