, 1862-04-08
DOWN THE RIXER.
eAttAN1RY OF THE cARoHpElET.


THE SITUATION ON FRIDAY.
Especial Correspondence Chicago T1ibunc.J
Os BaARD STEAMER Y. F. WILSON, OFF,
ISLAND No. 10, April Sd, 1862
At ten o'clock yesterday morning the Ben
ton changed her position for the first time in
ssyerl days, By crossing to the Missouri shore
short distance above the point The location
Of the feet, commencing with the point and
stretching up the river for 2 distance Of three
or fuu1 mlles, was Is follows: Two mortars
at the apc1 Of the point, the sunboats Mound
City, Pittsburgh, Benton, Carondelet, the
Swallow, used as a anlaeksmith*s shop, trans
ports Brown and Wisconsin No. ?, nine mor-
tars not in use, the stoteshfp Dickey, steamers
Alps, Hanalit and Wilson, the coal bargcs,
ammunition boat Great Western, and the
transports Watson, Graham, Memphis and
Silver Wave, used for the accommodation Of
the land forces. Upon the opposite side Of
the river, the ammunition boat florence, the
gunboat Conestuga, Transport Keystone, and
gunboats Cincinnal and st. Louls.
Our troops are cncamped upon dry rise OF
ground three or four miles up the river, and
are leading a lazy life OF it, with The exception
Of detached companies who come down to the
point daily to do picket duty. The enemy
industrionGy fire at our pickets, but thus far
without oceasioningg any damage. The health
oi the troops and the feet thus far is good.
But few arc on the sick list. Diarrhea and bill
cueness are the prevailing complaints.
The rivcr is falling very rapidly, and dry
land Is agufn appearing whore only day OF
two ago all was water. The drilt~wood has al
most entirely disappeared and the current has
materially abatea its force.
This {Friday) morning as write furious
thunder storm is raging. Everything IS cloudy
| and gloomy. The boats are idly beating
| against the shore, the gunboats are stationary
| the mortars in their old tracks, firing about
| once N hour.
| BOAT PULL AROUND THE ISLAND.
On Friday afternoon, reconno altering part!
set out from the point in skif, and atartet
for the Island. On their way they stopped a
t The steamer Winchester, and set it a1irc. Be
fore the flames broke out, they had pulIes
down nearly to the foot Of the Island. tn
bursting out Of the 1anes arrested The atten
ton If Tie rebels on the main shore from ou
voyagers, and they made nearly the entire cir
cult Of the Island without being observed
| The tents were still standing upon the head Q
the Island, and the guns in the battery Wet
still in position, bnt net human head wa
| seen-
Tie floating battery had departed, whethe
! to the bottom Of the fiTer OF down TO
New Madrid, is unknown. Its sudden disaE
pearznce is owing to the severe punishment
received On Thursday afternoon.
|, The result Of the Reconnaissance wss yer
| Important one in many respects, and was tn
prelude to 4 step the most important OF IN
taken since the bombardment three week
! | ago. While we have been YEARLY waiting Il
the attack during these three weeks, and tn
feet have apparently been idle, many deeds {
personal bravery have occurred The who
, | Of that tino has been occupied in daring r
coonoissances and aets Of personal Ga
/ }antry, which shine the more conspicuous
f in contrast with the inactivity Of the Hcc
= Our pickets, although exposed TO dai
: ! fl,c from the Island and main shore, have e.
b ! tended their1iDes below the foot OF the Islam
| dodgiDg grape and canister and escaping u
harmed. Our transports have on several o
i casions, in the discharge Of their dnties, II
below tic point, exposed tossthc fire Of the
cny. Col. Roberts, previous to his gala
{ striking expedition, made several personal I
r conuo1ssauces Of the Kentucky battery alol
ina skif1, by padding through the overdo
, urder cover Of the willows which skirt Il
S shore, and upon several occasions went with
!, two hundred yards Of the battery. The ms
> tar men hare rowed several times in slsi
8 within pistol shot Of the Island to watch
, | effect Of the shells.