The national Republican., 1862-03-31
ISL.AN.D .v'U.MBER Ten.
THE BOMBiRDMENT OF MONDAY.

The Island No. 10 corre.p ,ndent Of the Chi
cago Tines writes rather desponding letter
We extract few paragraphs, which will show
the extensive scale upon which the siege is b.
ipg conducted.
THE STRENGTH, SKILL, AND sEcREsr, OF THE
REBELS.
Each day makes revelation Of added
strength TO the euemy,s works here; and the
industry shown by them In continually strength
enng their old batteries, and sdding new ones,
evinces their conception Of the Importance Of
this point, and the det rmination to make long
and desperate fight indeed, q at the gunboats
alone. without the cooperation Of land forces,
will be able 10 drive them from here Is, 10 say
the lesst, doubtful. So far we have obtained
no decided success, though shelling them con.
inuously for over week, and In fact we have
not succeeded in drawing the fre.from por-
ton Of their batteries, though Iur gunbosts aud
portion Of Colonel Buiord's command have
been temptngly exposed.
They are very cautious in showing MS the
exact location Of their cannon by firing them.
and thus giving us the range Perbap', to
economy OF ammunition is necessary. Joined
With an inclination 70 be foxy, anil induce us to
believe that we may safely venture farib r
dowu. But Com. Foote thinks too much Of bis
guuboats, and apprecia es too we'll the enor.
nous consequences that would attend their loss
| to venture with them upon ool.hardy expert.
| ments. His flotilla Is now not only the guard
| # the river proper. but Of Missouri. Ken;u XIV
| and Cairo, for we have above lslaud No II
10 army now that u!d Withstand q well dis
| ciplined and effective force Of 25 900 men, and
| It is precisely at this juno ute in the Southern
armies that ws rbould look for bold ard Gts
perate measures they are necessary 10 retrieve
filling cause and cheer disheartcred troops.
THE REBELS ILLUMINATE THE RIVER.
The anxiety to get boat down to Nes
Ma irid &C ems to be understood by the secesh
and they, bel " fearful of some of the tugs at
tempting q passage in the dark, have built st
night enormous fires At the head Of the islam
and assisted the Illumination with revolving
reflector, that ut intervals throws its rays en-
| tirely across the river, making the Kentucky
shore distinctly visible. 1t is n scene for pain.
| ter. Above, some two miles, are the low
black bull. Of our gunboais, SURF :undrd with
| their transports ard. at short intervals, send
ing an enoIm shell high up in the dsr kness
o strike In their f"rtif .a,ions, which lay firm
aud silent .dis,laining to reply. while at their
| very base runs the turbid and turbulent cur
| rent of the father of rivers S, strong is the
| light that occasionally the dim outline Of a
soldier can De seen gong around the nre Fht
/ island itself is almost submerged. and, being
covered near the banks with thick growth OF
| bushes, It SENS the covert at once Of secrecy
| aud danger.
vULNERABILITY OF OUR GUSBoArs.
The enormous guns which We well know tht
ssceth have there fred full upon our gunboa'i
| from the elevation which the bank Of the rivel
gives at this point, would no doubt disable ou
| floating forts, Us We should. In passing. b,
Obliged TO present our broadsidss and stern Il
heir aim, aud 1t may not be generally under
stood by your readers that these are the mos
vulnerable parts Of our iron clad western boats
the bow being intended always 70 face tn,
enemy, and therefore triply shielded.
| IMPERFECr KNowLEDGEtF ~ THE ENEMY's SCHEMES
| The tenscity with which they hold on her
proves how valuable time is TO them, and whel
driven from here II will doubtless be seen that
while fighting at Island No. 10, they have beel
busy ss beavers erecting stronger and NOR,
formidable Notifications at points lower down
Where these points are, we will only know
when we get to them, and, perhaps, as 10 thi
instance, shall be surprised that such naturs
facilities for defence should be overlooked
The 1900 miles OF river from St Louis to th
Gulf Is very imperiec,ly known to our general
and we are dealing with an enemy perlecll
acquainted with every winding, cape, and head
land.