Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-24
Our Army Corresponds ncc-froin the
uisssssippi River.
On BOARD STEANER SHINGLES.

nav be- the Captain is a clever man. and presides
over fast boat BY permission from tie Naval
Commandant at Cairo, Mr. Holloway and myself
were allowed TO take a room on the Shingles, and
run down with her to the feet wherever that
might be found.
We left Cairo at p NJ, and at o'clock the
present writing have just passed Hickman a dis
lance Of forty miles, against a strong head wind,
that sends the waves in spray clear over the
cabin. The river is very high and rising. The
rise is from both the Ohio and the upper Msss-
sippi and IL is feared il will make against the OPP
erations Of the land forces below. Yesterday
morning, as passed up. there was quite little
bank visible at Columbus. and now the water is
over the streets and lots OF the town. The stu
alton of this whilom stronghold is. presume. ia.
miliar to your readers. II is a semi circular bot
tom, containing four or five hundred acres, skirt
ell by hills or bluffs, with the river sweeping its
front. The Notifications Oh these hills very
extensive ana very strOng-seemIugly impregna-
BILE to any force that could be brought against
them. They are well planned. The only de
feet is in the water batteries. They entirely
unprotected, and hence would have been, as
Beauregard is said to have pronounced them
complete slaughter pens ii immense NOR
tars had got range on them. 1t is thought the
works will be kept up--the water batteries com
peel and the place made depot for the heavy
guns and ordnance stores captured and to be
taken on the river.
AT TIPToNvILLE.
We passed New Madrid about dusk. Three
steamers with horses and stores were still there
Ii was dark and raining when We reached Tip
tonville. A regular New Madrid thunder and
lightning earthquake storm was brewing. The
orders of the Captain were to run directly
to the fleet, but to keep out i'm the stream
in such storm as was raging would be
certain destruction to the craft, ard the
Captain determined TO Law up until the fury Of
the storm Was passed. Gen. Stacks brigade in
which the 47th Indiana regiment, en-.
camped about "A mile below. and we determined
to visit them Getting ashore in such hurri-
matter of some danger and difficulty
and cropping our way through the horses and
teams OF large body OF cavalry, no less
difficult; but guided by tie vivid lightning which
lit up the entire encampment every few moments
We contriyed to get through without kick or
scratch. We found Gen. Slack still up with his
aids Lieutenants Defart and Daily. making him
self master of his situation, receiving reports
from scouts &c While the rain fell i'm torrents
on the canvas covering, and the thunder rOared
il only below in this region. and the light
ming flashed blindngly, passed very pleas
ant hour with our Indiana friends. By the way,
the Indiana troops in the Mississippi division of
the army are badly clad. The State is anxious
to supply them, but red tape is somewhere at
fault. Let it be cut at once, and not have
poor boys, as | have often seen them, searching
Tor old coffee sacks in which TO wrap their feet
for want OF shoes when ordered at night to the
trenches.
DOWN THE RIVER.
BY midnight the storm had blowed itself out.
ana one of those dull hot. foggy Gains peculiar
To this region had succeeded IL. The Captain
solved to take the chances and run anyhow, as he
L
large mail for the fleet. Itwas dangerous bust
ness the pilots said The fog was 50 thick that
the green trees of the shore were not visible ut
over one hundred feet, and then very indistiuctly
The bends had to be guessed IT, but the pilots
were familiar with the river and calculated the
distance made, working out the situation OF the
craft in the same manner that marines do when
an Observation Is not to be had.
At daylight were met by steamer with
peremptory order from General Pope to put
back The reply was that the "Shingiss" be
lOnged To the Navy, and received orders from the
Commodore only. In an hour more we were in
the midst of General Pope's transports Just above
Plum Point bend. They were all afl0at and such
a rapid succession of shrill whistles as our arri-
val created was never heard before. It was like
turning fresh h0g in a pen OF old p0tkers.
Every fellow had grunt at Us. and could
only see their black smoke slowly winding up and
see our smoke it completely mystifed Us. Pres
emily the signal from the 1ag boat Was heard TO
report. We ran close up, and General Pope aud
Assistant Secretary of War, Colonel Scott, with
other dignitarleS, became visible OH the after
guard OF the Perry" They wanted to know
what the devil we doing there. Told them,
and inquired where Commodore FoOte was to be
found and was told he had not changed his pO-
sition since the shingles left him Some one
- L IL
told that portion MAS bound up the Ten
nessee.
THE FLAG SHIP.
While rounding Florence Island and making
for the Tennessee shore the mist lifted. 50 that
the low black OF the Benton" dis
tinctly visible, Flag Officers signal TO round to
and report was heard. A tug came along side
tie "Shngiss' was ordered 10 lay 70 and await
order>, anu IN a few moments were on board
OF the dag snip. Her iron clad deck was scrupu-
i0usly clean and order rci.ned above and below
The finest cambria handkerchief mi ght ~ eep her
un-deck without being stained, and the crew
grouped about cheerful without being noisy, and
III pointof cleanliness presentlble in any society
While my friends were engaged With the Com
modore IN his cabin. | was suffered 10 inspect the
ship aud had All my questions, politely ausw cred.
l regret now that did not also send IN my card,
for our party concur IN representing Flag Officer
EOOtc A. al tbfe anu acrceabie-a gentleman rs
well A. a hero. and ia this many thousands will
agree with me that he differs from some of our
fresh hedged Generals whose mushroom honors
have made them 50 booriSh that it Will take years
at evil lie hereafter Is make them decent pets
IN society.
THE BoMBARnNENT.
Col Fitch, who commands the advanced brig
AIDE OF the army here, accompanied by his brother.
LeRoy Fitch, OF the navy, came on board 70
confer with the Commodore just We we're
about leaving the Benton. An invitation 10 an
early dinner on board of the ordnance ship and a
promise tbat Ne should accompany reconnois-
s,tnce ct the rebe. batteries induced u u defer
cur return TO the Shingles aud accompany
them.
For two DAYS the big guns on both sides have
been sallei.ly silent The rebels only stir them
selves when our folks wake them up, and this
vas one OF the GAYS appointed to pitch a few
Shells into Their nest The defenses are At the
first Chckasa~ bluffs on the / ennessee shore.
On all maps that ] have seen II i called Fort
Randolph. and Fort Pillow i placed below The
rser Just above the blutl make one Of those
abrupt bends 50 common on the Mississp pi-the
Arkansas shore running out like promoutorv
the iall timber OF which hides the bluff From the
middle of the river above nothing appears vary
the mOnotony OF numoerleSs similar scenes ex-
cept tie appearance of slight elevation beyond
II. -