Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-04-17
FROM THE ADD REGIMENT
nii<ssial Correspondence OF the Belmon, Chronicle.
ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
CAMP New MADRID,

nii>sdal Correspondence OF the Belnon, Chronicle.
ARMY or H MISSISSIPPI,
CAMP New MADRID,
April I, 1862.
The Army Of the Mississippi is about to
move. The inactivity that has reigncd su-
preme here for the past week, and allowed
the rebels to hold undisputed possession of
Island No. 10 and the Kentucky shore, is
shout to be broken. The PopE has issued
his edict, and the first division ofthis army,
Of which we form a part, will, within the
next two hours, be on its way for the Ken
lucky shore. Warm work may come, as the
rebels have batteries planted all along the
shore to dispute our landing but zee niU
land, and once landed we will soon clear
out this Rhm-hande of Sccessiondon.
There has been considerable Of strategic
work done since we landed here. Unsus-
tanned by g~un-boats, unable to cross with
u transports, something had to be done
to procure them and after much labor we
have both, and are ready to move. The
~"Carondolet," Of Fort Henry and Fort
Donelson notoriety, during the unusual
darkness Of Friday night, and in the midst
Of q terrific storm, succeeded in running the
blockade at No. 10, without receiving a sin
gle shot from the batteries of the enemy,
although they opened upon her in a terrific
manner, and made use of all the means they
possessed to destroy her.
But this is not all hat has been accom-
plisbed, during what has been frequently
termed by the netospdpers the three weeks,
inactivity Of the army Of the Mississippi
The commander of this district, determined
not to be out done even by the obstacles Of
nature, went to work in earnest to change
the channel Of the Father of Waters, o,
make q new opening for transportation, and
has gloriously succeeded in getting a way
opened mp, through which a number of trans
ports have been brought down loaded with
war engines. This has been accomplished
by clearing out the bayou that comes int,
the river at this point, and cutting a cana
through from it to n bayou that enters til,
river above No. 10. This was a large un
dertaking, but has been successfully prosecu
ted and terminated; and We are now in the
possession Of the requisite transportation
70 place u on the other side Of the mudl,
scnter.
There has but little occurred hero since
my last. except what il above related bur
! think in a few days you will hear of start
ling events from tho Valley Of the Missis
sippi. While | write the almost incessanI
roar Of artillery is heard. The combatantl
are marshaling their hosts for the conflict
and the next electric flash that speeds I'll,
news to tho friends at home will no doub
cheer the hearts Of the lovers of liberty b,
the soul inspiring announcement of a UNIo,
VICTORY but at what price that Unto,
victory WILDE purchased, God only knows
Many q brave man, many a noble hero, ma
bite tho dust, and leave on aching void f
the hearts Of loved ones at home, that owe,
the news of victory will not DO able to clos
up, or tho reflection that they have falle
In Q glorious cause entirely heal. But
will not harrow up the feelings of the abser
unnecessarily, and will leave to the futur
tho task Of relating the effects of tho cor
test that can now only be imagined. And
beside, there may be no contest. Tho onem
has left far better positions than they hol
here without a struggle, and they may d
thssamo here.
Yesterday the Carondolet, under charg
Of Gen. Stanley, accompanied by several Off
GERS, among them Col. Smith, made ON OK
eursiop tor observation down tho river som
sisht.er ten miles, and awoke the batterrie
OF the enemy all along tho other Shore
and thus found out their whereabouts
The boat was filed with sh~arpshooters, an,
would run in close TO their guns and driy
the rebels away from them. Tho trim
said to have been q very exciting rs we
~ sAtisfactory excursion, and the knowledg
derived from IL will DO Of immense value /
a to-day.
Tho men composing Company d a,
s~"e"y "on,- mono seriously sick; and I'll
same can be said Of Company A.
Blythe way, We have understood IN,
young Fireman, in a letter published in n
ln~tsiiigenoer, stated that two men in m
Company ran away the day Of the batile
Nov Madrid. I have not sson the pane,
bss u he has made such . statement, Il n
base, malicious he, without the lease sau,
dstion, Is the two persons named vera AZ,
stantly at their posts during the wholo do
although they occupied q very danpero,
spd much exposed position, having be.
plssed - guard over the knapsacks Al
blankets Of the men. that were laid of
~ commencement Of the engagement,
4 position completely exposed TO tho fire
~ enemy and the rebels taking them