Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-27
Correspondence Of St. Louis Republican,
FROM ISLAND NO-l0.

Rebels are Doing-Great Strength
Of the Position-A Great Victory
near Exertioas Of the Rebels to
obtain Victory-No. 10 their last
Stand Point between this and Mem
phis.
ISLAND No. 10, March 81.
Tomorrow will be q week since the
Union feet arrived and took up posi-
ton here. During that time this strong
hold has been taken by rumor, but not
by anything else. Congratulations
have been exchanged over the down.
fall of No. 10. but tonight it still
stands stabbornly in our way, and reb-
el 6res CLEAN thiekly from the Ken
tneky shore. The loud explosion of
Mortars, shrill whistle of bombs, and
night turned TO day by flames of gun
powder, tell the continuance of the
most stubborn action Of a hard fought
war.
Boubardisg day after day with no
response possesses a tinge Of nonotouy,
and the slight novelty yielded at frst
soon wears away. 1t is much like
Witnessing the trial Of guns. Seeing
bombs explode in air, and tracing their
course after night, is interesting bat
not exciting. unless two parties play at
the picturesque. So far. the Union
party have bombarded. and the rebels
generally remained silent, after the
second days firing. devoting their at
tention to any transports that happen
to get within range. Placing great
faith in the strength Of the position,
they are endeavoring to enIice, rather
provoke, the Federal feet to attack
them at close quarters. II expecting
to succeed in so doing. they will find
themselves sadly mistaken. Flag OFF,
Ger Foote'S movements will be cautious
and sure. At the present moment
much. more than ever before, depends
on the nsvy's success. Should the
feet by any misfortune or rashness, be
DESTROYED, Cairo, Columbus, and other
points, might fall into the enemy's
hands. Other considerations also pre-
vent, at the present moment, decisive
attack. 1t is not intended simply to
drive the enemy from their position,
but TO prevent them retreating to any
Other-to capture them in the manner
Of Fort Donelson. A little delay will
enable this to be done. Gen. Pope
holds the river. thus barring escape
BY that channel. But the enemy are
on the opposite shore, and could at
pleasure retreat BY land to any point
below New Madrid; and there embark.
Were Gen. Pope able to cross over,
this could be prevented, and the foe first
invested. then attacked, in the rear
Measures are beng taken which will
accomplish this, aud in less than three
DAYS the result Will be seen. If when
per fectly ready, il proves necessary to
engage and attempt to silence the bat
ieries, at close quarters, Flag Officer
Foote will not hesitate to do so. The
enemy's defeat is certain, and merely
a question Of time. A shattered feet
and hundreds killed would purchase
dearly the pleasure Of few days
EARLIER victory.
Some few indications exist that The
rebels, finding themselves again out
Titted, are preparing to aYoid capture
" fight. Teams continue to leave the
lamps loaded with articles and taking
road Southward. Last night we
counted eleven regiments out on pa
ade. They were marched across an
pen field, in full view of US, evidently |
N purpose to show off. An attempt
o appear numerous by the following
being burglipgly executed,
exposed the trick, and showed to what
traits the rebels are driven. The
roops were marched across an open
pot into a clump OF trees. They were
hen turned to the righ. down a hill,
nd when thinking themselves bid from
lew. the part of the column already
,ast, hurried back, and joined itself to
be rear, defled across again, causing
he few regiments to thus appear like q
arge army. This performance con-
inued for an hour, and might have
reated the desired impression, had not
be caps of the soldiers been visible as
hey passed a certain spot in hurrying
ack to the rear behind the hill. The
enius Of deception seem to have set
led lately in the Confederate camp,
nd instances where deceit is attempted
re revealed every hour. The princi-
al occurrance Of interest lately was an
Iarm last night that reused every one
nd brought each vessel to the spot
he two magazine boats-Grest West
rn and Torrence-are moved some
istance up stream on the Missouri
de, protected by the Conestoga.-
here has been some reason to expect
night attack upon these two vessels
Y the rebels. About ten o'clock Capt.
Iayndier and another officer went on
lore, when a guard challenged them.
hey answered, but the sentinel not
caring the report fred. The alarm
Istantly spread. and all who had mus
cts on the two magazine boats dis |
larged them into the bushes. The e
sssePs lines were also cut loose, and
Iree loads Of grape and canister sent
ON the Conestoga's guns. whistling a
nong the trees, Capt. Blodgett sup II
,sing the two vessels bad been attack c
|. Fortunately no one was injured, .