The New York herald., 1862-04-15

orces were located very peculiar and wonders
by any engineers, ether civil military Especially
does one SOC its advantages az tho present time u
nood when Il Is 90 completely shut out from oonmun'ca
tion with the surrounding country. Commencing at q
point about mile and half above the point OF the
island the high land Which extends back to the south
east TO Reeoo lake, distance OF about four miles.
Reeoot lake extends along the OF tho peninsula
some fifteen miles in length. and terminates In swamp
which extends TO the river below nptonyillo This
swamp varies In width from one ana hall To eight
miles, its narrowest place being ut point Tour miles
from Tptonvile where General Paine had stationed his
men on Monday, and where the rebels had prepared
corduroy road and bridge by which TO escape from
their position, The land between Reclfoot and the
river T. high but level while in the, rear.
after crossing the swamp and lake 1T Is rolling The dis
tance across from No 10 70 Tptonvle is only about six
miles, while by river circuit Of thirty miles has to
DC made via New Madrid watson's and Point Pleasant
BITS Morrwether's landing Is mile ana nali ABOVE
Tltonvile. Commencing at the river, quarter Of a
mile above Mrs. Merriwsther's house, is u deep cut
State o Tsnnesses ID os shs pSrrose Of sSorssuns
the channel oil the river but the State OF Missouri bring
ing an action OF nunctisn in the Supreme Court was
abandoned The road from Mrs. Merriweher'S W No
10 through this cut along its entire distance
which the rebels ted toward Rseuoot. swamp 10 DO
sure The ne high banks along the river Afforded grand
save the garrison from total annihhton, for in
low water the swamp Ii utterly impassabe. But they
had evidently counted upon the chances OF being at
tackled in favorable season and whipping at their
ieisure and had given no thoughts our running the
blockade, forfyng the Missouri going in steam
FAIR UNION sYNsArazKR.
On my way from Tptonvlle tQthe island, this after
noon. took occasion to stop aS MRS Merriwsthers.
found tho old lady surrounded By hcr famy-whe and
backoct at the fence by the rivers side, auxiously
watching the soldiers As they passed, and the two gun.
boats they hoated lsziy il the opposite. Mrs.
NJ, who il woman Of dfty, and. OF very pleasing sd
dress and manners entered spirited conversation,
in which the younger members OF the party joined,
had young 'secesh cavalier, seemed disposed TO eo-
vats their nasal ths odor from blue
uniform was dsagreeabe. say each Of the young Ia
dies had cavalier; bus am mistaken, for noticed one
Miss Of perhaps seveneen buxom laughing aud lovely.
who seemed delighted that tho federal troops had come
among them The rebel officers and young ladies ap
peared anxious to ascertain where going to
start down tho river to attack Fort Pillow but my little
laughing friend kept from afording thcm the coveted
information by putting hcr dainty little white finger TO
her lips, betokening need Of caution and motonng
with her eyes and head toward two three OF the party
tina, she had evidently not much confidence in. asked
the old lady if there any Union people living in the
vicinity but sho was a know nothing.
The little monitor, however, replied
''Why, sir, all Union folk here but sisters, aud
they would be il It wasn't for;heir secesh beaux.
whsreupon the Sisters old lady and rebel officers gave
her look which betokened anything but pleasure or
good will
You that West Tennessee is the hotbed Of
secession in the State and expected to find that every
man and woman was thoroughly imbued with the heresy
But how agreeably was disappointed when, in social
converse with many OF the inhabitants, found them
almost ersay in favor OF suspsnsion OF hosttios
and general convention OF the States to rearrauge tho
be of wealth and standing, il they would be willing
to como back into the Union and live under the present
constitution, and the answer invariably was, eyes"
The negro population however, all along seemed to be
the most deeply interested and confidently looked for
ward TO the time whom their enthrament should
Il was NO unusual thing to see the free and
dars who had recently taken up their abode with the
Union army in converse with their sable brethren and
the result ID that the masters mourn the loss and
Northern ocers rejoice over the gain OF nnumcrabls
cooks and servants.
Arriving at No 1oI found more than space will allow
fx SiVfv asn0i al
batteries would have commanded the river had is
been Cor the fact that they spiked BY he dscom
hted aud surrendered rebels with ratail dies and the
Grapus and other robs gunboats laid sunk the
between the Island and Tennessee shore Great piles OF
provisions were stored upon the bank which the Copfe
derates in their haste to evacuae had failed to destroy
aud tents OF all descriptions, with camp
cuped the positions and places assigned to them At the
mencemeut OF the siege. The Hickman wharfboat which
tho rebels had stoen lay the inside Of the island laden
with forty thousand dollars worth Of stores OF all
Kinds and all in good order. Our own transports were
busy taking Of fthe abandoned property while our
troops engaged in securing trophies Of the victory
The next obstacle shall have to encounter in going
down tho river will be forts Pillow and Randolph 10
Gated the first and second Chckasaw Bluffs, eighty and
ninety five miles above Memphis These will fall, with
out doubt easily before tho combined attacks of
army and navy.
known that these the fort0cations which hsrsabot
considered impregnable by the rebel generals it
turns left flank and the base Of their opera
tions at Memphis open attack from three sides They
must necessarily now change tho whole plan Of their
campaign, viii gives u'a very great advantage Wh'
how shall mvve upon them time only can deyelops
but have all the appliances luslte 10 hasty
mont. The advance may be made Immediately, or we
may wait until we hear from the battle at CorintA.
We have learned several lessons by this capture which
will be of service TO US in future operations Fer in
stance know that the powder used by the rebels
inferior own and that but small part Of their
ammunition is fitted to their guns; that gunbosts
run their best batteries, and that their demofa
cation il complete
osecre any Of peace 10 BE- found in the eag.res
sodh odich frOetu osoaers sse for preectioa When
became known that the island and its conguities were
to be surrendered there was general desire to
such vauabes could by any possibility be made avail
able. For instance, about eleven O'Clock on Monday
night the De Soto went up the Benton with
flag OF truce bring officers to negotiate for the
render of tho island. Her captain, who part
owner, suggested TO some of the officers OF the fleet
that the rebel fleet OF transports and gnnboats would
be- destroyed and that he considered that his boat would
be in safer hands with the federal feet than she would
II sent back the sland. Consequently Commodore
Foote detained her and sent the rebel officers back ia
tug The DE Soto lies at the Missouri shore saic and
sound and her captain and delighted prisoners
at large board The De Soto is Of the largest
and finest river steamers and is valued at fifty thou
sand dollars when the Ohio Belle was being scutted,
her captain her loose from the Shore and she oated
down 10 New Madrid, where she lies. The Mars
destruction entrusted 10 her captain, who
sidered OF the saunchest Southern but he,
stead cutting her water pipes cut her and oated
her oil the Missouri shore where she now lies safe
and easy prize.
The following full list of the rebel lost and
TRANSPORT Prince, scuttled. $40 900
Transport Ohio Belle, saved ~ 900
Transport Red Rover saved ved............... III, 900
Steamer Yszoo sunk bar but will be raised 40 900
steamer De Soto, saved. 10000
steamer Mars saved. ................... 1000
steamer Admiral, saved. 10 900
steamer Winchester, burned 70, 1000
steamer Champion saved. 5000
steamer kananawha Valley sunk. .......... 5000
John s;,rnonds gunboat. sunk. 20,0O0
,;ram s. gunbOat sunk Observation-Disclosures. 20 900
Mohawk gunboat sunk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Is 900
Floating Battery. eight guns, saved. 80 900
Total. .s32s 900
OF which there destroyed. ............ 143 600
Total saved $is5, 900
To which may be added wharf boat and Stores 80 O0O
Making grand total Of property saved afoat S235 0OO
The following partial list OF the rebel regiments
captured
Fortietb Tennessee.
Forty rennssses.
EilLY nth TenneSsec.