, 1862-03-28
FROM ISLAND No. 10.
The Rebel Strength from a Rebel
Source.
lSpecial Dispatch to the Chicago Tsibune.}

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Ttibune.1
OFF ISLAND No. TO- March 26, 1862
Everything quiet to-day. Mortars are still
firing slowly. Prof Steiner made balloon
reconnaissance yesterday, but it was too hazY
for any effect. The upper battery is silenccd
and abandoned The enemy are constructing
new batteries on the foot Of the Island. The
middle battery fired once to-day at one Of our
transports.
Heavy firing was heard near New Madrid at
midnight Last night, and 4 tremendous explo-
sion, after which the firing ceased. A copy of
the Memphis Appeal Of date 25th Of March was
received last evening. It is barren of military
Intelligence, and made up Of extracts Of North
ern newspapers. a statement is made cdito-
rally that during the first four days OF bom-
bardment at Island No. 10 only one person,
and he citizen Of Memphis, was killed. The
Apptdl INDUCES in no comments and expresses
no opinions as to results.
CAIRO, March a.
a gentleman who arrived on the Conestoga
this morning with Intelligence from Island
No. 10, up to ? o'clock Wednesday afternoon
| reports as follows: Col Buford sent 4 force to
make reconnaissance Of the Kentucky shore
On Wednesday night, which succeeded in cap
turing six prisoners belonging to Tennessee
cavalry force. They report the strength Of
the enemy near Island No. 10 at fifteen thou
sand. Gen. Bragg is in command Fifteen
hundred reinforcements reached it, having
come from Humboldt to q point on the rail-
road only fifteen miles distant. Still larger
reinforcements were expected By the same
route Last night. Measures have been taken
to interrupt this means Of communication.
Capt. Stanford OF the mortar fleet succeeded
in landing several shells right into the bat
terics on the Island, after close reconnois-
sance in q skiG
Two shots were fred from theIsland batteries
Of our boats, but fell far short. The firing at
Point Pleasant on Wednesday morning lasted
an hour and ten minutes. It is supposed that
one Of the rebel gunboats, in attempting to
pass up the riyer, was exploded. The float
ing battery still lies moored along side the
Island.
There is no later intelligence from the Ten
| nesEee.
ITO the Associated Press.]
81. LOUIS, March GA special dispatch
to the Republican, dated near Island No. 10,
on the evening Of the 26th, says only three
shells were thrown by the mortars to-day, to
which no response Was made by the rebels.
ing party Of twenty men Of the 9Th Illinois
down the Missouri shore. They arrested pro-
! minent residents, who report that 2, 900 ne
grocs are employed on the Island and at the
batteries along the shore; that sixty-aye
rebel troops, including two Lieutenants
and four negroes, hare been killed
By our shells; that the upper shore battery is
abandoned, hut the others are being rapidly
Strengthened; that the enemy is Il, ,0W strong,
and their encampment has been moved entire.
II ont Of range Of our guns. The rebels are
confident Of success, and say they have a good
road to Trenton and other points, by which
they can escape whenever they choose They
have plenty Of provisions. The rebel steam
ers, loaded with troops, were seen watching
the shore to prevent communication from
here, The total number of the transports arc
eleven,