Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-14
The siege of island ren--rhs Trojan

FooTK and General PoPE in capturing the forti-
fcations on and adjacent to Island Ten were
mainly owing to the transportation of steamers
across the country to aid the latter to transport
his troops over the river and the running of the
blockade by the gunboats. We annex an ex-
ceedingly interesting account of the manner in
which the boats were transported over the coun-
try from above Island Ten to New Madrid and
the results of four weeks terrific bomoardment
by both mortar and gunbOats, from which it
appears that nobody was killed and but few
wounded:
TRANSPORTING BOATS ACROSS TIE COUNTRY.
The great feature of this memorable siege and
the immediate cause of the glorious victory which
followed, is the transportation of the four steam
ers across the country to the aid of General Pope
The originator and successful protector of this
brilliant exploit was Colonel Bisseli of ST. Louis
He is the commander of a regiment of engineers
and mechanics, whose duty it is to do the me-
chanical work appertaining to the progress of the
army, such as building bridges, clearing obstruc-
tions, &c. When the place was invested Colonel
Bissell came across the neck of land which is
formed by the bend of the river, in small boat,
the water being so high that navigation was per-
fectly easy, with the exception of distractions
offered by trees and underground. He announced
that Gen. Pope, although below the enemy, and
in condition to cross and completely surround
them, was in want of boats for that purpose, and
could make no movement until he was put in
possession of the bend of the river and there was
no means of passing them without transports.
Col. Bissell announced that he was in readiness
to attempt the task of taking them across the
country, and arrangements were Immediately
made to expedite the project. The steamers W.
b. Terry and Trio being of light draft, and draw
ing but thirty inches of water, were placed at bis
disposal, and the point for entering the woods
was selected at the foot OF Island No. 3. The
difficulties of this work will be understood when
it is understood that for distance of over twelve
miles the boats were to be transported through
a heavy forest where the trees uncommon
ly large and close together, and where the dense
cotton wood underground and cane brake pecu-
liar to this country grow in all its native luxu-
rance. There was plenty of water the river
having overhowed its banks to a depth of from
| from five TO fifteen feet. and in many places
much deeper. The task of clearing out the
| trees was one that would have dsmayed a
stouter heart than Colonel Bissel's, but for
the engineering experience and natural ingenuity
which came to his aid. He attacked the prime
val forest, and in few hours was buried from
| sight in its depths. Accompanied by large de-
tachment of men, in small boats and hatboats,
armed with long cr0ss-cut saws and axes he made
fast work of it. The trees to be cut were select
ed and chopped down. They were, however, as
much in the way as ever, as the stumps were still
above water. An upright timber was then fas-
tened to the stump. and TO the top of this, some
six feet high, was fastened an oscillating frame,
swinging on a bolt, and extending four feet be
/ low the surface of the river. The saw was fas-
tened to this frame at the lower end, and, with a
rope extending each way, it was pulled back and
/ forth until the tree was sawed of. In this way
I r-l
time Fifteen minutes usually conquered an or
binary tree, and half an hour was sufficient for
the giants of the forest. The work was not done
then however. The overhanging tree-tOps were
to be cut to allow the upper works and chimneys
to pass the trunks of the fallen trees were to be
cleared away, and clear channel as wide as
steamboat was to be made, all requiring the most
arduous labor and perseverance. The boats pro-
gressed, sometimes slowly and sometimes with
considerable speed, in accordance with the nature
of the country Some days they made more
than one or two lengths of the boat, while on
Others they moved mile or more. They did not
keep a straight course, but turned aside when
ravine or valley offered less distractions and in
| this way they worked in nOrthwesterly course,
which was not in the objection of New Madrid
The great object to reach deep bayou
which emptied into the river at that place. This
bayou was the bed of a creek which ran in a
Il
tons. After much labor and disappointment,
they finally struck this bayou, about ten miles
| from the point they started from, and after hav-
ing been in the woods a week and half They
were thea nearly as far from New Madrid as
when they started, but the bayou was compare
lively free from trees and underground, and they
made rapid progress towards the river Finally
after having been in the woods over two weeks
without sight of dry land, they emerged into the
Mississippi once more, and with joyful hearts
they steamed up to New Madrid, amid the enthu-
| siastic welcomings of Our soldiery, who saw in
them the harbingers of change and relief They
had Travelled about eighteen miles in getting
through.
This feat of ingenuity and perseverance was
thus accomplished without a single drawback to
its complete success The result of it was an
immediate movement by the enemy, who saw
themselves surrounded and cut off from all hope
of escape. The boats quickly transported the
| troops across, under cover of the gunboat and
battery FIRE, land the rebels were pursued to their
cover, where they were captured to a man. 1t
was a project eminently impracticable at first
view, and in such light they saw it, They knew
that We were at work at something of the kind,
but the idea OF our being successful never entered
their minds They said among themselves that
the Yankees we're digging canal across the
country, and laughed to think OF the folly. They
were struck with CONSERVATION when the boats
came out into the river, before their very eyes,
and took their places at the levee at New Mad
rid, and they began to think that the Yankees
were indeed in earnest when they started to trav-
ell across the country by steamboat.
-Four steamboats, were taken The diff
fcuties of the passage were heightened by the
falling of the water, which commenced week
after the FIRST boat went in. The others were i'm
mediately started, but most of the stumps had to
be sawed again, and much Of the 0verhanging
growth cleaned out, to admit of the passage OF
the larger boats The W. B. Terry was the pio-
Deer boat The Emma, the THO, and the Hattie
Gilmore followed, and all went through this la
brinth of swamp, forest and underground, with
out the slightest injury. To the genius, the en-
ergy, and the perseverance of Colonel Bissell.
this triumphant result, and immense benefits the
Federal cause, are due.
THE COMMANDMENT.
The bombardment, which continued with great
er or less vigOr during four weeks, may best be
Judged by its effects. A letter found on the
floating battery stated that eleven men were