Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-10
From the Memphis (Tenn.) Avalanche, March 29tb.


Madrid, together with other matters that will prove in
teresting at tbs time.
The enemy made bis appearance above Island TO- on
the morning of the 5h instant with force of three
guuboats five mortar boats, and q number of inofen
sve tugs and Transports He specify made his prepara
ens for the bombardment by placing the boats
n position easterly from the Island an point OF labd
and the main channel intervening The gunboats in
the meantime threw few rifle shots at the batteries
the Island and at the floating battery, to induce
6re, and thus ascertain the points to be assaled. All
our batteries however m ntained dogged silence with
the exception OF Captain Rucker, who returned the fire
with few Shots though out of range, which caused the
enen 10 single him out, and al O'Clock tie bOm
bardment commenced in earliest from the five mortars.
About three6fths of the SHELLS directed Rucker
the balance at the Island and the floating battery At
night the firing ceasei-nobody hurt.
The first days work entirely experimental, al
though thirteen inch Shells and several thousands
of pounds OF gun-powder bad been expended. The Sc
cond morning changes made in the position
of the mortar boats- before nine O'Clock, and at tina
hour, steady bombardment continued until dark
about nine hOurs-duriDg which time the mortaEs
fred sttadiy about twenty times hour, from each,
making 10 all about nine hundred Shells None OF our
batteries opened until about suudown when the enemy
landed two six poundr rife pieces and placed them op-
posite the floating battery and owing to the peculiar
situation OF the Shore he not discovered until be
had opened with of his pieces but before his shot
had fairly landed, the guns of the floating battery
manned, and the rife thirty two FOUNDER Davis,
bcched forth the first answering at the enemy, 10
range. Our boys lined the store of the Island and as
the sharp crack of the big rifle was heard a tremen
dous cheer sent up; the universal depressoned
caused by the shelng without being able to the
fire, was in instant dispelled we're 'em on our
side now," ran along the line. In instant all was
hushed and all eyes strained the # of the
fire. Ii was but tor instant, for the gun well
aimed and the shell took efoct upon the enemy's
piece dsmounting it and knocking down his
capnoniers Then ca immense applause, and
rapid and well directed fire from the battery, which sent
the rasc Is scamperDg for dear life the field
This the end of that days work, the enemy down
and rather Worsted. All night the mortars continued
to play slowly at Rucker the tracts of the shells being
distinctly marked through the air by the burning fuz
Early in the morning the sheIng rapidly renewed
AT one O'Clock the gunboats formed line of battle
beads down steam, anu approaching TO within about
1000 yards of Captain Fuckers battery ashed togett
er, and made fast to the tennessee Shore began fu
riOus canuonading upon the last named battery. Their
firing rapid and we'll directed, of the saels
going into the parapet or directly over it. Rucker
commenced replying accurately and deliberately re-
quenty striking them The Belmont gun not the Lady
Polk, OF Captain Humes battery, also replied sending
her 100 pound shot distance of three miles, and direct
y over the boats. After two shots she struck
Il eiemy several times Several other batteries opened
but fell httte short. At sGndown the enemy bauleG
, off, his loss not known Ours was one man killed
. and SEVERAL slightly wounded by splinters. This
brush though of 10 great consequence clearly demon
srattd that reduce Fuckers battery the enemy
come to close quarters and then be comes within easy
range of Humes terrible Belmont battery, which is in
itself capable of ccntendng with all the guuboats that
the LincoInes have On the Western rivers besidt s
several other batteries will be in almost point blank
range. So we'll batteries located that the ene-
N.Y. undertaking to red one, exposes himself to fire
from the others on al des fore AMI aft We may well
imagine that If Columbus b, ID il dread, without
cross fire her batteries Island No TO- this great
advantage, will prove a mighty Stumbling block. From
tie third day tOrwa up to lhe last advces the
STILL shelling the timber about Ruckers bat
terry and p1Or, un' # ud!ng Island No 10 Our men
have perfectly accustomed to the sport and sit
and ch the curling smoke from the mortars with no
more ark than i hat for Us Dodging having
proved tresOme has gone olt OF fashion.
Nut credit Is due Captain Rucker and his officers,
for II manner in which they reurn the eGemys fire.
Lieut.. Sanders manned one side of gun himself after
tie pa0pe had been shot away. hers did we'll also.
IAeu'enant-commanditg Samuel w. Averett, of tie
floating battery, and his officers also deserve commeu-
: cation for the gallant style which they dislUdg ged
0 the enemy from the Missouri shore
The Navy officers who watched the fight throughout
= OF the opinion that the enemy's gunboats sus
e tained any serious damage
l. I De nua1s conunu,d he acti n until dusk and then
z haul Fl parstly They did appear TO be Grip
J. pied aud, strange to say the i'd d'nca gunboas remain
lusg U Island 10, uOt0tDsC md ug Of them sunk
below Hickman. there has ben than three
:. gunboas at Is and l0 and they there still.
Our troops Tie l. aud aud the mai land in eX
k ce!ent 6plrs The shore guarded by in
j. arry aud batteries to prev Mt the ertmg from ectug
crossing IN force he passage OF any considerable
numEer IF troops the river from New Madrd il
e fiat b. ats RATS is simply absurd. They cannot
e keep elise in on the Missouri RATS unm4nagabe
and at boats neary so Neither can they be consruc
ID ted without it Icing known to regiments opposite
and hou it be d. aud the voyage undertaken Fae
fhcsr Holiins will be at bis st.,
As Itr subsistence stme. and ammunition both art
10 great abundance. 1t is found perfectly easy trans
port all needed articles from Tiptonvile-it being onl
# ur mics over good level road.
All agreed that the attempt of the enemy was farce
20 for after throwing shells nearly two bundled and fort
f hours, we may sum up tie result as flows: He ba
expended three Il ousand tbret n-inch shells and
hundred thousand pounds Of powder and has not ye
struck the parapet Of battery has not touched
m ne, has not destroyed single house or dsmounted
N piece OF Oldnance has not hit man or damaged
n arthDgs value. In addition to ths he has fought on
+ Of our batteries for FIVE hours with three gunbOas, il
9 which encounter but man killed on size -
; Then why should not be confident n position
o. Il soldiers, who in sight of the enemy,
n fdeDt, why should we not also be?
co There SET be much solicituae for fear that on
- communication with Iptonvle has been cut Of. Sue
90 not the case All transports laden with army store
10 and supplies are conveyed to Tponviile by the gur
boats where thry dis barge and return 10 safety Tw
of twenty pounder guns have been placed in posO
by tie enemy below iiptenville, but they received
sound druboing from Capt Carter of the General Poll
~ ome days slice, which has induced them to RENAL
' quiet.
a CONFEDERATE PRISONERS TAKEN AT FoRT DoNEL0o,
>, -Ihe ChlcagD Times states the number OF Oufed rate
y captured at DuheIsOn and now couhaed at Cam
N ~ Douglas, Chicago, to be as follows
II nuH' ArtIi Fv Virrip A