Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-09
Description Of Island No. 10.

sTRENGTH OF THE POSITION AND NUMBER OF GYMS
The situation VI island No. 10 was described az
follows by the correspondent OF the Chicago Post
writing on the 18th ult.: sr
The location Of Island No. 10 seems to be pecu.
lisriy FITTED sy natural advantages as place for
around large bend which changes ih course in
direction almost exactly the opposite frem that
In which 1t makes Its way for several miles above
the island. The upper portion of the letter q IA
the readiest illustration that suggests Itself The
neet now lies In the river a short distance above
the narrow peninsula, which, putting out from
the Kentucky shore, thus alters the course Of the
stream For distance Of nearly four miles above
the peninsula, the river flows In direction near.
lY southwark, but, striking the sudden impede
ment, turns towards the northwest, which course
II Pufsoes distance OF some ten miles, when 1t
again turns and 'makes" southwark In q direc.
ton nearly parallel with that above It, thus creat.
ing the peninsula referred to. IL 10 at a point
three miles below the commencement Of this pro-
lection OF land that Island No. 10 Is situated being
nearly ip the center Of tae stream, with channels
upon either side sufficiently large to allow the
passage Of the largest boats. .." ~
The heavy foftihcations upon the island there.
fore command both the Missouri and Kentucky
shores. But In addition TO these defences the
rebels have erected batteries upon the upper sid
OF the peninsula three miles above, extending TO
the island, AID commanding the river in rs on.
ward course 10 the Inter. The Kentucky and
Tennessee State line passes through the lower
part of the peninsula and but q short distance
below The loot OF the island. New Madrid is
located at the extreme point Of the peninsula on
the Missouri shore, ana ten miles distant from the
heet. The distance across the foot Of the PENN.
sula, to a point opposite the feet, 10 not i've
miles, while twenty five miles must be traversed
to reach the same point in following the natural
course Of the river. One battery Is also supposed
TO be located Immediately at the foot Of the island
These, with heavy guns placed along the river
bank distance Of i've miles and all the batteries
except one commanding the forti fcation, we have
assailed. The Missouri shore Of the river In this
vicinity consists principally Of low, a. at land the
greater portion OF II overt owed many mon hs in
the year for distance Of nfteen miles back from
the stream. When New Madrid 10 reached high
land Is found, thickly settled, and comparatively
TILED. =
In the midst Of the peninsula above referred to
10 located Reel Foot Lake, beautiful sheet of
water, which should be prominent In history, for
the reason that on Its shores reside the descend.
ants Of the Immortal Davy Crockett. With the
exception Of this the ground composing the en-.
tire peninsula Is high, and presents an unduatinp
surface, dotted with the homes Of numerous
wealthy farmers =
NUMBER or THEIR GUNS.
Of The enemy's strength on the island we have
n vet but little information. We know, however,
that they had several gunboats, two or three OF
which were iron-clad, and, according to their
own accounts in the Memphis papers when the
siege commeBe ed, their total number Of guns In
positic could not have been fewer than seventy,
lima. ~