The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-04-25
Our Military Correspondence.
FROM TINS MISSISSIPPI EXPEDITION.

lNNlp n h~N'i J |
FRIEND CONVERSE Since my COM
muncaiion 10 you, after the fall VI Fort
Henry, our arms in this quarter have
been In but one continued progress TO-
wards victories Of greater or less magni-
iude. | intended, at the time, 10 give
you some account or the taking Of
Fort Dontlson, as also the taking OF
Clarksvile and It's two forts ; but sick.
ness and press OF unforeseen business
prevented me at the time and, MS those 7
events have become stale, as matters Of
history, amid the more stirring and i'm
poriant transactions which look to the i'm.
mediate consunt+aation of the great pro-
iec, for which this expedition was orgi-I
nally conceived and put on foot, feel
that respective glances would DC unin-
ieresling.
After the forced evacuation Of the
Rebel stronghold al Columbus, Ky. they,
(the Rebels, upon the line Of the river,
fell back TO Island No. 10. in the Missis-
sippi, which place, together with the main
shore on the Tennessee side, they had
fortified with eleven strong batteries, each
Of which supported The others 10y an en-
6lading fire. They were SO situated, as
regarded the marine attack, that the boats
making il must expose their broadsdes or
quarters TO onehaf or Two thirds Of all
their guns.
Flag Officer Foote came down before
this place, and so arranged his plans, in
conccr. with Gen. Pope, who then occu.
pied New Madrid, that there could be no
escape for those making the defense. As
the first step necessary to that end, pas
sage from The river, Tor transports, into
Reelfoot Lake, and thence again into the
river near New Madrid, was searched for,
and, after considerable delay and toll.
there was passage decided feasible by
slight digging of the channel and cutting
OF considerable timber. -Four transports
were finally passed through, and reached
New Madrid in safety. Two Of our non
clad Gunboats, having iun past the en-
emy's batteries in the night, unharmed
and unscathed, commenced firing upon,
and silencod :hree (all) Of the enemy's
batteries on the opposite side Of the river
10 New Madrid, SO tha, Gen. Pope could
throw portion Of his force over the
river and thus prevent the escape Of the
force on and about the island. The Nor
tars and Gunboals, at this time, SO in
creased their fire that the Rebels found
it too hot to hold them, ard at 10 o'clock
Of the night of the 9TH, the De Soto, a
r Rebel transport, came up 10 surrender the
batteries, the island, gunbo6t and trans
, , ports. A force was, most fortunately,
: to tnta oh nj
>, them. They found the Gunboat Gram
y pus" sunk, together with four or five
l. Transports. A STOP was put 10 that kind
. OF work Immediately, and the remaining
% portion Of the Rebel transport fleet con
sistng Of six boats, WAS taken in charge
by our men. They are mostly good
steamboats,, and valuable as prizes.
Tie troops who had been engaged il
- ard about tie island. TO protect the bat
:, teries from land attacks, numbering som'
= six thousand and five hundred men
:. thought TO escape by the way Of Merri
- weather Landing. but they fell foul o
- Pope's forces, and were obliged 10 sur
:, render so that the whole force. consist
ing OF six thousand five hundred men
= Twelve batteries. mounting eighty five
heavy cannon, n number Of which were
). rfed, all fell iato our hands, together
70 with one gunbost and eleven transports
= which were either destroyed or fell intt
{ our hands. There were immense sup
plies of provisions and war munitions
= which we're likewise captured at thu
? island.
'e This is one Of the most important vic
y tories of the war. and none the less s,
,e that it was gained on strategic principle
10 and science, without great sacrifice Of liz
d. on our part. The island been has literal
n ploughed up, our heavy shell frequent
b. burying themselves fifteen feat in Il,
,h ground, and then bursting, Of cours
II, scooping out the earth in all directions
SO and leaving a small cave. The enem
in could but have suffered severely, allhoug
be they try TO suppress all information re
i'll garding their losses. There were thre
/ entire Tennessee regiments. one regimen
is made up from Alabama. Tennessee an
Mississippi. one entire regiment from A
lat kansas, one regiment entirely Of ALI
an bamians, and n couple OF batteries OF q
IN. ,illery from Louisiana. Most Of the gul
. Of the artillery were brass pieces, ca
tured with Mulligan's command at LIE:
en- ington. Missouri.
hs We are now on the advance down Il
or river, and in hopes of shortly strollir
ON the stree,s of Memphis and New Orlean
| believe it's no secret that that is o.
6nal destination.
or The prisoners taken. the AIaban
-. y, regiment alone appeared 10 be ov
E iom anxious for fight, some Of the others a
ho peaIing 10 think being prisoners a 60,
ted wind up TO their troubles. Poor. delud
asst, victims Of wicked and designing mel
no they begin to feel the power OF the Go
me ernment which they have been taugh:
e1' despisc, and whose flag they have be-
W 'ev' led TO insult. They find there is still Z
'.o ',sr God in Israel" An the news they ha
received OF battles away from their INN
,ng diate vicinity, is that the Rubels ha
10 10 been victorious. Uncle Sam. the on
don fine old gentleman, having gone into I
his "sear and yellow leaf" OF premature {
he's age and decay, without any vitality
constitutional existence, was too enfeebl
IN to enforce ihe laws. The first time, lh'