Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-28

{ LOW NO she discovered the trampus. out picket
duty The rc5cl craft msdc haste down stream follow
| cd hy the iut fcrtual shots
The Cramps i' owned by Capt. Chester Of the Alp
resident 81 Fsburg. who has followed the river for
more Than forty years lie isaresoluc. determined
NJ great muscular strength Tho rebels seized his boat
in june last while lying at Memphis The act rouse all
his ire Although surrounded by thousands Of enemies
he gave them plain talk H. took on his coattod them
one by cue, and II he did whip al Memphis They
might have bis boats in peace but II they accepted his
challenge u he came out victor, he should be permitted
I laughed in his face To-day he is determined man
! His eyes glistcn The whole man is up lie wants TO
see the Grampus once more. either In fame in our
/ possession. lie is ready Tor terrible revenge
REcoNNoirEWNG,
Tho fleet rounded 10 In Mcnyweathers bond, five
miles from iae head Of the island One by one the feet
boz on The Kentucky Shore neara miserable log hut
IRE was burning within aud everything Indicated that
ihc occnpan's hAd but just departed Col Bui1rd sent
out squad VI men who quickly secured the surrounding
forest short distance out on the verge Of the lake
which lies inland along the river they discovered two
women and several children, shiycfng in the cold and
/ exceedingly frightened The thunder OF the Bcntons
guns terrifying They had been told that our troops
soud ruuder their dwelnqs subject them to ali that
IS houiho n war, and then murder them IN cold blood
They we're poor and ignorant and doubtless believed all
t they had heard They were assured that hey would
be protected and soon after saw them returning 10 their
/ nron9'e home home which beiokcned the most
land drove Of pigs aud the half dozen cows around the
] hut
The Benton meanwhile was slowly floating down with
ihe current The Caroudect run over 10 the Missouri
shore and the officers pccicd into the forest To make
that there we're no batteries covered up in the hickes.
Tho Cincinnati did the same along the Kentucky shore.
Occasionally the Benton threw shells into the forest
whore was supposed that there might be rebel works,
hut no renly came back the fainter report ~ the
bursting shell and the distant echo NJ the coumhiads.
THE hFBFL BATTERIES.
The officers of the Benton sharp sighted men
The, have heard that theghels only upon Island
No n. bat also ulslyasN Attucky shore. They believe
above % island And now as thcv turn the sharp uoint
which comes down ON The Missouri side Ia the main
hrd white with tents The rebels are there n large force
lfNrT OIL huH lao Dfft ~ fhHf
forth atoms Si nearer, they see new made cmhauk-
meut iva the woods which their scouts have report
cd Capt rhclp. locke az it closely with his glass, and
comes 10 the conclusion that The rebels have been ex-
cccdngy industrious within the last few days. Far down
the uNe near Che head OF the island IRE eight steamers,
most Of them transport steamers The captain OF the
Lake Eic, old river -" salt who knows every boat
on the western wr'crs by sight, recognizes the Lizzie
simmons, Hill and Grampus-al 90 which belong 90
Northern mon They were seized at an early stage Of
the rebellion.
TINE Rrps1s RESPOND.
That new made bank in the woods which Capt Phelps
has been looking needs TO be " lt ot 90 lieu
tenants words. The Benton opens with her rifle gun.
The she'll screams through the air cod bursts 10 the
woods A moment, aud white cloud rises among the
and then the report and then the she'll which drops
into the water half mile short Of its aim They are
/ there
tug came steamiug up stream with orders 10 bring
down nlortats II and H. Away went the Erie with The
two uniried dogs q war" dropping them the Mis-
souri shore close down tn the point You sec the
exact position almost any scho, atlas The live be-
tvcen Kentucky and Tennessee crosses Island 40 TO-
Tic batteries the main land In Tennessee while
that upon the island is in Kentucky.
The river makes sharper curve than is usulY repre-
sented on tho map You are TO imagine the h1nis tied
mp the shore. half mile mp stream from the point
Right opposite them, The Missouri shore, several
farm houses and plantations with large eornheds
Drawing line STRAIGHT from the 20 me batteries
should Judge mat they were nearly tmce mile distant
The river is at this stage OF The water mile and halt
wide aud the tongue OF lard is about the same width
We waited in fever NJ expectation while Capt Man
aydicr brought he morars into position. Time dragged
/ Watches were looked az, decks paced
There IL poesl roar like thuude, rolls along the
valley echong from shore 10 shore IL is the first shell
the she'll, but listening can hear explosion down
the river. il is terrific concussi1n whole key of
powder is expl ded. II is sharp piercing report,
but tremendous roar which, though You stand half
mile distant strikes heart, you feel the rush of
air before hearing the report The she'll mounts in a
majestic curve, and descends in equally beautiful
IL docs reach the ground bat Cxplotes IN mid
handful Of white cloud puis out and floats away.
The kept up their fire, throwing in all twenty
| six shells Capt. Stcmbsl Of the Cincinnati informed me
that burst directly the verge " The upper battery
of the enemy. and fled the air with sand, dirt and
sticks of timber 1t beautiful practice. and very
satisfactory in its results The gunhoats remained silent
spectators each officer making notes for future use II
has been ascortained IN the nortars can lie out OF
range aud dtop their shells with good degree Of accua
cy. To-morr'w we may expect that they will preach
sermon such as secession has not yet heard
SUNDAY. March l6
4 aNkS g, NonxIsss not recognize sab.
baths uampies upon them as ruthlcssly murder
er ihrocs his victim IL not Commodore Foote'S
sire TO fight Sunday but It is reported that the cney
pressing Gen Pope at NeS Madrid and it is expedf
ten to make diversion here.
LOOK At THE REuEGs
Looking straight down stream into the bend batter,
can Pc discovered mounting seven guns. No is ,sf
ole within. Lastuight these gune answered the Benton
shots Yesterday hag was flying, but to-day there Is
none visible Sweeping along 10 the right ! can Sec on
the Tennessee shore long ranges OF tents, hu earth
wof Ks yellow hag-indcttng The locality Of the hos
pita-bndes M troops and half dozen steamers steam
ing up and down the river Every ghcfc except at IN,
upper batteries there Is g.. IL j, from two 90 three mil
% lah1 thf
samc distance straight he tongue Of land 20 th,
head Of the island Tho Tennessee shore il eyatld ton
or fifteen feet above the river The works themselves DC
not appear 70 Dee formidable but the cud Of the river ant
the s"hness " the stream makes very difficult for tn,
boats 10 hold position. They cannot move hcad
a. Henry and Dunelson hut when hey are heading
fr the upper batteries they will be wholly exposed
batteries lower down Il is evident the nor vii
have 10 take large share Of the il0 on hand. Com
modore Foats Is prudent No life will be uecdlessl,
sacrificed under his command. His men know il, and !
gives them confidence
Az ArrgNrr To DRAW rHE FIRE or rmR REnErs
At eight and half O'Clock, whe the were be
ing brought into position the Benton tried her rife,
guns on the rebels in the upper batteries and across h
point The shat toward the upper batteries fell short
but those thrown over the point evidently burst in tn,
vicinity OF the rebels. There a sudden oommotor
auunR the steamers Some steamed mp under the shol
Ter Of The point Will others disappeared behind the theI
forest down sucam.
DIVINE SERVICE.
Al 10 o'clock dvineservicc was held on the Pittsburg
f}'t. we're read by Capt IhomPSon, and few remark
institution, established for good and it our dut
10 worship God-an obligation which, II obeyed ia truth
would meet the divine approval, and at the tint
would benefit an physically well morally His mel
stood reyerently while the service read. Aher ser
vice the regulations were read,
rOPE's GUNS.
During the service could hear heavy booming from
the west In the direction Of New Madrid which is nbou
eight miles distant IL was strange accompaniment o
religious worshpfor different from the ollins Of Sab
bath bells The messengers Of death in the air.
knew, from the constant firing.
Looking down the stream at the second battery,
could what appeared to be waving white dag
Others saw it, but upon looking again il to b
THE MoRTARs OPEN.
And now came another service from the preacher
against treason, who till yesterday afternoon have
spoken during the war-the mortars Their seryic,
commenced at IL O'Clock the first she'll being throw
from No 80 Soon the others joined In. Al first the
shells fll short bat after few rounds they went fa
over the batteries into the woods beyond.
1 o'oloca =. ~
They hard at It, and they t'oz, glll Of thunder
reverberatng along the wooded banks the Mississippi
The FIRE is directed upon the upper battery. have beer
looking At the work closely for the last hour with my ex
oelent glass The white flag times from the west
ern angle Of the work IL is evidently signal TO Ii,
batteries further around the bend. Near it the flag
the Confeicrecy.
Bang hang bang There are three inortars IN
succession hed as II they light field pieces III,
smoke rolls out like expanding heeces Of wool washed