Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-04-18
GEN. POpeas Repora@OpePatIOns at New
Madrid and Island No. 10.
Expedition Forces,
Madrid Mo A Dril q 1860


New Madrid, Mo-. April 9, 1862.
Major General II. w. Halieck:
The canal across the peninsula opposite Is
land No. 10-and for the idea of which | am in
debted to Gen'l Schuyler Hamilton-was COM
pleted by Col. B;ssells Engineer Regiment and
four steamers were brought through on the
night of the 9th. The heavy batteries l had
thrown up below Tiptonville completely com
manded the lowest point of the high ground on
the Tennessee shore, entirely cutting off the en-
emy's retreat by water; his retreat by land has
never been possible through the swamps.. On
the night of the 4th, Capt Wake of the Navy
ran the enemy s batteries at Island No. 10, with
the gunboat Carondolet, and reported to me
here. On the night of the 9th the gunboat Pitts
burg also ran the blockade Our transports
were brought into the river from the bayou,
where they had been kept concealed, at day
light on the 18th, and Payne's division loaded.
The canal has been prOdigiously laborious
work II was - miles long, miles of which
was through heavy timber which had to be saw.
cd off by hand four feet under water.
| The enemy has lined the opposite shore with
batteries, extending from Island No. 10 to Tip
tonville, Meriweather Landing, to prevent the
passage of the river by this army.
l directed Capt Wake to run down with the
two gunboats at daylight on the 7th to the point
selected for crossing and silence the enemy S
batteries near it. He performed the service gall
lantly, aud here bear testimony to the thorough
aud brilliant manner in which this officer dis
charged his difficult duties with me, and to the
hearty and earnest zeal with which, at all haz-
ards, he co-operated with me.
AS soon as be signalled me- the boats contain
| ing Payue's Division, moved out from the
landing and began to cross the river. The pas
sage of this wide, furious river, by our large
force, was one of the most magnificent specta.
cles I ever witnessed. BY 10 o'clock that night
the 7th, all the forces designed to cross the riv
er, were over, without delay OF accident.
As soon as we commenced to cross, the enemy
began to evacuate Island No. 10, and his batter
les along the shore. The divisions were push
ed forward to Tiptonville as fast as they landeC
at Paine's landing. The enemy was driven be
| fore him, and although they made several at
tempts to form in line of battle and make ;
stand, Payne did not once deploy his columns
The enemy was pushed all night vigorously
until 4 clock a. M, he was driven back upoI
the swamps and forced to surrender Thre,
Generals, seven Coonels, seven battalions of in
fantry, five companies of artillery over one hun
dred heavy seige guns, twenty -four pieces of ar
tillcry, an immense quantity of ammunition anC
supplies several thousand stand of arms, grea
number Of tents, horses, wagons etc. etc, hav,
fallen into our hands,
Before abandoning Island No. 10, the eneml
sunk the gunboat Grampus, and six of his trans
ports. These last am raising, aud expect I
have ready for service in few days. The "a
nous floating battery was scuttled and turne
adrift, with all her guns on board; she was cap
tured and run aground in shoal water by ou
forces, at New Madrid.
j Our success is complete and overwhelming
4 Our troops, as ] expected, behaved gloriously
| will, in my full report, endeavoF to do iustic
to all. Brig. Gems. PANE, Stanley and Hamil
ilton crossed the river and conducted their di
visions with untring activity and skill. an
especially indebted to them. Gen, Paine, for
tunate in having the advance, exhibited unusu
al vigor and courage, and had the satisfaction t
receive the surrender of the enemy. OF Col
Bissell, of the Engineer Regiment, ] can har,il
say too much. Full of resource, untiring an,
determined, he labored night and day, and com
pleted work which viii be monument of eli
terprise and skill. .
We have crossed this great river with larg
army, the banks Of which We're lined with bal
teries Of the enemy to oppose our passage; hav
pursued aud captured all his forces and mate
rial of war, and haven lost man or met witt
an accident. JOHN POPE, Maj, General