, 1862-04-08
HOW AND WHY THE CAROEDELET
RAN THE BLOCKADE.


Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.l
OK BoARb TIE STEAMER r. +. WILSON,
orr ISLAND No. 10, April s, 1862.
The crowaing act Of daring Was performed
by the Carondelet last night. Before entering
into tic details Of her gallant expedition, it
viii be remembered that q fortnight or more
ago Col. Bissell pulled his way from New
Madrid to our feet in skid, md at once con-
-ceiyod the Idea that steamers Of light draught
might cross from Us to Gen. Pope
In few days he had with the
steamer Te11y) reached the head Of the
bayou emptying above New Madrid and sent
beck word to that effect Immediately the
Trio, Hetty Gilmore, and one or two other
small boats, were on their way to the same
point. As the Terry advanced down the
bayou, however, a new and dangerous diff
Guilty presented itself The rebels had thrown
up a battery opposite the mouth OF the bayou,
and the Grampus was lying in wait to stop the
exit OF our boats or annlhllate them it they
attempted to conc out
| Nov, some daring act must be accomplish
| ed-sou1e desperate risk run-to relieve
our boats. The rebels had made IN excellent
| move, and we were in check. 4 conference
| which it ~as decided that QUE Of the gunboats
must run the blockade. It is matter oi
| credit, and finely rejecting the galIantry oI
| cur officers, that each Of them claimed the
honor. The Carondelst, however, being the
| fastest, to her was awarded the performance o
this hazardous and desperate enterprise. Capt
Wake announced the fact to his men, spokt
Of the dangers attendant upon running ths
gauntlet of three batteries, aud told then
that there WAS chance Of al1 Of then
going to the bottom together. After address
inc them further, he asked how many woult
I fho yifh Sinnf
fed his desire most enthusiastically, aud frou
that time until the hour Of starting the utmos
yiTacity AID activity prevailed throughout til,
ship. The weak sidEs Of the boat, where TIL
iron plating did not cover them, were protect
| I'd By bales of hay lashed firmly together unit
| the brave old Carondclct looked like . farm
er's team coming into market. The port
holes were closed, all lights extlnguishcd an;
| 1hc strictest silence enioined.
Al eleven O'clock the hour agreed upon fo
ing the night intensely dark. Nature WIS e7
! identity with us, and WIS throwing her dnrl
cloak around the solitary boat and her bray,
| crew for protection. The Carondelet, in til
| midst Of the storm, steamed slowly out iron
|, the point, aud passed down towards the Ken
tneky battery. Tic decks Of the gunboass AM
transports she Vas leaying were crowded .Hitl
anxious heaxts, eagerly waiting Tor her sigma
gnp, which should announce her safe arTiTa
below the Island. Still onward she vent, an'
pounded the bend in theteeth of the Kent1ek
colansi e Rebe1ts s0s lied ns ap Il shat si' 81
teE, on Just Ench stormy night
| 3 short time ago; past the Kentucky batter
: uni1Jnred, past the long reach Of timber il
; | te1vening between that and the shore ba.
= terieE. The long roll is sounded in til
rebel camps and when in front Of the batteries
= the fearful fire commences. From out pos
1 tion, two milrs distant, We see the hashe'
and the reports soand to us as If but Acrot
= The river. Boom! boomi boom! sometime
through the storm, and Heavens artille1
= lends its aid to finish this fearful aad subIlu
- picture. The firing lasts but few minute
Fortf-BeFcn guns discharged. but no fort
J. eighth.
=. The Caronde1et is past the shore batterie
One more battery upon the head Of the islam
The strong current carries her right In II
F. teeth oft, but the battery is silent and d
serted. Eyerything Is quiet Ia that far {
suspense We stand listening for the signal e
: which shall tell us the Carondelet Is safe
n wait but few minutes. From the foot of t
+ Island we hear it booming ovcr the wood
q The great suspense is over. The Csrundel
= has ftn the b1ockade, and As have sin
L learned, not single shot struck her If t
u feet went enthusiastic to the verge of ineanls
: | you viii at once see the reason and ackno1
= edge lie pIopriety. ::
D. ATE. Informing us Of her safety, the Caro-
3 dtlet kept On her way to New Madrid, snd
heavy firing kept up au day yesterday fnforl
Us that she isthere and at work Her ami,
T. | Is most oppo7t une, She will gu2rd the exit
f. our boats from the bayou, and coFer the tssz
~ ~ portation Of Gen. Pope's troops across +
II riyel. AL obstacles are thus removed. 7
ID stack must come speedily,