Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-12

fcations on and adjacent to Island Ten were
mainly owing to the transportation of steamers
across the country to aid the latter to transport
his troops over the river and the running Of the
blockade by the gunboats. We annex an ex
ceedingly interesting account of the manner in
which the boats we're Transported over the coun.
try from above Island Ten to New Madrid and
the results of four weeks terrific bomoardment
By both mortar and gunboats, from which it
appears that nobody was killed and but few
wounded:
TRANSFORMING BOATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
The great feature Of this memorable siege and
the immediate cause of the glorious victory which
followed. is the transportation Of the four steam
ers across the country to the aid of General Pope
The originator and successful protector of this
brilliant exploit was Colonel Bissell of ST. Louis
He j. the commander of a regiment of engineers
aud mechanics, whose duty it is TO do the me
chanical work appertainng 10 the progress of the
army. such building bridges, clearing obstruc-
tious, &c. When the place was invested Colonel
Bssell came across the neck OF land which is
formed by the bend of the river in small boat,
the water being so high that navigation was per
fectly easy, with the exception of Instructions
offered by trees and underground. He announced
that Gen. Pope. although below the enemy. and
in a condition TO cross and completely surround
them, was in want OF boats for that purpose, and
could make movement until he put ia
possession of the bend of the river and there
no means OF passing them without transports.
Col. Bissell announced that he in readiness
To attempt the task of taking them across the
country, and arrangements were Immediately
made 20 expedite the project. The steamers W.
b. Terry and Trio being of light draft, and draw
ing but thirty inches of water, were placed at his
disposal, and the point for entering the woods
was selected at the foot OF Island No g. The
difficulties Of this work will be understood when
it is understood that for distance of over twelve
miles the boats were TO be transported through
a heavy forest where the trees were uncommon
ly large and close together, and where the dense
cotton wood underground and cane brake pecu-
liar to this country grow in all It's native luxu-
rance. There plenty of water the river
having overfOwed its banks 60 a depth of from
from five to fifteen feet, and in many places
much deeper. The task of clearing out the
trees was one that would have dismaved a
stOuter heart than Colonel Bissell's, but for
TIE engineering experience and natural ingenuity
which came to his aid. He attacked the prime
val forest. and in few hours buried from
sight in its depths. Accompanied by large de
tachment OF men, in small boats and hatboats
armed with long cross cut saws and axes he made
fast work of it, The trees 10 be cut were select
ed and chopped down. They WERE however as
much in the way as ever as the stumps were still
above water. An upright timber was then fas-
tened to the stump. and to the top of this, some
six feet high, was fastened an Oscillating frame
swinging ON bolt, and extending four feet be
low the surface of the river. The saw fas
tened 10 this frame at the lower end, and, with
rope extending each way, il was pulled back and
forth until the tree sawed off. In this way
The largest trees succumbed and fell in short
time. Fifteen minutes usually conquered or
binary tree, and half hour sufficient for
the giants of the forest. The work was not done
then, however. The overhanging tree tops were
TO be cut to allow the upper works and chimneys
90 pass. the trunks of the fallen trees were to be
cleared away and clear channel as wide as a
steamboat was to be made all requiring the most
ariuous labor and perseverance. The boats pro
gressed. sometimes slowly and sometimes with
considerable speed, in accordance with the nature
of the country. Some DAYS they made no more
than one or two lengths of the boat, while on
others they moved mile or more. They did not
keep a straight course. but turned aside when a
ravine or valley offered less distractions and in
this way they worked IN nOrthweStery course
which not liz the objection of New Madrid
The great object TO reach deep BAYOU
which emptied into the river at that place This
bayou was the bed of creek which ran in a
ravine, and was comparatively clear of obstruc
they finally struck this bayou, about ten miles
from the point they started from. and after hav-
ing been in the woods a week and half They
were thea nearly as far from New Madrid as
when they started, but the bayou was compare
lively free from trees and underground and they
made rapid progress towards the river Finally
after having been in the woods over two weeks
without sight OF drs land. they emerged into the
Mississippi once more and with joyful hearts
81. NaIr. ~,
siastic WecOmings of Our sOldiery, who saw in
them the harbingers of change and relief They
had travelled about eighteen miles in getting
through
This feat Of ingenuity and perseverance was
thus accomplished without a single drawback to
It's complete success The result of il WIS an
immediate movement by the enemy. who saw
themselves surrounded and cut of from ali hone
Of escape The boats quickly transported the
troops across under cover OF the gunbOat and
battery IRE, and the rebels pursued 10 their
cover, where they we're captured 20 "A man Il
was project eminently impracticable at first
view and in such light they saw il. They knew
that we we're at work at something of the kind.
but the idea OF our being successful never entered
their minds. They said among themselves that
the Yankees were digging a canal across the
country and laughed TO think OF the folly They
were struck with CONSERVATION when the boats
came cut into the river. before their very ewes,
and took their places at the levee at New Mad
nd. and they began 20 think that the Yankees
were indeed IA earnest when they started 20 trav-
e. across the country bv steamboat
-Four steamboats, were taken drroSs The diff
hculties Of the Passage were heightened bv the
falling OF the water. which commenced a week
after the hrst boat went IA. The others we're i'm
mediately started. but most OF the stumps had 20
be sawed again, and much OF the overhanginc
growth cleaned out, 70 admit Of the passage Of
the larger boats The W r. Terry vas the pio-
neer boat The Emma. the THO, and the HATH,
Gilmore followed. and all went through this IA
brinth Of swamp. forest and underground with
out the slightest injury To the genius. the en-
erCy. anu the perseverance OF Colonel Bissel
this triumphant result. and immense benefits 10 The
FEDERAL cause are due.
rHE COMMANDMENT.
The b0mbauiment which continued with great
er- oE less Vigor during four weeks, may best be
Judged by Us effects letter found on tn,
floating battery stated that eleven men wer,
wounded during the first DAY : commandment al
OF whom were in the upper battery. agains
which our entire force Was directed. NobOd,
was killed. During the remaining bombarsi ueul
of four weeks. with two mortars ali the time
and four portion Of the time. and with the &C
casional assistance of the gunboats. nobody wa
killed, nobody was wounded. nobody was Int
There were some narrow escapes. Once. on th'