Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-24
island Ten-Its situatton-A Protract-
ed struggle Anticipated.


ton Of affair there up to Tuesday evening last
from the editorial correspondence Of the Chicago
Post:
IL i evident that the fight will be protracted
one. and even now may be said 10 be scarcely
more than begun. The feet Is now no nearer
the point are endeavOring 10 subdue than on
the morning OF the 10th. The transports sui
are mOored in their old position. and with the
exception Of occasional trips up and down the
stream for distance Of two or three miles. they
remain stationary. keeping up steam. however.
for ready and immediate use Ia Of emer
gencv.
The location of Island 10 seems to be pecui.
arly fitted BY natural advantages ~ a place for
long II not successful defense. The river sweeps
around a large bend which changes lis course IN
a direction almost exactly the opposite from that
in which il makes It's way for several miles above
the island The upper portion of the letter Is
the readiest illustration which suggests itself
The fleet now lies in the river a short distance
above the narrow peninsula. which. putting out
from the Kentucky shore. thus alters the course
OF the stream For a distance Of nearly four
miles above the peninsula the river flows in a
direction nearly southwark but striking this sud
den impairment turns towards the northwest
which course il pursues a distance of some ten
miles, when il again turns and makes" south.
ward in a direction nearly parallel with that above
II, thus creating the peninsula referred to- liz j.
at point three miles b. los the commencement
of this projection of land that Island 10 j. stu
ated, being nearly in the center of the stream.
with channels upon either side sufficiently large
To admit the passage OF the largest boats. The
heavy Notifications upon the island. therefore,
command both the Missouri and Kentucky shores.
But in addition 10 these defenses the rebels have
erected batteries upon the upper side OF the pen
nsula. three miles above, extending To the island.
and commanding tie river ON its onward course
10 the latter Ii j. the first of these We are now
endeavoring 10 reduce
The Kentucky and + nnessee State line passes
through the lower part of the penins ula and but a
short distance below the foot of the island New
Madrid j. located NJ the extreme point of the pen
insula on the Missouri shore. and ten miles Dis
tact from the feet The distance across the foot
ofthe peninsula, to point opposite the fleet Is not
five miles while twenty five miles must be ira
verSed TO each the same point IN following the
natural course OF the river One battery i also
supposed To be located at the foot of the island.
These. with heavy guns placed along the river
bank distance OF five miles and all the batteries
except one commanding the fortificatiOn have
assaulted It l. plainly evident that the reduction
of the entire line of defense j. an hercueln task
and can not be accomplished save by persistent
and protracted seige
The road which crosses the foot of the PENN
sula to the river on the opposite side does not.
"a Is supposed by many, pass through low. marshy
ground but over 4 slight elevation. and can at
all seasons be passed over with but little diff
Guilty
The Missouri shoie of the river in this vicinity
consists principally OF low. fiat land. the great
er portion of il overfown many months in the
year far a distance OF fifteen miles back from the
stream When New Madrid i reached high land
i found. thckly settled and comparatively well
TILED. The inhabitants throughout are mostly
wealthy farmers. who have long lived upon the
very premises they occupied up to the time of the
breaking out of the
In the midst OF the peninsula above referred to
is located Reel Foot lake beautiful sheet of
water. which should be prominent in history for
the reason that on It's shores reside the descend
ants of the immortal Davy Crockett. With the
exception of this, the ground composing the pen
insula is high and presents undulating sur
face, dotted with the homes Of numerous wealthy
farmers. Lake Reel Foot is known to but few
travellers up and down the Mississippi. and has
not attained fame extending greatly beyond the
borders of the ,)eninsular itself But in DAYS gone
by IT has been the scene of many large and en-
thusastic camp meeting. by Christians OF the
Methodist persuasion
The bombardment 20 day was not rs vigorous
" persisted in that of yesterday. but the guns
OF our fleet seem To have been more accurately
directed, and To have produced greater havoc
among the works of the rebels. Not being able
vet To chronicle victory over any one of the
enemys works, we are unable To Judge how Sc
we're has been the loss sustained on the opposite
side. Nor has any information been obtained
concerning the number OF the enemys forces con
centrated at this locality. In the of subdu-
ing the first of the batteries, which il j. believed
can not much longer hold out against Us. an i'm
pediment To the taking immediate possession OF
it presents itself The guns of the battery mex;
lower down are of sufficient range to cover the
now besieged works. and transport endetv oring
to land troops at that point would he completed '
riddled. The infantry must, therefore. he landed
above, on the kentucky shore. marched back into
the country distance of three miles until solid
ground j. attained. and 50 10y a round about
course gain the coveted position.
Before the 'coiiIlon" had fairly opened to day
she'll from one Of the enemy's batteries came
whizzing over one of the mortar boats stationed
on the Missouri shore and buried itself in the mud
beyond without exploding, but scattering that de
lectlble compound Etyishly over the men who
were at dinner II was the first shot fired hv the
envy from the many aimed at this point which
has not fallen far short of tS intended destna
ton. IL closer invitation than mel
thought could he passed without notice. and an
answering 3 inch she'll from them soon after ex
plodei apparently within a short distance OF the
offending gun
The night To day might well be characterized
A. partial cessation OF hostilities a il was con
Quoted by the mortars. the Benton and Mound
City only assisting No casualties occurred OF
board the hotila and the replies of the enemy
we're delivered with by no means the accuracy
which Characterised their tire ia the hrst OF the
attack At evening the mortars we're again or
dered "a ire at intervals during the nsht.
The Transports Wisconsin and Pike arrived
from Cairo this evening with six additional NOR
tar botlS. which will be placed in position in III,
morning.
I'll possible that some dependence is now
placed upou assistance from the land forces oil
Gen Pope at New Madrid. only ten miles distant
~ the fleet above and that excellent commander
below The enemy are completely hemmei Ia at
Island 10. having NO opportunity fer escape tx
cep e. cross the peninsula and take % their boat.
below Point Pleasant. the extreme southern point
now occupied ~ cur forces. Rebel sunboats
were Yesterday eudeN0ring 10 Get az the river
from below. and also some from the Island. both
plans heing efIectually frustrated by our forces AT
New M1dfd
ttabca> Corpus.
Recently public attention has been again ii