Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-16
EArnsr FRom NEW mADRID

made tllc6 auNduCt ttofciLioAAio az u 10 o1O-A--
the position, out were successfully repulsed by
the shells thrown among them. An occasional
shot was thrown during the day, until evening.
Our loss was three killed and a few wounded;
that of the enemy unknown, but supposed to be
severe, as they were seen to carry quite mum
Der to the rear of their position.
Early Thursday evening a scout was sent in
BY Gen THOMPSON, with information that
large reinforcement, under Gen. sIGEL was ad-
vancing About ten o'clock another messenger
came in, and reported the force under SIGEL to
be forty regiments of infantry and four Of caval-
~, who expected TO arrive so as to storm the
works by midnight They were, it was stated
within two miles.
Acting upon this ini-rma ion it was dstermin-
ed to retreat to Island 10 and Tiptonville which
was done upon she gunboats the whole com
nand coming off safely except few pickets
+ who had no, come in when the boats left
In the movement, an the mounted guns were
abandoned, having been spiked. A portion
Of the ammunition was also left most Of tlle bag
gage, aud about one hundred mules
The gunboats were at Island 10 and Upton
vile, when the Grand Duke left. Smiths l54th
tennessee and a portion Of two other regiments,
were at Tiptonville, and the remainder at the
Island
No Information had been received at Upton
vile that the enemy had taken possession Of New
Madrid.
That the forces of the enemy have been great
/ ly exaggerated we DO not doubt, yet the retreat
was judicious one The opposing force was
too large to be successfully resisted, and a sac
rfce of life in what must have proved a fruit
less attempt to do SO, would have been inexcu-
sable
This movement gives no particular advantage
to tho enemy, as the position is not one of any
s5n,egical importance in defending Island 10
This great work is being pushed forward as rap
idly as possible, and our information is that it
VIII, It is believed, offer successful obstruction
to the passage of the enemy's gunboats. In
doing this New Madrid could offer no assistance
being below on the river. There is nothing 10
create dependency in the minds of the people.
who should continue hopeful and reliant. The
movement has been contemplated for some days,
and has only been postponed for contingency
that was about accomplished, but OF which it
would be imprudent 10 speak A day or two
later, at most, would have brought about an
evaeuafon, even had the enemy not made his
appearance.
LATER.
From gentleman Of intelligence who psrtici-
pated IL the conflict and evacuation Of New
Madrid, we derive the following
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
Al q oorzrit..f--. Of tilz-
naval commanders, on Thursday, the l4th inst,
it Was determined to evscuats the two forts at
New Madrid known as Fort Thompson and
Fort Bankhead The order was given about
half past ten, p. ~ The evacuation Of the lower
fort was intrusted to General Stewart, aud that
of the upper, (Fort Bankhead), to General
Walker.
The amount Of transportation being very lin /
tied, a large amount of property was necessarily
lost and destroyed. All the large guns (sbout
twenty in both forts have fallen into the hands
Of the enemy. They, however, were spiked and
Otherwise rendered unfit for service before leav-
ing. The limbers and caissons of Bankhead's
battery Were thrown into the river by order of
Gen. Walker. The guns and horses Of this bat
tery were brought of, and are now at Island TO-
Nearly all the tents, together with much person
81 baggage, was lost. The tents were mostly left
standing The evacuation was effected during
the very violent storm which occurred that night,
aud was completed at about a. NJ The enc /
my's picke.s were firing during mos. of the
time aud added in a considerable degree to the /
confusion incident to such an occasion. These |
points being in the hands Of the enemy, the river
may be said to be effectualy bloclladed from
above Tiptouvie
The distance by river. from this point to
Island TO- is about twenty miles, but the land /
transit is only five milss-so communication /
with the last named point is still open aud clear
Whether the enemy can erect batteries opposite /
Tiptonville remains to be seen. At present their
batteries arc short distance below Point Pleas /
ant, Mo, few miles above Tiptonvile On /
Thursday, at daylight, the enemy opened from
an advanced battery, erected during the preced- /
ing night, and kept up continuous hre on both /
forts and the guuboats during the day
The casualties on our side are small in num-
Der. being four or FIVE killed aud as many
wounded.
The gun5oats received great many sLot;
the Polk alone received four The trans
ports Louisville, Winchester and Mohawk all 4
received more or less injury none, however,
were disabled.
At4P. NJ the enemy advanced a light battery
within close range OF Fort Bsukhead, and
poured a rapid fre iu5o it. Itwas, however, re-
pdlsed very promptly by the gnus Of that fort,
s8d it is believed, with considerable loss, as the
balls were seen to fall among them, and they
retrsatsd very hastily and in great confusion.
Among tie killed on our side was DR. Bell,
the medical director of the division, and we'll
known in Memphis. He was standing in the
,a5i- Of the Mohawk between Gen. McCown
and tls captain Of the boat. The shot passed
between the general legs, cutting of both
egs Of Or. Bell above the ankle and going out
between the feet of the captain Amputaton
being necessary, was performed by Dr. Gus.
Ihorutou; but the shock was too great, and DR..
Bell died at a n. on Friday evening.
His loss is deeply lanented by the whole
army by whom he was so much loved, and who
held him ia she highest estimation His body
has been brought to this city.
o. the necessity for the evacuation Of the