, 1862-03-21

! Harder to Conquer than Coluu-
bus"
Third and Fourth Day Of the
Fight.
THE OPERATORS OF WEDNESDAY.
Sixteen Mortars in Position.
The Situation--Force Of the Enemy.
THEIR EFfR0ATS--R4TTF8IE

WASHINGTON, March s0-An official dig |
patch from Com Fcot=, received at u o'clock /
Last night at Cairo, aud te!egr:lphed hithcr, !
says: "Islant! NJ. 10 is harder to conquer
than Columbus, as The Island shores are lined |
with forts, each fort commanding the one
above it. am gradually approaching the
Island, but still do not ilopc for much until
the occurrence Of certain events which prom- :;
ise certain success =
Con. Foote adds - {. ii-a a7c firing day aud
night on the rebels snd wc gain on them.
We are having leome Of the most beautiful
rifle. prsctice ever witnessed. The mortar
shells have done fine execution. One shell
was LANDED on their 1loatlng battery, and
cleared t. 2a2cc,u u short nctre.''
From our own Rcporter-1
THIRD DAY.
Sunday, March 16.-Last night the fleet laid
on the Missouri shore about half a mic below
the point, around which, on the opposits shore,
battery is located, the head OF Island No. 10
commencing some two, miles further down.
The gunboats took positions among the trans
ports and low bosts, the better to protect
them The ammunition boats in the mcan-
time had noored to the hank nearly mile
above us, and, Is subsequently proved, in Ill
unsafe position Tie shore to which VIC were
noorcd was wet, swampy bottom, covered
with thick growth Of young cotton woo5, and
iutersected with little creeks running in every
possible direction, and as crooked as the most
pe1verse Iam's horn. Despite ihc tathomless
mud and sloughs, our troops landed from the
transports. The sound of axes and the crash
Of falling trees resounded through the woods,
aud soon fires were brightly burning and the
sayory smell Of coffee and pork, SO grateful
to tho oltactories Of the campaigner, WIS
waited to Us, About two o'clock in the
morning number Of scouts from the rebel
cncampment upon the other shore, crossed in
transport and struck across the swamp down
towards our ammunition boats. Several shots
were fired at tue sentinels upon the boats, ,*for-
tUnate1y without effect. Tic greeting, how
ever, seemed a5 timely caution aud the boats
at once steamed down the river and came
under the Concstoga's guns for protection.
With this exception, the night passed quietly
away.
About seven clock, this morning, the fleet
was again III motion, tle guuboats taking pa
sifion abreast the point, the flagship lying
beyond it in the face Of the enemy's upper
Dsttcry, hut out OF their range, The forenoon
sas CONSUMED Il u 17e 6isp.Eiiion 81 the NOR
tar riffs. The whole ten were anchored to
the shore at 1he point, the lowest one upon
the very apex and barely out Of range Of the
euen,.'s upper battery Ia the meantime the
Benton sent ler compliments to te,e battery
in The Shape Of 3 few shells, but they fell
shcrt, striking in the ~ater and sending up a
column Of spray high into the air-
at tlis time left the Wilson aid went On
board the gunboat Pittsburgh, Capt. Thomp-
sou, i'll order to get q better view Of the NOR
tar practice The Change Of position also
gave nc a better view Of the rebel works.
Looking through glass, the upper battery,
1ocated opposite the poi1t, seemed to be Sim
pie earthWork eight or ten feet IN height. I
could count distinctly seven guns mounted
without protection, and one apparently case
mated The Stars and Bars we're lyiag from
the lover corner Of the works, and the
aItillerists could be plainly seen walking upon
the parapets, giving evidence Of warm work
ahead From this battery the timber skirts
the bank down the river for a half mile or so.
From the end Of the timber the bank graau.
ans alees' Ane ea@'e"e e'esp1en oesos PIT.
! baps twenty five feet above high water mark.
Upon the highest point another battery has
been erected, apparently Of cotton bales, bu,
| the guns could not be distinguished with thE
| glass. In rear and to the right Of the fortid,
s4'tons see nan1oer .. ounolngs' over "mct
| dif6 Jel1ow flag, Indicating hospital Lit
| ~ eonnoence' no"ese1, Is 1eposeo IN LII
| n's, t1on. US nes' proximity 10 tne 1o10uea
'1o"' sno 'ton' sap1eaoens esents "a1co oe
se4.eo lo.oas. ne1o~ .n'e iol''ncs'lon snor
~ ss >"!e"ees Aolslno ~ ~ npon I'LL
"eae VI "1acu ~ . o'.1oefy oi iour Guns &C
~ .!ot4 ~ posil1oa td'
eNe sfaao - not *istofc@ iae tc'ts ot Lit
iepe4a slfs1cn "ons Inc aser 1of an ammcns'
oastance, indicating an army OF ten or hftee1
Thousand mep- Still farther down the rive
commences another battery skirtlng along tn
edge OF the shore Tor Some distance. apparent
J OF plaan cartnTofks. There arc seyera
buildings IN tic rear Q. tlc works, and hoat
leg battery IN front, By n.a;sF supposed to b
the ram MANASSAS Ihe aver Is Lined Wit
transports plying from the head OF int islam
to tac main shore and seemingly conveying
away troops.
| AT n'ne o'clock tbs forenoon the Bento
commenced gradually dropping down til
river, sending Shell 10 the cnemJ's uppe
battery occasionally A lew minute
utter Line a steamer was scch comm
up 'ne sa'e' from Inc aslano. Nearer an
bearer sue apploacnss Us, until We can rea
U<A1 54A Ia 1u&+