The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-11
The Carondelet Running the Blockade at
Island No. TO-
We find in the New York Times the following

Island NO. H.
We find in the New York Times the following
graphic description Of this achievement
The preparations made were few. On the por
side fatboat was dashed. loaded with Dales .
pressed hay, and calculated To afford consider
BILE protection against batteries located on TN
kentucky shore. If they got through safel.
she would need fuel, and to supply this barge
laden with coal was dashed to the opposite side
and by balancing 5hc Jrcastwork Of hay, enabled
her to be more easily handled. During the day
(Friday) two Of her bow guns were removed
and their places supplied with riaed Dab grer
pieces Of 80 and II pounds callbre respectively
| AT 10 o'clock she cast loose, and started sloWlJ
down the stream. At the same time heavy
clouds had overspread the sky, and genuine
tropical (in size) thunderstorm came bowling
up the river 1t did not rain III the ordinary
meaning Of the term, buG whole CULTS of water
came pouring down in masses. Nor did 1t thun-
der and Tighten in the usual meaning given to
those words, but it roared at Us as ii all the
electric batteries of north, south, east and west
had concentrated their forces, and were below
ing at US in unison, while the lightning in each
broad flash was 80 vast and 50 vivid, that 1t
seemed as if the gates of solne hell like that OF
Milton were opened and shut every instant, SUI
itring the whole fierce reflection OF the internal
lake 10 flash across The sky.
AT such II time the CArondelet lifted her an
Choir, and slowly swung into the stream, watched,
through the almost binding flashes, by thousands
OF eager eyes, whose owners, regardless OF the
driving storm. crowded the decks Of the other
gunboats and transports, to watch the horoc
undertaking.
Slowly ste swung round till hauled down
stream, and then she pushed straight ahead,
keeping we'll over toward the Island. We could
see her almost every sccond-every brace, port
and outline could be seen with startling distinct
ness enshrouded by Il bluish- white glare OF light,
and then her black form, for the next instant,
would become merged in the intense blackne:s
that lay lpon the river like pail.
VITA beating hearts We saw her arrive oppo"
site to, and pass The first battery on the Ken
tucky shore, without demonstration from the
enemy But just below WAS another battery,
whose auns had often pitched their immense
balls clear distance Ut Jour miles and with
hearts whose beating could almost, it seemed,
be tleGrd beneath cur jackets, we watched her
slowly approaching, Ia checkers of darkness
and flame, the dreaded WORKS \ crashing peal
Of lhunder--l bllndn. flash of light, which
scarcely had disappeared when Il broad blaze of
1dlnc burst from The Publications, followed al
most INSTANTLY by d second and u third. A few
lnsti.nts later, and the reports came up to us
dn)led by the roar ct the storm
NO reply from the Carondelet. Slowly she
steamed ahead, the sky all abla2c about her.
the kentucky shore vomiting fierce flames tho
thunders OF the storm and the roar Of the rebel
artillery commlnglng, as if heaven and earth
had joined TO crush the audacious intruder.
Ia about twenty minutes the Carondelrt had
passed below the island, chased ali the way by
the outbursting flashes along the shore, roared
at by the thunuers above, basct by the rain and
buitete0 by the savage winds Ihcn the flashes
along the shore ceased, and then came IL few
moments Of TRIBE suspense. Had she gone
down, Or was she drifting helpless IN the swift
current? just then the roar of u Gun came
up family from below, then another, and an
other 1t was the signal that she had passed
through safely; and then there went up such
thunders OF cheers and hurricanes Of shouts
from the Watching crowds, that even the storm
itself was out-roared and the voice OF our jubi-
lauon sent down to the rebels, who were gnash-
ing their teeth in bafed rage behind their for
tications.
10 conclude, will add. that II shots were
fired at the Carcndelct, not one of which struck
her She lay off last nj hit. Il short distance
above New Madrid, and this morning early
steamed up to the landing
Such another scene OF rejoicing at her arrival
was probably never witnessed. Men hurrahed,
cried, laugned-they fired cannon, tossed up
their hats; and finally their excitement
eliminated in Selling the crew of the boat tina,
came ashore from the Carondelet, and carrying
them on their shoulders in triumph all over the
town.