Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-22
Island Number1O.

Island Number 10.
\ correspondent of the Washington Repub-
lican, who is familiarity acquainted with Island
Number 10 and the region of country round
about it, gives the following description of that
island
"lsland No. 10 is situated in sharp left
hand bend (going down streamI OF the Missis
sippl river, about sixty five miles below Cairo,
and about ten miles above New Madrid
Inc island lies close in to the left hand, or
kentucky shore-the main channel and main
width OF the river being between the island
anu the right hand or Missouri shore. So
abrupt Is he curve Of the river at this point,
tha', in going down stream, the entire river
appears to go TO the left of the island, until
you come within a mile or so of the head of
the island, when the river opens suddenly upon
your right. The point at the right side, on
rue main land, is very sharp, and directly op-
pOslte the head of the island. This explains
why our gunhoats directed all their efforts
against the upper batteries. They could not
get at the lower batteries, or those upon the
side OF the island, in range, without exposing
themselves too openly to the upper batteries.
The channel OF the river which, above the
point, runs close to the right shore, bears off
from the point seemingly above the head OF
the island. To pass on below tile point would
bring our boats in range of the batteries on the
sue OF the island. When near the head of
Tue Island, the channel turns abruptly to the
right, passing much nearer 10 the island than
TO the Missouri shore. The river at the left
OF Inc Island is very narrow but the depth of
water renders the use Of boats Indispensable
to a transit between the island and the main
land.
From the foot of the island, the river runs
northwest blending to the right stilll for about
eight miles, when it begins to turn suddenly
to the left, making Il sharp right hand bend
In the blight of this bend is situated New Mad.
rid. 30 sharp is the bend in which Island
NO. ~ ls situated, that the east and west line
DIVIDING kentucky and Tennessee is here cut
on and tile traveller going down stream here
leaves Aenlucky, enters Tennessee, aud in
mile or two re-epters a portion of Kentucky
wholly disconnected from the balance of tile
state-a genuine seeded portion
Ihe distance from New Madrid to Point
Pleasant which Gen. Pope OCCUPIED before
the taking of New Madrid) is about ten miles
4 he distance from tie foot or Island No. 10 to
folnt Pleasant, by way of the river is over
twenty miles across the land il is less than
hve miles New Madrid Bend is shaped like
horseshoe. New Madrid being at the toe.
anu Island No. 10 and Point Pleasant being at
tue ends OF the shoe, respectively This ex.
plains how easy it would be for the rehels IN
low New Madrid. They were reported as
having transports at Merriweathers Landing.
III tennessee, and nearly opposite Point
Pleasant, which is in Missouri.
Island No 10 was probably separated from
The main land by the earthquakes which DC.
1o oiIeu IN IN lhat vicinity In the year Il think
1871. That halt of the island next To The main
ri er and Missouri shore is from, ten 10 6ttaer
ieet lower Than the remaining half, the lower
dlftance having apparently sunk down thai
distance boldly and as perpendicularly as the
side Of a house. Though the bluff has beer
graded by the operations of time, there are un
nslakable evidences that when the lowe
portion sank it went straight down. The isl
and as well as the surrounding country bear
many evidences of the terrible commissions q
nature at that time"
The st. Louis Democrat has the following
account of what the feet had done at Islanc
Number Ten, up to last Sunday night. Tn,
feet arrived there Saturday afternoon, anC
that evening two of the mortar boats threw
thirty four shells at the island. The Demo
cat says
DARING reconnaissance was made on Sat
u'oay night III a cutter by party. They
dropped down the stream. and RIM aioone, ~,
Ne very muzzles of the water batteries 40
near mat they could see and conn, ,b, -
anu emorasures OF those OF the three on ,ha
b'uif; thence across down the river in ,he
man cuannel on the north side OF the island
to II point some distance below ,h".nl
through bayou which runs across the is,I'
mus, and back TO the fotilIa. This adysntur,
was most daring one, aud the inlormat,o'
game very important. The upper battery !
said to be nearly below the crossing OF tn
Tennessee state line. The attacking vessel
lay IN the waters OF Kentucky and Missouri
firing across the boundary into the hostile ba
teries IN Tennessee.
On Sunday morning, the Benton, flag shin
dropped down from her m0oriDgs in the mori
ing aud fired Il few shots, elicting no repl
from the batteries. Soon a large white fla
was exhibited from the upper battery on tn
shore, which was waved theoretically and tb
nr'ng from the Benton suspended. Lieu
bishnr, 10 one Of the tugs, approached th
bAiirry TO Inquire what was meant. He wa