The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-03-28
Battle at Island No. 10.

An official dispatch from Commodore
Foote, received at II O'Clock last night
at Cairo, and telegraphed hither. SAYS Is-
land No. 10 is harder to CONQUER than
Columbus, as the Island shores are lined
with forts, each fort commanding the one
above IT,
lam gradually approaching the Island
but still do not hope for much until the oe
currence Of certain events which promise
success.
Com Foote adds We are firing day
and night on the rebels, and we gain on
them. We are having some of the most
beautiful rifle practice ever witnessed.
The mortar shells have done fine exc
cution. One she'll vas landed on The enc
my's floating battery, and cleared the con
Germ IN short meter.
Cairo, March 90. 9 Pm
left the fleet above Island No. 10 yes.
terday afternoon The firing was only
moderate from the Benton and Mornd
/ City, at intervals of fifteen minutes each
the object being to reduce the upper bat
terry, two guns only OF which were left
standing, from which occasional shot.
were fired. Once these struck the water
close asteIn of one of the transports, and
within fifty feet of tug.
The distance is at least two miles. show
ing that the rebels have guns not only ri
! fled, but of first class.
The arm of service fully meets the ex-
pectation of our officers also. With a
little more practice we will make rapid
work with the rebel Notifications.
The range is from three to three and a
half miles
The sixteen mortars are now placed rea.
dy to open fire, and will make fe ,rful in.
roads IN their ranks
The enemy's works at that point both
on the mainland and the island, are much
more expensive than has been generally
supposed.
There are at least so heavy guns, and
over y, 600 troops Ten regiments have
been seen at one time, on dress parade, on
the main land. They have moved their
quarters out of reach of the mortars. but
the Island Is pretty well covered with tents
Their guns are many of them, of the Iarg-
est size, and several are rifed Our gun
boats and mOrtars will drive this force ont
More mortars Will be sent down if required.
The present number is enough to make il
aItoga Their too hot for the rebels. These
monsters reach all parts Of The works. deal
lug death and destruction in their path.
way. 1t Is evident, however, that all the
rebel batteries have enough bomb>proof
classmates for Their men, for they can be
seen to disappear when our shells fall in
to the bat cries. As soon as the unner
fort or battery is reduced, then our gun
boats will advance on The Others in detail.
thus reducing them one by one, with little
danger or loss to ourselves
Tuesday night the Mound City kept up
a steady fire on tie upper battery, PIE
venting the rebels from making their usu-
al nightly repairs. The result was easily
to be seen, in the morning, when they CONS
menced removing their dead and wound
ed from the classmates Of the fort Large
numbers we're carried out aud taken out
and carried back into the woods on
s'retchers, showing the deadly effect of
/ 'he shots from our well aimed guns on
the Mound City.
On Monday over 900 shots were fired
from the gunboats-mosty shelI-besdes
800 shell from mortars The effect. as
witnessed by The spectators was grand and
sublime, but to the rebels it was most ter.
rife
Ga Tuesday, the Commodore directed
that the fuses be cut down, with a view TO
destroy the works and dismouut the guns.
The result was most satisfactory.
he last gupa Of ba l.ylr 49,
batteries below the point, at distance Of
over two miles from the gunboats, which
threw their shot beyond them.
The floating battery called the Pelican
is so constructed as to be sunk to the wa
ter's edge, leaving nothing exposed except
the armament, which consists of nine
inch Dahlgreen guns, which was
built at Memphis for defence at that
point, was last week lowed up the river to
to Island No 10
Holilns' steam ram Manassas has also
been sent up to the Island.
The Pelican is an ugly looking custom
er, but has no propeIling power. and can
not otherwise than fall IA victim TO our
ponderous mortars, as soon as they can
be brought TO bear upon her
Gen. HaIIeck has sent hospital boats
sufficient to accommodate 300 PATIENTS
As yet but one man has been killed by
the enemy, A report was received this
morning from Sikestown, that jeff Thomp.
son was marching upon Cape Girardsau,
and pressing men and horse, into the Con.
federate service.
A skirmish had taken place between
the Union force and his advance, when
three fthe enemy were killed and wound
ed. Reinforcements have been sent to
the cape The steamer Continental ha.
lust arrived from the Tennessee river
Cairo March "a
A boat from below arrived here last
night She brings no decisive news Of
the fleet Her dates are up to Saturday
night
The bombardment had continued with
little interruption during Saturday, and
without any material change in the condi-
ton of our feet, or the rebel positions.
We can give no news of he movements
of the land forces.