The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-04-18
General Pope's Official Report Of the
Operations at New Madrid and Island
No. 10.
ExPEDrTIoNARY Forces, }
New MADRID. Mo. , April 0. {


.MGior General II. ". Haiieck:
The canal across the peninsula opposite
Island No. l0-and for tho idea Of which
am indebted to General Schuyler Hamilton
was completed by Col. Bissoll's Engineer
Regiment, and four steamers were brought
through on tho night of the 9th. The heavy
batteries had thrown up below Ti2ionviIe
completely commanded tho lowest point of
tho high ground on the Tennessee shore.
entirely cutting off the enemy's retreat by
water; his retreat by land has never been
possible through the swamps. On the night
of tho 4th, Capt. Wake, of tho navy, ran
the onomys batteries at Island No. 10, with
the gunbOat Carondelet, and reported to
me here. On the night of the sixth tho
gunboat Pittsburg also ran the blockade
Our transports were brought into the river
from the bayou, where they had been kept
concealed, at daylight on the seventh, and
paine's division loaded. The canal had
been pr6digiously laborious work. 1t was
twelve miles long, six of which were through
a heavy timber which had to be sawed off
by hand four feet under water.
Tho enemy has lined tho opposite shore
with batteries, extending from Island 10 to
Tiptonville, Merriweathor Landing, to pre-.
vent the passage of the river by this army.
directed Capt. Wake to run down with
the two gunboats at daylight on the 7th, 10
tho point selected for crossing, and silence
the onemys batteries noar IT, He per-
formed the service gallantly, and l here
boar testimony to the thorough and brilliant
manner in which this officer discharged his
difficult duties with me, and 10 the hearty
and earnest zeal with which, at all hazards,
he co operated with me-
As soon as he signailed me- the boats con.
tanning Pano's Division moved out from
the landing and began to cross tho river.
Tho passage of this wide, furious river, by
our largo force, was one OF the most mag
nifcent spectacles l ever witnessed. By
twelve o'clock that night, the 7th, all the
forces designed to cross tho river were over,
without delay or accident.
As soon as we commenced to cross, the
enemy began to ovacuato Island NO. 10,
and his batteries along the shore. The di.
visions were pushed forward to Tiptonyille
as fast as they landed, Pane's leading. The
enemy were driven before him, and al.
though they mado several attempts to form
IN line of battle and mako stand, Paine
did not once deploy his columns. The enc
my was pushed all night vigorously until at
four o'clock A. Nj, he was driven back upon
the swamps and forced to surrender. Three
Generals, sevon Colonels, seven regiments.
several battalions of infantry, Ave companies
of artillery, over ono hundred heavy siege
guns, twenty. four pieces of field artillery,
an immense quantity of ammunition and
supplies, several thousand stand of small
arms, II great number of tents, horses, wag,
ons. etc, etc, have fallen into our hands.
Before abandoning Island No. 10, tho
enemy sunk tho gunbOat Grampus, and six
of his transports. These last am raising,
and expect TO have ready for service in a
few days. The famous floating battery was
scuttled, and turned adrift with all her
guns aboard sho was captured and run
aground in sboal water by our forces, at
New Madrid.
Our success is completo and overwhelming.
Our troops, as expected, behaved glorious
ly. will, in my full report. endeavOr TO
do full justice to all. Brigadier Generals
Paino, SraGloy and Hamilton crossed the
river, and conducted their divisions with
untiring activity and skill am especially
indebted to them. General Paine, fortunate
in having tho advance. exhibited unusual
vigor and courage, and had the satisfaction
to receive tho surrender of the enemy. OF
Colonel Rissell, OF the Engineer regiment,
can hardly say too much. Full OF resource
uutiring and determined, he labored night
and day. and completed work which will
DO monument of enterprise and skill
We have crossed this great rivor with a
large army, the banks of which we're lined
with batteries ofthe enemy TO oppose our
passages have pursued and captured all bis
forces and material OF war. and have moi
lost man, nor met with an accident
JOHN POPE,
Major General.