The national Republican., 1862-03-19
Inland NO. 10.

We are indebted 10 friend, we'll acquainted
with the locality, for The following description
of dust now) Interesting point;
Island No. 10 Is situated In q sharp l,lt hand
bend (golpg down stream) Of the Mississippi
river, about eixty-6ve miles below Cairo, aud
about ten miles above New Ma lrid. Tn,
leland lies close In to the LEFT hand, or Kentucky
shore-the main channel and main witr .
the river being between the island and tn
right hand, or Missouri shore. So abrupt Is the
curve Of the river at this point, that, 10 going
down stream, the entire river appears to 60 to
the lett of the island, until you come within q
mile or so Of the head Of the island, when the
river opens euddenly upon your right. The
point. right side, main land, IL very sharp, and
directly opposite the head Of the Island. This
explains why our gunb6sts directed their ei-
forts against the upper batteries. They could
not get ut the lower batteries, or those upon
the side Of the Island, In range, without expo
aing themselves too openly to the upper bat
t,ries.
The channel Of the river, which, above the
point, runs close to the right shore, bears of
from the point seemingly above the head Of
the island. To pass on below the point would
bring our boats In range Of the batteries on tile
side Of the Island. When near the head Of the
ibiuuu, lut Cuuuuel turus W lub TlRI'
passing much nearer TO the island III n to The
Missouri shore. The river at the l-ft OF the
island is very narrow, but the depth of water
renders the use Of boats indispensable to q
transit between the island and the main land Z.
From the foot Of the IslaId. the river run.
northwest blending to the right stil) for about
eight miller, when II begins TO turn suddenly to
the left. making sharp right hand bend. 10
the bigh. Of this bend is situated New Madrid.
So sharp is the bend In which Island No. 10 Ia
situated, that the east and vest ll1c, dividing
Kentucky ane Tennessee, Is here cut of; ano
the traveller going down stream, here leaves
Kentucky, enters Tennessee, and 10 mile or
two re-enters q portion Of Kentucky wholly
disconnected from the balance Of the State-,a
genuine seeded portion.
The distance from New Madrid to Port Pleas
ant, (Which General Pope occupied he fore the
iakirg OF New Medrid, Is about ten miles. The
distance from the foot or Islaud No. 10 to Point
Pleasant, by way OF the river. Is ovCr twenty
mles; acrOes the lar d II Is less than five miles.
New Madrid Bend is shaped like horse shoe
New Madrid being ut the toe, and Island No.
10 aud Point Pleasant being at the eEd, Of the
shoe, respectively. This explains how easy II
would be for the rebels to evacuate the Island
and embark at point below New Madrid
They were reported as having transports al
Mrrriweather's Landing, which is on the left
bank Of the river-in Tennessee-and nearly
opposite Point Pleasant, which is in Missouri.
Island No 10, was probably separated from
the main land by the earthquakes which oc
cured In that Vicinity, 10 the year q thiuk)
1911. That half of the island next TO the maiu
river and Missouri Shore Is from ten to fifteen
feet lower than the remsing half the lower
portion having, apparently, SINK down that
distance boldly, and as perpendicuatly as the
side OF house. Though the bluff has bet q
graded by the operations Of time, there are un
mis,akable evidences that when the lower po..
ton sank, It went straight down. The island
as we'll as all the surrounding country, bears
many evidences Of the terrible commissions o
uatute at that time.