The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-04-17
The Surrender of Island No 10.


The Surrender of Island No 10. Jc-
The Flag Of Truce andthe Earand.-
The occupation By our forces
Description Of the Rebel Batteries.
-Onoard to Memphis. e-r
Oh BOARD GuNBoAr ST. LOUIS.
TUESDAY, April 8, 1862.
Shortly after dark, this evening, our
pickets camc in with the intelligence
that a steamer had set ont from the
main shore aud was heading apparent.
ly for the point behind which our fleet
is lying. We could distinctly make
out her course by the sparks from her
chimneys. When about mile distant,
she sounded six whistles but no answer
was made from the flag ship. The
strange steamer continued approaching
very slowly and tIinidly, sounding her
whistle every minute or two. She roun-
ded the point very cautiously, with her
fire doors open, lights displayed from
her cabins, and three lights from her
chimneys. The Benton then displayed
her lights, and answered the whistle.
Still the strange steamer came very
cautiously, as if anticipating a broad
side from the gunboats which loomed
darkIy before her, until she was nearly
up to the stern of the st. Louis, when
the latter answered her repeated whis-
ties. The Benton again signalled her,
and she shot rapidly across the stream,
lying to within an eighth of mile
from the flag ship. The steamer
proved to be the De Soto, having OH
board Lieuts. Mcdowell and Martin,
dispatched by Capt. Humes, the senior
officer in command at the Island, tc
offer a conditional surrender. They
proceeded to the flag ship, and had
an interview with the Commodore
Without troubling the rebel officer:
with any long conversation, the Com
modore promptly informed them tha
it must be either an unconditional sur
render or a fight. The De Soto re
turned for reply. The fleet at once
got into battle order and awaited tn,
answer, which came about midnight
surrendering the Island, unconditional,
| THE OCCUPATION.
At one O'Clock this morning the Ben
ton sent over orders 10 the st. Loui
and Mound City, to drop down ant
take possession. The St. Louis wa
first under way. Rapidly we ronnde,
the point, and with the aid of tn
strong current fast neared the shor
batteries in the track pursued by tn
; Carondelet and Pittsburg a few night
since. Then the batteries were wrap
! ped in a blaze of light, and balls hurle,
through the air like hail. Now W
pressed under the frowning batterie
which loomed blackly against us, bu
the grim dogs were silent. Silent a
if death reigned all along the shore
In less than twenty minutes we rounde
to at the head of the Island. TIL
night was intensly dark, and from tn
wheelhouse, 1 could barely make ou
the dim outline of the shore. The bal
. teries l could not distinguish. A fe'
lights twinkled here and there anon
the camps. The ST. Louis signalle
the Island by whistling, but no repl
! could be obtained. Fearing from tn
e silence lest some treachery might b
+ meditated, the drum beat to quarter
r the guns were shotted and every pr,
e paration was made for the emergenc,
e In the meantime, Captain Paulding an
y Purser Lew Curry set out in the ship
yawl, but owing to the bold bluffs coul
> not find landing. A consultatio
was held with Capt. Kitty of the Noun
City, and it was determined to ancht
: in the stream and wait until dayligl
# before making any further movement
n | retired to rest, but the excitement
e the occasion precluded all attempts
dd sleeping. Only few hours before "
% had been blazing into each others fac
lef and now, without the loss of sing
t. man, were lying under the batterie
T. If the rebels cannot hold island No.
d what can they hold !?
le At early dawn Twas upon deck TT
"a sight was indeed formidable on
$ Upon our right, the powerful six-g,
,e battery at the head of the Island; upt
/ our left, an equally powerful six.gl
battery upon the main shore. "
: We were hemmed in between two fire
- which, in case of treachery, must ha
: proved our utter humiliation. Dow
lit the. stream the banks were lined wi
y. steamers. Along the shores and up
,oI oI the wharfboats were tiers upon tiers
nd valuable stores. The tents were ST
he standing upon-the main shore, but
w W one was invisible save here and the
y. scattered detachments of CONT
d 10 bands, and groups of people who aft
IS wards proved themselves by their az
er to be secessionists right in the face
In our gunboats. Upon the island, ho
ever there were plenty of artilleri
leaning upon the parapets, or idly lour
ing about, gazing at the gunboats VI
curious eyes,