Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-18
CAPTURE OF ISLAND NO. 10.
FULL DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR,
Correspondence Of the Chicago Post.
OK Island No 10. MIssfsstrrt RtvER,
Tuesdav Anil IaC1


Island Ten has been abandoned The rebels have de-
parted in undiended haste, with the exception Of
FIVE hundred. who have surrendered A. prisoners of
Our victory m complete IN all except the capture Of the
whole rebel force the greater part of which scattered
through the swamps u this region, and may yet be
rounded overaken.
The Catondciet. having run the blockade proceeded
forthwith to the performance u her allotted duty The
rebels, to oppose any attempt that might be made TO
cross the river, had planted cannon-hed piecesaloug
the len bank n the river for distance Of twelve miles
extending from above New Madrid 10 beow Point Pleas
ant The Carondcet proceeded TO the latter place Civ
ing tho rebels an occasional brondsde BY The Re
vcfsr her she then moved the stream, and
opened her b'oadsdc guns Bfoadsde anrr broadside
was discharged A. she moved slowly and stcady IN the
stream The rebels fired their guns as she approached
aud fed in confusion those of them who slain
Thus twelve miles y rebel batteries were literally swept
out ~ existence. When the Pittsburgh arrived, Sunday
morning, she found the work accomplished One gun
boat took position below, the other above. the army
that was 90 cross and there waited to receive any rebel
crat that might venture to approach from either drco
ton With "hloody hands, and hospitaole but rather
moist graves"
Al u O'clock Monday our transports emerged from
the bayou Though which they have been long making
their slow aud tosome progress, and were once moro
upon The broad river but on the other eide Of the
my's position Immediately they commenced the per
ipmauce OF their allotted duty which transport
our army across the river BY O'Clock last evening
nine thousand men had been feued across, and the
peeaiion was that by O'Clock to-day 10000 men would
be in the position they occupy. Al that hour
simultaneous assault would have becu made upon the
rebel position by the guublas both above and below the
morafs would again have belched their thuuders AVID
of the biggest lights with big guns which the world
ever witnessed would have been scenf the rebels had
not run away l-whith they old. OF Ibis srt the flag
ohcer was appiscd by the rebel steamer which out
last night
The steamer the DE Soto, Red river packet as
am informed by he blue sideboard ON per upper works
The tug which oil 90 her brought the rebel messen-
ger--onc Lieut. Mcdowell, sprig Of 81 Louis rebesm
on board the hal ship This yOpHg Informed tho
commodore that be- had ifom ht officer in COM
mand Of the conlidfiaies the island with orders
surrender the island y he hlgoi,s tha f1tiliA-
" aiIf
render, but he asked somewhat sharrJ she
the command was The oacer said thsy haA rc,rsatsd
Where had they gone TO They had gone to Hiek--
really, Mir. Mcdowell did not know
Meanwhile, the gunboat st. LOUIS had been ordered 20
go up az cnce 70 Hickman aud join the Louisiana for
I'VE work 90 case te rebels should make their appear
aucc there Col Buiofd dispatched regiment Of infant
~ TO The seme No rebel soldiers, howtSer made their
| appearance there.
| Inc retreat iuglorious and disgracefl flight
According 20 the accounts given BY the prisoners them
selves thc rebel soldiers we're completely demuraized
The officers seem 20 have had no command over them
but rather 20 have shared their terrible fright When
our guuuoats run the blockade, and they fund them
selves unable to prevent H. both officers aud lost all
confidence Goa each other of TO- themselves They felt
thai Their Time was drawing nigh, aud when, about
O'Clock last evening they learned that Gen Popes army
was crossing the N hcl perceived that had arrived
The men, somehuw, had the affirmation almost soon
a. the officers Had Badam broke loose the could
not have rivaled that which told the flight Of these
rebellious wrctches presented Every man seized his
gun and iucontntntiy took to his heels Ii every
man for h self each striving his individual bottom
L
army should close UP the only avenue Of escape.
The uumber Of rebel troops the main land about
1000, Considerable part % the force, which time
reached O having been Withdrawn % reinforce Beau
regard At Counth The commanding officer was Briga-
der General Mccall. lie was speeialy detailed by
Bcauregard 20 succeed Bruader General McCown, who
was ordered 70 Richmond BOO command u this KEY Of
the Mississippi, De Is pleased can ID ia his proca.
nation, dated April g. assuming command The oriai.
nal " Ibis proclamation found an brigadior General
McCaiis late headquarters, that doughty commander
having been TOO busy DO taking care Of himstN 90 think
90 such trhing matters as important official papers
among them plan Of Fort Pillow lhe proclamation
| is somewhat curious document showing how very
yalorous rebel bagadier general may be only days
before ne ANONYMOUSLY tuus away sent me interest
ing document By telegraph in advance Of this letter.
lhe value Of captured property amounts to over
million Of dollars. here are nine steamboats--the
Yaz]o. II. K. W. Hill. Gr,mpus, Ohio Belle, Admiral
Champion, De Soto, Red Rover, and Mars-worh
500 0JO The first four scuttled and sunk, but
will be raised easily. There a5e serenity heavy position
OF the first class, OF them navy guns stolen
from Norfolk. There flu. mortars--snall af,irs
nothing like thirteeu-inch fellows There are over
lOOO pounds Of powder one single magazine contains
goo pounds Why they did NOT destroy it is mystery
only 10 be soved upon the supp si0n that they in
TOO much Of hurry % save themselves. There shot
and shell in vast Quantities There for 900
men. There is at least warehouse fun Of commits
sipnafy stores.
The suuken steamers will be ready fr use in three 81
four days messenger has already gone TO Cato TO
bring down one Of the large submarine steam elevators
;hcfe, which built expressly f0r lifting sunken
steamboats, SO We shall soon aid to our fleet Of trans
ports nae first class boats whose will
I be very apt 10 present the bill month";.
The fotincat aduiiTsiy and Of i'm
monse strength. The rebels commenced building them
before they up Columbus the breastworks
we'll settled and firm. Served by brave in better
they would have he'd the river much longer than
three weeks. Buthese fellows could stand gun
boats on both sides Of them, and thiiteen-inch bomb
shells In their midst The effect Of these shells upon
he island truly terrific. The earth is plowcd and
furruwed as with an earthquake. Small cayerns were
eXcavaed by the tremendous explosions aud ia place
uncXpoded shell has penetrated the earth the depth
" sirteei lcet leaving round hole like wall. Huge
cottonwood tecs, two and three feet u diameter
t aud blown 20 atoms lhe rebels cuudnot stand such
MUSCLES, aud would not They Constructed rat holes "
by-icling ia ge aud placing short logs slanngly
against thcm, covering The whole with earth Into these
they craWed with the utmost agility whenever the voice
Of mortar heard. Every battery the island IS
provided with one Of these rathoes ia convenient proE
UNITY for the gunntrs II is difficult TO conceive Of an
engine terrible in its destructive effects the dis
lance Of three miles than these enormous shells,
No rebel g'mboais we're captured, and it is probable
they bad none az the island except the Gampus which
they sunk This nothing but common siern-wheel
steamboat mounted with two small guns.
The floating battery, about which much has been
said was discovered yesterday afternoon floating down
the river toward New Madrij One Of the batteries
there hred upon IT, but receiving response the machine
was then boarded and found To be abandoned. IL
nsvgaed to the shore and secured Point Pleasant
and It is TO be added 70 the number Of trophies. Its
guns, however. are all there is to it Of any value
HOW THE CARONDELET RAN TIE BLOCKADE.
Correspondence Of the St Louis Democrat
On BOARD rHs GusBoAr CARoNDELET,)
orr NEw MADaID, April g.
On the 3Oih ult Commodore Foote addressed to Capt
Henry Wake, commanding the gunhoat Carondelet, an
order, ftom which make the following extracts Its
complete publication would reveal Improper information
UNITED STATES FLAG STEAMER BENros,
OEF No, 10, March 80. 1852
"SIR; You will avail yourself Of the first fog rainy
night and drift your steamer down past the rebel bate
res the Tennessee shore and Island No 10, until you
reach New Madrid.
assign you this it is vitality important the capture
If this place.
On the delicate aud somewhat hazardous service that
assign you, must enI0in upon you the Importance Of
keeping your lights secreted in the hold, put out
keeping your officers and from speaking ALL when
passing the Forts, above whisper and then only du
and Of using every other preoauon TO prevent the
their batteries.
III you successfully perform this duty assigned YOU
which you willingly undertake, il will reflect the high
credit upon you and al belonging your vessel and
doubt not but that the government will appreciate and
reward your services.
Commenting you and all under your command to
the care and protection Of God who rules the world and
directs all things, am,
Z" Very respertfaly, your ebedent servant
"A n FUCtH Flaa Officer
" Commanding Naval ForsPS trsatesn Waters
"P S. Should yea meet with dAsastsr YOU will, as a
last resort destroy the steam naehery and il possible