Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-20

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TIE Town IN THE HANDS or OUR TROOPS.
New MADRID, March IA, via
CAIRc, March 16.
New Madrid is taken. The rebels
evacuated both forts last night, cross
ing the river BY means of transports
during heavy storm.
They left fourteen heavy guns, a
large quantity of ammunition, tents,
camp equipage. several flags, about
three hundred horses and mules, be-
sides wagons, stores, officers baggage.
&c.
The rebels had also nine gunboats
here during the fight. which probably
passed down the river under cover of
the storm.
The principal 6ght commenced yes
terday morning at daylight, and con-
tinued without intermission till dark
Two of the rebel gunbovts were dis
sbled by our guns, and three Of the
guns in the lower fort dismounted.
The rebels spiked all the guns which
they were unable to remove, and threw
a number into the river. One Of their
transports was sunk in the river two
miles above.
The rebel loss is not known; our own
was exceedingly small-probably less
than one hundred.
The regiments chiefly engaged were
the Twenty seventh, Thirty-ninth, For
ty-tbird and Sixty-third Ohio, and the
Tenth and Sixteenth Illinois, with the
First Regular infantry, and Col. Bis
sells Engineer Regiment.
The victory was won entirely by the
land forces under Gen. Pope.
The gunboats did not arrive.
1t is reported that island No. 10 is
also evacuated.
ST. LOUIS, March Is. - Brig Gen.
Pope, in dispatch to General Halleck,
says:
"Our success at New Madrid has
been even greater than was reported
Twenty-Five pieces of heavy artillery,
consisting of "a and rifed 32pounders;
two batteries of field artillery; an i'm
mense quantity Of fixed ammunition;
several thousand small arms; hundreds
of boxes of musket-cartridges; three
hundred mules and horses; tents for an
army of 1900 men, and an immense
quantity of other property OF not less
value than 100000 has fallen into
our hands. Their men only escaped.
"The enemy's whole force is demor-
allied and dispersed in the swamps on
the opposite side of the river. The
enemy abandoned their works SO hur-
riedly as to leave all the baggage Of
their officers and the knapsacks of their
men. their dead unburied, their sup
pers on the table, and candles burning
in their tents.
ga furious thunder storm, which
ragged all night, enabled the enemy to
get across the river without being dis
covered.
"Our heavy battery was erected
during the night of the leth, within
eight hundred yards Of the enemy's
wosks, and opened fire at daylight on
the 18th, just thirty-four hours after
the guns were delivered to US at
Cairo.
During the whole day yesterday
our lines were drawn closer around
their works. under furious FIRE Of six
ty pieces of artillery. A fear of an
assault on their works at daylight in
duced them to flee precipitately during
the night.
"Many prisonsrs have been taken;
also the colors Of several Arkansas
regiments.
"Our loss is about fifty killed and
wounded.
"HolIins was in command of the
feet, and Gems. McConn. Stuart and
Gnatt in command Of the land forces.
"The gunboats went down the river.
General Pope has twenty-five heavy
guns planted in the enemy's works,
which command every part of the
rivar