Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-24
FLAGSHIP BENTON,

Navy Department, on the morning of Wednesday,
April g:
FLAGSHIP BENTON !
ISLAND No. TO- April 8, Via Cairo.
Ion. Gideon WelIes, Secretary of the Navy: have
to inform he Departm ut that since sent the tegr
lest night announcing the surrender to of Island No.
TO- ss0n has been takt of both tie Island and the
works upon the Tennessee shore by the gunboats and
troops under the command OF Gen. Buford.
Seventeen officers aud three hundred aud sxy-eght
prIyates besides one hundred of their sick and one hun
dred men emp 'yed on board the transport, in
hands, Ut conditonally prisoners OF war.
have caused hasty examination TO be made OF the
orts batteries and munitions of war captured. There
are eleven earthworks with seventy heavy cannon, vary
ing in calIbre from 81 to 100poundeIs rided.
The ma gezues. well supplied with powder, and
here are large quantities OF shot, shells ard other
munitions OF war, aud also great quantities of provis
ions. Four steamers at3at have fallen into hands
and two Others, with the rebel guaboat GrqmPns,
sunk, but will be easily raised
| Tie floating battery0f sixteen heavy guns turned
adr By the beIs, is sajd to be lying the Missouri
! shore, below New Madcid
! The enemy upon the mainland appear to have fed
with great precipitation after dark last night leaving,
IN many cas@s, Lafprcpared meals III their quarters
There have been no concert Of action between
the Iebel3 upon the island and those occupying the
shore; bat the latter fed leaving the former to their
| fate.
These works, erected with the highest engineering
skill Of great strength, and With their natural ad
vantages, would have been mpregnable if defended BY
men fighting in better cause.
! i combined attack by the naval and land forces
would have taken place this afternoon, tomorrow
morning, had not the rebels so hrStiy abandoned this
lsroDghld. To mature these plans Of attack, has alb
solutey required The twenty three days OF preparation
Gen. Pope IS mOmentari!y expected to arrive with
bis army at this point, be having successfully crossed
the river yesterday under heavy fire, which No doubt
led to the hasty abandonment Of the works last night
! ! am unoiGcjalIy informed that the two gun5oats
which galantly the fre OF the rebel batteries
few nights since yesterday attacked and reduced fort
of the enemy opposite, dsmOuntng eight heavy guns.
The following is a copy OF the order OF Gen. MaZall
on s8uciug the command OF the rebel forces on the III
! inst:
"Soldiers-We are strangers. The commander to
the commanded and each to The other Let me tell you
who | am.
Z" ana q General made by Baauregsrd-a General
selected by Generals Beaugegard and Bragg for this
command whe1 they knew il was 10 peril. They have
known ne for twenty years. Together we have stood
in the fields of McXic0t Give them your confidence.
Give il ne when | have ea.ned it
Soldiers, tie Mississippi Valley IS entrusted to your
courage, to your discipline, to your patience Exhibit
the vigilance and coOlDss O.. last night, aud bold it.
(Sigu"C) WIN. D. MA1ALLe
BcigaIier-Gereral Comma ding"
regret that the painful condition of my foot, still re-
quiring to crutches, prevented me from making
any personal examination Of the works. l was, there
FORE compelled 10 delegate Lieut. Commodore s. Phelps,
OF the flag ship Benton.
A. H. FooTF, Flag Officer
Commanding the Naval Forces.
CONGRATULATIONS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
WAsuIHGroE, April 9-Ihe following c0ngratula-
tory letter sent today to Flag Officer Foote, by
telegraph: