The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-19
GKN. POPEs REPORT.
Ope ratious 1t New Madrid and Island
NumboF 10.

50 =
ExpxprrIoNARY FoRCEs, New Madrid, MOI
t.' April 9, 1862.
Major General h. W. HALLEcK:
The canal across the peninsula opposite Island
No. 1O-and Tor the idea Of which am indebt.
Cd 10 Gen. SCHUYLER Hamilton--was completed
by Col. Bisselrs engineer regiment, and four
steamers were brought through on the night OF
the 9Th. The heavy batteries had thrown up
below Tptonyille completely commanded the
lowest point of the high ground on the Tennes
see shore, entirely cutting of the enemy's re-
treat by water; his retreat by land has never
been possible through the swamps. On the
night Of the 4th Capt. Wake, Of tho navy, ran
the enemies batteries at Island No. 10, with the
gunboat Carondolet, and reported to me here
On the night Of the 9th the gunboat Pittsburg
ran the blockade. Our transports we're brought
into the river from the bayou, where they had
been kept concealed, at daylight on the seventh
and Paine's division loaded. The canal has been
a prodigiously laborious work. II was twelve
miles long, six of which were through heavy
timber which had to be sawed of by hand four
feet under water.
The enemy has lined the opposite shore with
batteries, extending from Island 10 to Upton
vile, Mcrriweather Landing, to prevent the pas.
sage of the river by this army.
directed Capt. Wake TO run down with the
two gunboats at daylight on the 7th to the
point selected for crossing, and silence the ene-
my's batteries near it. He performed the SER
vice CALAMITY, and here bear testimony to the
thorough and brilliant manner 10 which this Of
fcer discharged his difficult duties With me; and
to the hearty and earnest zeal with which, at all
hazards, he co.operated with me.
As soon as he signalled me, the boats con-
tanning Paine's Division, moved ont from the
landing and began to cross the river. The pas
sage of this wide, furious river, by our large
force, was one OF the most magnificent specta-
Giles ever witnessed. By twelve o'clock that
night, the 7th, all the forces designed to cross
the river were over, without delay or accident.
As soon as we began to cross, the enemy be-
gan to evacuate Island No 10, and his batteries
along the shore. The divisions were pushed
forward to Tiptonville as fast as they landed,
Paine's leading. The enemy was driven before
him, and although they made several attempts to
form in line of battle and make stand, Paine
did not once deploy his columns. The enemy
was pushed all night vigorously, until at o'clock
A. NJ, he was driven back upon the swamps and
forced to surrender. Three Generals, seven Co
lones, seven regiments, several battalions of in
fantry, FIVE companies of artillery, over one
hundred heavy seige guns, twenty-four pieces Of
field artillery, an immense quantity OF ammuni.
ton and supplies, several thousand stand OF
small arms, great number OF tents, horses,
wagons, &C., &c, have fallen into our hands.
Before abandoning Island No. 10, the enemy
sunk the gunboat Grampus, and six of his trans
ports. These last am raising, and expect to
have ready for service in few days. The ia.
nous floating battery was scuttled and turned
afoat with all her guns aboard, she was captured
and run aground in shoal water by our forces at
Madrid
Our success is complete and overwhelming
Our troops, as I expected, behaved goriously.
will in my full report endeavor to do full just
ice to all. Brgadiers General Paine. Stanley
and Hamilton, crossed the river and conducted
their divisions with untiring activity and skill.
1 am especially indebted to them. Gen. Paine,
fortunate in having the advance, exhibited unu-
sua vigor and courage, and had the satisfaction
to receive the surrender of the enemy. OfCol.
Bissel Of the Engineer regiment, can hardly
say too much. Full of resource untiring and
determined, he labored night and day, and com.
pleted a work which will be monumnnt of en-
terprise and skill.
We have crossed this great river with a large
army. the banks Of which were lined with bat
teries of the enemy to oppose our passage; have
pursued and captured all his forces and material
oil war, and have not lost q man, nor met with
an accident JOHN PepE Major General