Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-28
Our Army COrrespOndence-From the
mississippi River.
OK BOARD STEAMER SHINGIsS,S
April l6 and Ia, 1862. (

J. j. BINGHAM, ESQ: The Captain of the
steamer says the strange name she bears
"Shingiss"-was the name of an Indian queen,
who ruled before the DAYS of Bnddock over the
coal hills about Pittsburg, Pa. and was distin-
guished for many noble qualities. However that
may be, the Captain is aclever man, and presides
over fast boat. BY permission from the Naval
Commandant at Cairo, Mr. Holloway and myself
were allowed to take room on the Shingiss, and
run down with her to the feet wherever that
might be found.
We left Cairo at 2 P. NJ, and at 4 o'clock the
present writing, have just passed Hickman, dis
tance of forty miles, against strong head wind,
that sends the waves in spray clear over the
cabin. The river is very high and rising. The
rise is from both the Ohio and the upper Misss-
sppi, and il is feared it will make against the op
erations of the land forces below. Yesterday
morning. as passed up there was quite little
bank visible at Columbus, and now the water is
over the streets and lots of the town. The stu-
alton of this whilom stronghold is, presume, IA
miliar to your readers 1t is a m-crcular bot
tom, containing four five hundred acres, skirt
ell by hills or bluffs, with the river sweeping its
front. The Notifications on these hills are very
extensive ana very strong-seemingy impregna-
bic to any force that could be brought against
them. They are we'll planned. The only de
feet is in the water batteries. They are entirely
unprotected and hence would have been, as
Beauregard is said to have pronounced them,
complete slaughter pens'' if our immense NOR
tars had got range on them 1t is thought the
works will be kept up--the water batteries com
p.eted and the place made depot for the heavy
guns and ordnance stores captured and to be
taken on the river
AT TIPToNvILLE.
We passed New Madrid about dusk. Three
steamers with horses and stores were still there.
/ Ii dark and raining when reached Tip
tonvie A regular New Madrid thunder and
/ lightning earthquake storm was brewing. The
orders of the Captain were to run directly
| to the fleet, but to keep out in the stream
in such storm as was raging, would be
certain destruction to the craft, and the
| Captain determined to lay up until the fury OF
the storm was passed. Gen. Slack's brigade, in
which was the 47th Indiana regiment, was en-
camped about mile below. and we determined
| to visit them. Getting ashore in such a huni-
cane was matter of some danger and difficulty
and cropping our way through the horses and
teams of large oody of cavalry, was no less
difficult; but guided by the vivid lightning which
lit up the entire encampment every few moments
we contrived to get through without kick or
scratch We found Gen. Slack still up with his
aids Leutenants DeHart and Daily, making him
self master of his situation, receiving reports
from scouts, &c. While the rain fell in torrents
on the canvas covering, and the thunder roared
it only can below i'll this region, and the light
ming flashed blindingly, we passed very pleas
ant hour with our Indiana friends. By the Tay
the Indiana troops in the Mississippi division of
the army badly clad. The State is anxious
to supply them, but red tape is somewhere at
fault Let it be cut at once, and not have our
poor boys, as | have often seen them, searching
for old coffee sacks in which to wrap their feet
for want of Shnac uhan ordorod at bt .ho
trenches.
DOWN THE RIVER.
BY midnight the storm had blowed itself out.
and one of those dull, hot, foggy calms peculiar
to this region had succeeded it. The Captain re-
solved to take the chances and run anyhow, as he
had dispatches for Commandant Foote and
large mail for the fleet. twas dangerous busi-
ness, the pilots said. The fog was so thick that
the green trees of the shore not visible at
over one hundred feet, and then very indistnctly
The bends had to be guessed at but the pilots
were familiar with the river and calculated the
distance made, working out the situation of the
craft in the same manner that marines do when
an observation" is not to be had.
At daylight we were met by steamer with
peremptOry order from General Pope to put
back The reply that the "Shingiss" be-
lOnged to the Navy, and received orders from the
Commodore only. In an hour more we were in
the midst of General Pope's transports just above
Plum Point bend. They were all afloat and such
a rapid succession of shrill whistles as our arri-
val created was never heard before. 1t was like
turning a fresh hog in pen of old porkers.
Every fellow had grunt at us, and as we could
only see their black smoke slowly winding up and
back in the thick white mist, and they could only
see our smoke, it completely mystifed us. Pres
emily the signal from the flag boat was heard to
report. We ran close up, and General Pope and
Assistant Secretary of War, Colonel Scott, with
other dignitaries, became visible on the after
guard of the Perry" They wanted to know
what the devil we were doing there. Told them,
and inquired where Commodore FOote was to be
found, and was told he had not changed his po-
siton since the Shingles left him. Some one
wanted to know where the army was going, and
was told that portion was bound cup the Ten
nessee."
THE FLAG SHIP.
While rounding Florence Island and making
for the Tennessee shore the mist lifted. so that
the low black mass of the "BentOn" was dis
tincty visible, Flag Officers signal to Ground to
and report" was heard. A tug came along side;
the "Shingiss" was ordered to lay to and await
orders, and in few moments we were on board
of the flag ship. Her iron clad deck was scrupu-
lousy clean and order reigned above and below.
The finest cambric handkerchief might sweep her
grouped about cheerful without being noisy, and
in point of cleanliness presentable in any society
While my friends were engaged with the Com
modore in his cabin. | was suffered to inspect the
ship and had all my questions politely answered
! regret now that did not also send in my card ,
for our party concur in representing Flag Officer
Foote as affable and agreeable gentleman
well as hero, and in this many thousands will
agree with me that he differs from some of our
n<l~
have made them so boorsh that it will take years
of civil life hereafter to make them decent pets
in society.
THE BoMBARDMENT.
Col. Fitch, who commands the advanced brig
ade of the army here, accompanied by his brother,
LEROY Fitch, of the navy, came on board to
confer with the Commodore just as we were
about leaving the Benton. An invitation to an
early dinner on board of the ordnance ship and
promise that should accompany a reconnois
sance of the rebel batteries induced us to defer
our return to the ''Shingiss" and accompany
them.
For two days the big guns on both sides have
been sullenly silent. The rebels only stir them
selves when our folks wake them up, and this
was one of the days appointed to pitch few
shells into their nest. The defenses are at the
first Chickasaw bluffs, on the Tennessee shore.
On all maps that i have seen it is called Fort
Randolph, and Fort Pillow is placed below. The
river Just above the bluff makes one of those
abrupt bends common on the Mississippi-the
Arkansas shore running out like a promontory,
the tall timber of which hides the bluff. From the
middle of the river above nothing appears to vary
the monotony of numberless similar scenes ex-
cept the appearance of a slight elevation beyond
the point as If cluster of trees had taken a
notion to outstrip their neighbors in growth.
From the Tennessee shore, however, where the
flag ship lays, the high land is to be seen, dotted
with tents which the rebels have been moving
since yesterday The river narrows at the point;
the bluff is bristling with cannon, SO that yes
sci rounding the point would run into their jaws.