The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-03
Army Correspondence.
From New Madrid.

3
New MADRID, no, April 11th 1862
o. Mes,rs. Editor:-Should you deem th
following worth publishing in your co
b umns, all right, ifnot let it go among th
declined articles
On Sunday last we were expecting o.
ders to move at any moment, although
rained necessarily, and at o'clock o.
Monday morning the 7th inst, they com
amidst terrible shower and ali tumblet
out at the sound of the Bugle. We wer
to report to Gen. E. A. Paine at the uppe
fort at daylight and were on hand. Sool
after all of the division moved, viz, tn,
10Th 10th 22d and 5lst Illinois Regiment.
and Capt. Houghtellng's Battery (of 81,
guns) and all were halted in the mud te
await orders The Carondelet and Pitts
burgh, war clad gun boats, soon steamed
down the river about three miles, and
opened fire On the rebel forts at Watson
landing on the Tenn. shore, and the firing
was brisk for short time, when the rebels
fed in dismay; their forts being demol.
ished. While we were witnessing the fight
asteamer hove in sight apparently in the
amidst of the timber, and looked very
much like boat astray hunting water,
but on closer examination it turned out
| to be the advance of the light draft feet
brought thro' canal cut by that indefatlga.
bic officer, Col. Bissell, connecting the Mis-.
sissippi river above no ten, with Bayon,
the mouth Of which is at New Madrid
The boats brought through were our
stern wheelers, and were soon loaded with
! Gen. Pains division, that being the ad-
vance, and on signal from the gunboats
moved down the river in fine order and
landed at Watsons and took up line of
march for Typtonville in order to cut off
the retreat Of the rebels from Island No.
ten, and here let me say that the road to
that place is the okedest, muddiest and
hardest road to travel that the valley of
the Mississippi can boast Of But we
made it in good time, and camped in and
around Typtonville that night, and more
worn out lot of men and horses. YOU sci.
dom find. The 5lst ard Capt Houghtel.
ings Battery camped within three hum
dred yards of the sesesh camp without be-
ing aware of it until next day, when they
were taken prisoners. The Capt OF the
rebel transport feet fell in with Houghtel-
ing Battery, and travelled about two miles
with 1T in the night, supposing it part of
their army, and did not discover his error
until the Captain discovered him with the
irrepressible double barreled gun and put
q guard over him till morning, when he
was turned over with the rest, to the Off
Ger in charge of the prisoners. On the
morning Of the Sth, Gen. Paine with two
guns from Houghteling Battery, and about
eight mounted men started for Red Foot
Lake, about five miles distant, to prevent
the rebels from crossing at ferry report
ed to be near the foot of the lake In ten
minutes after receiving the order the ar
til!ery were off with the Gen. and staff at
= sweeping gallop, and made the trip in
an incredible short space Of time, although
the roads were horrible We took two
companies of the rebels prisoners before
we reached the lake, and so completely
panic struck were they that one mounted
man guarded them into camp, and we pro-
cceded on to the lake When the Infan-
try came up with US, we then halted the
guns in a favorable position for defence,
and the Infantry secured the woodsl
around about We found two new 6
Founders, and loads of clething, commits
sary stores and ammunition strewed all
round and along the roads. Armes of all
kinds were found under logs, behind fen.
ces and in every place to get them out of
sight. In fact all along our route tents
were left standing and everything pertain
ing to camp strown about in the greatest
confusion. We saw some fine gardens of
flowers and quite large onions, parsuips
and other vegetables Mosquitoes do
much abound, and of the largest size. 1t
Is paradise for them, and they introduce
themselves on your arrival without cere.
mony.
Near where we took the prisoners one
Of the cavalry who were with Gen. Paine,
met his wife and children He resided
near the lake before the war and was COM
relled to leave On account of Union senti-
ments. He escaped to Illinois, leaving his
family to the tender mercies of the neigh
bors and joined Capt. Bisselrs company Of
the lst Illinois cavalry, and has had no
opportunity to see or hear from his family
until the present You can imagine the
mee!ing-although one of his guard, Gen.
Paine very kindly allowed him to remain
with his family a few days. We all re-
turned from ithe lake late in the after
noon, and spent one of the most disagree
able nights since the war 1t commenced
raining about sundown, kept it up all
night. 1t was none of your common rains.
The water came down in torrents, and felt
as though it came from the arctic regions.
We had no tents and had to take the
open air for it, and to make it still worse
our camp was on the low ground, and by
morning was completely submerged. Our
boys took it all like soldiers as they are.
and got out of it soon as possible after
day light, and camped on high ground.
We had plenty of fuel, and the rain hav-
ing ceased, made large fires and soon got
comfortable In the afternoon we en-
barked for New Madrid, where we arrived
about one o'clock, .. M, and worked till
nearly morning disembarking and getting
into camp. 1t was . rough march, but an