New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-28
Prem oGs Special Correspondent.

Prem oaS Special CofrsspondehL
U. S. GrSEo,r BEsToN. above islsn4 No. 10 +
IurEsDAl, March ~ 4t.2. b
FIFTH DAY.
The wind yesterday blew violently up tie river,
aiding the Rebels and interfering With the accuracy
of our shots. Our firing very slow AID the en-
envy replied in the same lesusely manner. He fred
only four shos from bis water battery, al OF which
fell short He sent number more from the head oi
the islaud; one passed over the Benton, several
dropped near her and ihe other gunboats bat Of
them were struck during The entire day.
COMMUNICATION WITH CEN. POPE
Late on Tuesday night, Col. j. ". Bissell, OF tie
Engineer Regiment which accompanies Gen. Popes
Expedition and has rendered it services Of the Mt
most Importance, arrived here from New.Madrid
The distance is only eight miles by river but The
Rebels bold three or four miles Of that with their bat
,sries, mounting nearly iuadred guns, he was COM
PEELED TO find route The county through the
swamps He came in skia, accompanied by two
soldiers, and found the water deep, thai ne be-
heved one Of the bayous above here, extending
across the swanps 70 New-Madrid, to be navigabIe
at this high stage Of water for prOpeuefs. YES
serday morning. therefore he started upon Of the
tngs TO prospect the river for The purpose Of opening
an original ana direct route 10 New-Madrid. -Four
Of the inevitable journalists who accompany the to-
tilla went along rs historians. The Lille Intrepid
steamed up the river near the Missouri shore, pung-
ing her nose into the high-unnine waves ana show
sring the water over everybody who stood N her
bows. The white trunks and branches Of the syca
alores are tulted with rich green Hstietoe, and tie
bursting buds Of the cottonwoods begin to wear t.e
sweet livery Of Spring"
INVESTIGATIONS AMONG THE BAYOUs.
Five miles up we passed the mouth Of one Of the
bavous but bank was thrown across il two or
three years ago and the sediment since deposited by
the current has widened ii into broad levee. Two
miles further We reached another, in precisely the
same condition. We questioned severa. white men
o. the plantations along the bank, but though pro-
Tossing TO be loyais,s, like most Union men in this
region, they proved 10 be great know-nothing8
Their dear,h Of information about the country with
IN two or three miles OF their residences, really
marvellous. TIE negroes usual, were COM
muncatve; they Informed ~ that We lad passed q
ONLY water-eourse which coQd be entered from The
river. We returned 10 ii, and found broad, sw;ft-
running current which tuTneo abruptly from The Ms
sissipp paesedthrough acoTnfed, and disappeared in
tbe woods beyond The ting was made fast 10 about /
of drift logs, which have accumulated at tie |
entrance for running her into the uncertain channel
involved the contingency Of sticking her fsst il the
mud, when fall In tie water would leave her IN the .
uda Of the field; and we had no desire 20 furnish
corncrib for tho planter. Col Bissen explored The
slough with his skif across the cornields into tie
woods and returned wit, the report that the sound
ings revealed only three and hsf feet Of water. Ar
the propeller draws sX, hat settled the question for
her though yaws aud R0atboais can be taken acro.s
Col Bssel with his skif, stsrted through the
swamps and bsyous for New-sis5rid flight r,ile.l
aud The tue returned TO tie feet.
WHAT GIN. POPE IL DOING.
The river 10 this vicinity is very ioItuous Winding
through tle country Ike 3 c0rkscrew. Two miies
below as is leland No. TO- the stronghold Of the
Rebel where we have already discovered one float
Ing battery and six Oh sbo,e They have an infantry
torres supposed u le eleven thousand stfone, aud
'eve'~i steamboats,, which enable them 70 cross 10
ADD no, between The island ard the sho.e 1T peas-
~e. rive mles below Them, Oh the nisaouri store,
" Ne"-hadrid, where Gen. Pope performed tie uu-
p"a"e'eo ieai Of caP 0ringa strong iori, nountibe
~ heavy pieces, with jous seies guns. TIE LII
peer Regiment, under the cover al no o;,. ,i.,,os
battery within 800 yards Of the Con, ...d 49,. e..
inumaIion the Rebels hai cf il por.,. .,,n. a.,
nenced playing upon tlo,n ia he na,nine, u
the whole day they endeiyorel 10 d..,,.,. -,
tey, bot It was too vel protected. Tie ...,o,s
night, Gel Bsseii, with his invincible worker, \,
gan 70 ran a cap, or zigzsg trench toward le TO-,
ard IL fe~ hours, during driving rain. had c,,
ri.d 900 wards. When the Rebels disoy4yed M.
'bsy thoagtt BE wgaN bring y 70 Ihsis Wy Ia5s