The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1862-04-19
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an opporfunify TO Geo. Pope OF esfaohsh-
irs . blockade on the Mississippi river. cot
ting Cd ~eonmunieation between Island No.
10 and ai points below. This vas done BY
turning the guns Of the rebel forts At New
Madrid towards the river, and planting bat
tssies ef heavy y % sbs basks ct poisis
extending from the lower forts several miles
below Point Pleasant. This blockade has
proven edeetual, % far ~ the river itself is
concerned hut the rebels have destroyed
its full force BY opening communication
overland, between the leland and points on
the river below our batteries. The block
sde, however, has greatly embarrassed the
movements Of the esemy, and reduced the
probabilities Of the fnal reduction Of the
leland almost 10 . certainty.
Canponeers we're alternately detailed from
the different light batteries in the 6.id TO
man the heavy guns Of the batteries on the
river. On the 10th Of March, the third day
after the evacuation Of the place, twenty.
four nen Of our battery-Captain SPooR-
we're sent, under charge of Lieut.. Waliing.
two miles below Nav Madrid, to man two
"a FOUNDER guns, which were to be on the
ground when they should arrive. 1t. Reed,
Of your place, accompanied the little CON-
mand. The boys left camp at 4 O'Clock in
,hs morning, having swallowed . hassy
breakfast, and taxing with them two days
r~asions. The battalion Of Yates Sharp.
shooters had charge OF the I've guns, and
were dragging one of them along to plan,
it in position, when . battery opened upon
them from the opposite side Of the river
Not knowing how to manage the huge wea-
pom they had in tow, they ran to cover, and
occupied themselves 10 lodging cannon
balls. just then OUT boys came up, and
seeing the foiiorn condition Of their friend
and companion-the "a pouoder-they ca
gerly ran to his assistance, got him into po-
~sition, and his hunder-tones were soon
heard speaking to the rebel gentlemen on
the other side Of the river. The second
shot sent them to cover. They took refuge
in a number o. buildings, which they thought
were probably out Of range or out Of sight,
but a few we'll directed shot appriscd them
Of thtir mistake, and involved the necessity
Of a hasty evacuation.
The rebel battery having been silenced,
breastworks we're thrown up by the Infant
ry, and the guns placed in position. AT II
o'clock Of the night of the 10Th, thirteen of
the boys, under charge Of Lieut.. Reed, we're
sent down to Point Pleasant, eight miles
below the lower fort, where they went into
battery at 5 o'clck, n. m, On the following
day, the 18th. They had but one gun,
brought by the infantry from above, which
was kept masked all day, and orders were
given not to fire upon the rebel boats un-
less they should attempt to pass up the
river. At 4 O'Clock in the afternoon, one
Of their gunboats came up within range and
fred several shots, with the intention, no
doubt, Of ascertaining whether or not there
were any heavy guns in position on shore.
At 9 o'clock the boys were sent still further
down the river, and at daybrcak found
themselves in a miserable breastwo rk, two
miles above Tiptonville and Merriweather's
Landing. The earthworks were flung up
10 haste under the supervision Of a very stu
pid officer. The exterior crest was consid-
cradle tisher than the interior crest, and
the platform so poor that the first round
from the gun broke several of the plank.
Although the boys were almost worn out
by a two. nights march, and by constant
duty from the 10th, they were forced to re-
lay the platform and alter the superior
slope, giving it q declination outward in.
stead Of towarl the interior. Barely time
was given to get the gun en- bdrbeile, and
Dig a few rice pits for the use Of the sharp
shoe ers, whensone of the rebel gunboa;s
came within range and opened fire, which
sas promptly responded to. The first shot
struck the boat in her larboard wheel. She
was Immediately joined by four other gun.
boats, which opened a steady FIRE upon the
one gun in position on shore. Each gun
boat carried from six to eight guns. The
plan OF attack was revealed by an attempt
made to pass up stream, and thus obtain a
cross fire. But the attempt was frustrated
by a we'll directed shot which struck the
leading boat just az she got opposite the
gun on shore. She vas disabled and aoat-
ed down stream with the current until GU,
Of range. One Of the participants Of the
fight gives the following account Of it from
this juncsurs:
"As this time our men frst showed sign,
Of distress, some Of them actually falling
down at their posts from sheer exhaustion.
The platform had become 90 broken that il
required all our united efforts to run our
qua into battery. The rebel ~gunboass kept
up a continuous ere, and At one period so
rapidly that We were hardly able to load
Bu, still the boys stuck to their work, and
every .hct vas made to tell. Three Of their
boats were seriously damaged. At one
time they approached Us so closely that We
could hear the word Of command given on
their boats. They evidently intended to
land and spike our gun ; bat the boys in the
rifle pits opened ere upon them, and they
took to steam again. Toward the close Of
the action, q revenue cutter mounting two
guns, 50. into position and gave us some
shell but one shot from our gun striking
her amidships, she hauled OF giving rs one
parting shot which struck our gun, bat for.