, 1862-03-29
BELOW IsIAND mo-. 10;
Planting . Battery under Difficulties,
'.~",'- = =. :: =: !. :. = =
& Amasements" During: a Fight.
4 =: MoDERM GRAVE DIGGER.

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Especial Correspondence OF the Cbic4go Tribune
RuDp1E's PoET, Missouri, Harch 70, 1862
Here We are in the extreme southeastern
part Of Missouri; On the Mississippi, close to
the Arkansas State line, on dry land, but sur-
rounded with swamps, impossible for thirty
miles below US. Our little body >of: troops,
consisting Of only one division Of infantry Of
Whitings Brigade, composes. more than one
hall, with our field battery Of four guns and
our squadron of cavalry, is in advance Of all
the other United States troops on the Mfssfs-
sippi. To reach here We were compelled to
march from New Madrid in the night and all
night ana in silence, as the confederates stf1
controlled the riYer below New Madrid :and
had their gunboata on it. Our night march
was for nine miles immediately on the bank Of
the river, and had we been discovered By their
gunhoatH, they would hare destroyed our men
by the score.
Fortunately We remained undiscovered until
we reached Point Pleasant. Then we moved
two miles back from therfyer and marched the
rest Of the way in the day time, through low
lands and swamps without any road. The "a
tgue was terrible On the men as have been
their exposure and fatigue since arriving, but
they bear it untlinchingly. To add to the f.
hgue coming hereWe were, compelled to drag
by hand two enormous pieces Of artillery,
(24-pounders.) The cannon were drawn by de-
tails from the different regiments. The work
WIGS done cheerful1y, for the msn understood
the necessity Of having the cannon planted On
the river bank in order to prevent the confed-
crate gunboats from going up or shelling our
camp. One of the pieces was planted the
night ne arrived by the 47th Indiana, (Slack's
Tesiment), and some forty or more rifle pits
ong ammedately on the river bank to conceal
men to defend the place against any attemot
to land and storm the battery. I placed one
company OF my reg't (the 43d Ind. about 400
ya1ds N The rear OF the battery:to aid in repel-
ravlne, out Of sight Of the enemy, that they
might not be marks for his cannon and shell.
The enemy's gunboats attacked the battery
early IN the merning. Their firing was hot and
last. Our one gun returnedit it coolly and steadi-
= and effectual1y: Once one Of their boats
Came close to tie battery, but the rihemen in
the pits drove her of by shooting her gunners.
About Y m. the boats hauled of: On that
noh1y.
0urgun, it was discovered, could be put in
ne ot refnent Metse ne next night
o1ns nhnTf twn so1n na5 PtantSa Fants wy Iae nlg
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