The New York herald., 1862-03-18
NEW MADRID AND ISLAND NO. 10.


MAP OF THE VICINITY OF GENERAL POPE's VIC
TORY-THE LOCATION OF ISLAND NO l0-SkETCH
OF NEW MADRID, ErC.
Our map shows the relative positions Of General Popes
forces and the rebel fortGcations at New Madrid aud
Island No 10 to tho evacuation Of the former
and the attack upon the latter Tho line Of the rebel
intrenchments extended for distance in front Of
the and along Vie banks OF the river below that
point, and 10 further strengthen the position fort had
been erected by tho rebels commanding the river and
the western nrenched line. An abatis had also been
thrown down to impede the progress Of the troops,
they attempted advance in front OF the line upon the
fortcations and in every important location batteries
had been stationed. The low timbcred land OF the
peninsuawAich caused by the bend Of tho ryer-has
been partially cleared to afford view Of the whole
extent OF tho Mississippi from Island No 10 70 the fort
Back from this clearing the land covered with heavy
timber, which is succeeded by q swamp. The land on
the opposite shores-east and westof the peninsula is
low swampy and for the greater part Of the year
flowed by the backwatcr Of the river Thus 1t would
appear that the rebels beaten at Island No. 10 they
have OF any sde for at those points
where there troops-and they nearly surround
the postonswampy land would prevent the passage OF
an army.
SKETCH. OF NEW MADRID.
Now Madrid 10 the capital Of New Madrid county in the
State Of Missouri II Is situated on the Mississippi river
two hundred and forty seven miles below 81. Louis,
seventy nine miles below Cairo, sixy-ons miles from
Columbus, forty two miles from Hickman and about ten
miles from Island No TO- all by tho course Of the river
Il ia also hundred and tysx miles above Memphis,
mine hundred and forthseven miles from New Orleans,
and eighty.two miles southeast OF jefferson City.
Previous TO the rebellion the principal business Of the
place was in shipping corn lumber and cattle for south
ern markets, and this large trade transacted.
The houses mostly but Of wood account Of the
frequency c earthquakes, by which this town great
Iy injured in 1871. II arst settled in 17s0, and a
we'll tods newspaper Office once existed in the place.
The county has Of eight hundred and eighty
square miles the Mississippi river flowing the
border and the Whitewater, auent Of the st. Francis
on tAs western border The surface Of the land s an
auvial plain without rock Of any description. Earth
quaes the vicinity have often changed the relative
landmarks Of ths county and the islands Of the Mis-
ssstpp river have disappeared and the OF the
strsssa entirely changed from the same cause.
ISLAND NO. 40.
This island s situated in the corner of that bend Of
the Mississippi river which touches the border Of Ton
nssseo, few miles farther up the river than New Ma
Srid, although ncary southwest Of that point II Is
located about two hundred and y miles from S. Louis
and nine hundred and hfty from New Orleans. The
elevation Of the river at this point about two hundred
feet above the level OF the delta, lite mouth The
average depth Of water at this pon, from ninety
one hundred feet the breadth Of the stream from main
Land TO mainland is about nine hundred yards. The
by the island at moderately fast rate and
with the Of the three Missouri
and 0hio-combinod. The island Ia the southern
or what termed the eastern bank Of the rivers but at
this point the stream varies from its southern course
and turns abruptly TO the northwest leaving this island
in the southern angle OF the bond II is about forty five
mes, by the course Of the river, south Of Columbus