The Cecil Whig., 1862-04-19
1l)ar Ncus.
Running the Rebel Batteries.

The "spcial" :" of The Tribune from
Island No. 10 before the surrender,
writes, April 9th, as follows:
Commodore Foote issued orders to
Capt. Henry Wake of the Carondelet to
conceal all his lights, permit no CONVEX
sation above whisper, except from men
on duty, and drop down past the enemy's
ba teries to Gen. Pope's command.
A long barge, filled with coal, and
then coyered with bales of pressed hay,
piled up so high that it covered the tops
of the ports, was made fast to our left
side, as the Rebel batteries, which are
all on the Tennessee shore and the head
of the island, could only play upon us
from that side. The most of the crew
were stationed under the casemates or
the gun-deck, and in the hold; the
ligh ) were extinguished, and at 10
o'clock the anchor was hauled up, and,
with steam on, the Carondelet moved
silently down the stream.
The darkness was so dense that we
should have run the gauntlet undis-
covered, but just before we reached the
enemy's water, or upper battery, one of
our chimncy's "burned OUT" and the
fire at once discovered US to the sentl-
nels. We were within few yards of
them, and they at once opened fire on us
with musketry, but of course without
effect. They also sent up rockets to
prepare the lower batteries for us.
The floating battery had been taken
down and anchored on the Tennessee
shore, three miles below; so that for
that entire distance, and for three-quar-
ters of an hour, we were subjected to
furious fire from all the Rebel batteries.
Nearly all the shots passed over US. A
few hit the hay on our port side; but
not single one struck the Carondelet.
Below the floating battery regiment of
infantry was drawn up on the bank,
which we were compelled to pass very
near but the bullets which rained upon
the main side and pilot-house of the
Carondelet, all fell harmless. We did
not fire single shot in return, and all
our ports we're closed.
Capt. Wake, who was in the pilot
house during the entire passage, directed
it with great skill and GOODNESS. Mr..
D. r. Hoell, the first master of the Gin
cinnati, is an old river pilot who had
volunteered for the occasion, remained
on the open, upper deck throughout,
watching the outlines of the shore, as
revealed by the flames of Tightening, and
giving directions to the pilots inside the
dark pilot-house, which enabled them to
keep the channel. To his daring and
coolncss flor his position was one of the
utmost peril the great success is large
ly attributable.
New MADRID, April 4, 1862.
Capt. Wake, of the Carondclet, is
not a man to remain idle while there is
an enemy accessible. The Rebels have
planted batteries for six or seven miles
on the Kentucky shore to prevent Gen.
Pope from landing his troops. Last
evening, Capt. Wake went below the
lower one, and, turning the bows of his
boat toward it, steamed directly up to
it. 1t made vigorous resistance, but
the gunners did not like the close quar-
ters into which the Carondelet forced
them, and they fed, while the officers of
the boat went on shore and spiked the
guns. They were both (there were only
two) 32-poundcrs. Capt. Wake then
engaged the next battery, two miles
above, and, after lively engagement,
drove out the enemy and took posses
sion, spiklng both guns. His boat was
not struck by single shot from either.
By this time it was dark, iring ceased,
and the gunboat returned to New Mad
rid.
About II o'clock last night another
violent rain-storm came on. 1t was ac-
companied by thunder and Lightning,
and continued almost uninterruptedly
until morning. | was awakened this
morning by heavy cannonading on the
river, which was renewed before
o'clock; and soon came the two items of
most welcome intelligence that another
gunboat, the Pi;tsburg, ran the block
ade successfully last night, and that the
steamboats,, which were started for the
flo lila across through the bayous and
slohghs, had arrived here in safety
Every one was overjoyed with the
intelligence, as the additional gunboat
would serve as convoy, and the trans
ports enable Gen. Pope to throw his
forces across the river very rapidly.
The firing heard in camp was from the
gunboa S, which had attacked third
battery of the enemy, on the Kentucky
shore, five miles below New Madrid
1t consisted of one 8inch howitzer and
two 32.pounders, and was supported by
two companies of infantry. One of the
32s was soon dsmountcd, but the other
guns replied spirltedly to the attack
One shot struck skiff, swung from the
starboard side of the Carondelct, near
the stern, penetrating it, and then strlk-
ing the side of the gunboat, where there
was no iron casing, and passing com-
plctely through it. 1t cut chain, dis.
arranging the steering apparatus for
few minutes but it was soon repaired,
and no other damage done Another
ball struck the bows, but the plating
threw it off. The Pittsburg, which also
engaged in the fight, was not hit. The
battery was soon silenced. The infantry
ran for the woods, leaving their terts
standing, their fires burning, and their