, 1862-03-25


risk Of annihilation- The gloom occasioned
by the sad casualty upon the st. Louis has
worn away, for war leaves little space for r.
Election or sad thoughts, and one must resort
to the stern business Of the hour, mane1e
private afIlictions- Even the Commodore.
though weighed down with the sad loss Of his
son, has merged all private woes in his stern
devotion to his country, and like the Roman
Father, though keen1y feeling his domestic
wounds, has his eye single to the honor and
interests Of his country and her laws.
It is s dreary place, this Mississippi river:
drea1y in itself ana in all Its Surroundings, and
exquisitely realizing the idea Of Poe's wretch
ed Clalume The skies are ashen and sober.
Spectral cotton woods, the very skeletons Of
the forest, relieved here and there by nebul@
Of green, glistening misHetoc, stand up to
their knees in swa1nps. for miles in every di-
1ection. The river has overdowed its banks
on each side. and rnshes madley through the
woods amongst Shiny, decaying trunks and
matted masses of dead leayes. The fog hangs
t1iclly on the undergroTfh near the mango,
behind which the older growth, dead and de-
caylng, is fast dropping to the ground to en-
I1ch tho soil even TO rankncss with heayy yege-
table compost, and afford space for learned
discussion to future Eeo1ogists in their en-
deavors to account for the immense deposits Of
circular bits and ragged arcs OF iron about
Island No. 10; Il this historical locality is not
washed away before another ge1e1ation-a not
improbable event.
Yesterday, the fleet rctalned materially the
same position as the day before, the Benton,
eastern side Of the river, in line, and in long
range Of the upper battery. The Mound CITY
Was anchored at the point, in about the same
line, but at a little shorter range, The re-
maining gunhoats were tied to the shore,
few hundred yards above, exposed
to random shots from the head Of the Island,
but out Of range Of the upper battery. The
Conestoga ctuised in the stream about half
mile above the transports, guarding the am
munition boats. The mortar5oats Still held
their old positions; two upon the eastarn
bank, abreast tic Benton; one at the point
tween the point and the transports All the
morta1-boats, besides the Benton and Mound
City, took part in the bombardment ye5ter-
day. The firing was slow during the tore
noon, but at three o'clock in the
afternoon. it opened b1isHg;Ssthe gnn-
fire was we'll directed, the Mound CITY, ,especi-
ally sending some shells plump into the works,
sending up columns Of earth TO the very tops
Of the trees. The practice Of the mortaEs also
Tisibly improved. and their shells did excel
lent work. All the guns upon the upper bat
riled loS-pounder in the left angle, probably
either the Lady Polk or the Lady Davis,
brought here from Colrnbus. It is presumed
among our officers that there is cascmate in
rebels rush with the utmost rapidity to their
corner, and disappear from sight. 1haye been
unable to make ont with a powerful glass their
flag, hut that they still remain there, is eyi-
denced By an occasional shot from that mys.
ferrous corner busting through the air IN the
vicinity Of the Benton, against which they
seem to direct all their efforts
Tho rebels have another heavy gun upon the
bend Of The island, with which they have beer
firing across the point at range Of fully twt
miles anda half, as fast as our transports can't
into sight The Wilson was the recipient O
their compliments upon two occasions yester
day, while discharging ammunition for tht
mortar raffs, the shells striking each tint
within few yards Of the stern. Our redec
tions were decidedly Interesting about thai
time, as We had on board seventy barrels o.
powder. The practice Of the rebels shows
being in splendid line, but mostly out OF range
Our firing was kept up until five o'clock
when the Benton sigualed to cease firing
after sending her night cap as she does il
yariab1y. Each evening she has the last word
with the exception ofone oEtwo Of the mortar
which keep up slow fire during the night.
a ludicrous alarm was 0ccasioncd at tn
ammunition boats last night, which resulte'
in considerable noise, but no considerabl
damage, except the clearing away Of two o
three acres Of cottonwood 1rees. Grave ap
prehensions have been felt that the rebe
scouts would cross over to the Missouri shor
from the island, come down through tn
swamps and attempt to fire the boats. Hui
in.n lycA1y1ne! Capt. Maynadfer was caugh
out, having been to . Little tea party On tn
7u-- Civ -1+xAF
night being intensely dark, was hailed by til
sentinel on the Torrnee. Not deeming
necessary, the Captain made no reply to th
hail, and the sentinel unable to perceive th
skiff: blazed away with his musket into th
woods. His comrades followed suit. Ever
yo1yer and thiIty-six balls went reck1cssly i,
to the woods. The Great Western replied in
siml3ar manner and soon the hands on bot
boats were firing u1sketry with
oa2 nfe the The stream GonestoSga ahS let hanf
two or three broadsides Of thirty-two's, snaj
ping the cottonwoods like pipestems in
manner which must have astonished the DR.
ads presiding over the rotten arboresceni
hereaways. The timely arrival Of the CAPITA
stopped the firing, and all hands resumed the
berths. However 1udierous the occasion,
was very crcditable to the vigilance Of o.
6entTies.
Several fresh bodies Of troops have arrive
within q day or two past, but they have lit
at present to occupy themselves with, exec
In constructing corduroy bridges through ii
poaltfy yentnring 100 near oaF line
and acting as scouts to wat.
the operations Of the rchels upon the islam
The troops now here are the 9Th Illinois, CT
Bnfond; 18th Wisconsin, Col Hcg; 42d II
nois, Acting Colopel Roberts; Dutf's Batter
one Illinois cavalry company and portion
Missouri regiment, about 900 troops in q
Col Buford Is acting General Undoubted
aportion Of the command will be detailed
erect a siege battery of four twenty -fours b
low the point, the guns for which arrived
day Or two eiucc By the steamer Nebraska,
charge OF Lieut. g. c. 1yford, Chief of Or
nance in the Cairo district. The battery VII
planted Will be very effective against the
land, and especially against the floating b;
There are several ru1aors aAost that t
Benton intends running the blockade some
OF these dark nighte, hut this seems altogeth
improbable, rs to do it, She would have 10 &
1o61the main channel, and thus run tue fire
THREE heavy batteries Join to this the f
down stleam, and that the arsf 81
crippling her would leave her an easy D,
to the, rebels, OF the victim Of utter an
hila1ion, and the rumor becomes basele
Had not the shoot been obstructed by
sinking Of the steamer Winchester, the
NSAPt At4 ~ NAfe uEeu FoaeioAet EsEA pt
. able. As It is, the reduction must be q mat
of time, but nevertheless certainty. It
even now matter Of considerable certatl
that the rebels are evacuating. Their ira
ports grow less numerous, and their encan
ments daily diminish. As retreat is cut of
the river below, they must fan into our l1a1l
however; and if they do not destroy them.
floating battery, five gunboats, and 50
twenty transports, embracing among th
some of the finest Ohio river steamers, m
come into our possession. G. P. &
The situation Mt Fort monFoe.-0
u Monitors still Wa1ch2nE-.
Quiet.
Ecor. 18th inet.) Philadelphia Inqnirer-1
The waters of the Roads are as unrufae.
though they had never been swept By the