The New York herald., 1862-04-09

forty years He steadily in his profession and wsa
made commander the 10th Of December 1852, undeI
which commission he about two years and tbrea
montha sea service. His total service nearly
twenty years and half and he performed nearly eight
years shore duty. He unemployed for over ten
years snd last at in june 1855 AZ the breaking
out of the present troubles he command Of the
Navy Yard at Brooklyn and shortly after the commence
ment Of hostlilies promoted 70 captaaey,
with the charge Of the Western or BssiS
sippi notilla, Of which he is the commo.
dore or flag officer His at Fort Henry and tho
part he took at Fort Doneson still too fresh In ous
readers minds 10 nsod repetition While engaged To hn
dites, he is reported % having worked night and day
with zeaia energy that worthy Of emulation in
both Danches Of the service and has accomplished
almost heTcuean task. Being dependent upon the Navy
Department Tor men and portion Of his equipment and
compelled TO call upon the War Department for orhsr
things equally necessary to the Of his mission
the inland waters and apparently object Of jealousy
and subject Of neglect from both he quietly worked
through all Obstacles and is prepared undertake
opening up Of the Mississippi river from Cairo New
Orleans. He is q quiet, gray haired veteran, and al
though holding rank equal to Major General Of the land
'orces attained by fes service on the broad sees
der the old flag, has been quietly and unoste atiousiy
serving his country the junction Of the Ohio and the
Mississippi His present expedition has been carried out
with spirit and energy and the result s gratifying 70 tba
| nation.
sEErcH OF THE REBEL GENERAL MCowN.
General John Porter McCown, in command at New h&
drid, anave Of Tennessee and entered tho Military
Academy at West Point as cadet in September, 1885,
He graduated in ls40 standing No. 10 IN his class
which were tho Following well known offcsrs;-GsnerA
Stewart Van Vet, General Thomas, General W 7.
sherman and Others On the 1st Of July that he
appointed second lieutenant Of the Fourth artii
lery and in September, 1913 promoted to a FIRST
leutsnaacy lie held tho position of regmenta quar-
termaster from March, 1S47 TO the end OF 1S4S. He
served in Mexico and breveed captain for gallant
and meritorious conduct Ccrro Gordo. He made
full Captain in January 1851 and held tho same rank
at the breaking out Of the rebellion, when, the l7tb Of
May, 1851 he resigned and joined the rebels.
REBEL ACCOUNTS FROM ISLAND NO. 10.
Corfespondence Of the New Orleans Delta, March 10
ILANp No. 10, March 8, 1862.
You viii be glad learn that this position, admra
bly, adapted by nature for defensive purposes has been
strengthened the evacuation Of Columbus, An
il can now b.d defiance to the assaults of the enemy We
feel satisfied that 1t cannot be captured by any direct A.
tack and the strategic movement which may be resorteo
10 for its destruction Ui be anticipated by e sagactiy
and skill Of General Beduregoid. may now, withoue
iion Of Columbus. the defences this position
much less perfect than General Deauregard himself had
he had every to oonAde II is Fortunate perhaps
| that the enemy were equally misnformed Had thsy
boen OF the real state Of aiirs they might BY an
cntsrpising and energetic policy have nncteda severe
blow upon Luckily they ignorant Of the facts
and their gunboats too busily employee on The
Tennessee and the Cumberland 70 be spared for service IN
this direction.
The momem Of danger is past, and we are safe.
The position Is nos only te'la oI am eortden w
rrQndJe aGaa any ndrai force that approach -.
This result is due in great measure 70 the ndefatga
bio energy Of Captain Harris who gained 30 much credit
by his abors Manassas presume the evacuation Of
Columbus was at hrst regarded by the people Of New
Orleans almost surrender OF tho key Of the river.
would not be surprising that movement DO sudden ana
80 unexpected should have had depressing influence
after much emphasis had been laid upon the 0ccupa
t9n Of Columbus ana 80 mucn na Deon s~ n. nt ts
will show that the manGuvre was the best shas eoulo
have been devised TO meet the OF 0e staaeoD
that il dictated by profound military eaGAetsy.
The step was taken only after General BsauTegafd had
become convinced OF its necessity Colonel Jordan, The
Generals accomplished and Acting Adutant General was
sent TO Columbus to examine report the condition Of
affairs He fulfilled tho duty, and, In accordance Wild
his report the evacuation was ordered aad accomplished
New Madrid 10 the weak point Of our position ON thie
line; but New Madrid Is nov strong enough 70 DO heid
inpypeo Tho enemy know that they must carry that
place before they hope to make any impression on
the island With this visS they have adv anced power
full column, saO to be 10000 strong, under General
Pope and have fairly invested New Madrid but 81 .
respectful distance. The country around the place 70
dead level and whenever the enemy attempt TO advance
hs osnou Of our oes tha. no infantry force can
stand the storm OF shell and shot which tho gunDcaa
can shower them An experiment On their lines has
already been made BY Commodore ioiins, win marked
success Since experiencing tho fire OF the boats they
| have exhibited disposition to advance. They have,
however, succeeded in throwing small force arouuo
our position 70 Pleasant below New Madrd But no
danger is spprshendcd from this movement The party
which has succeeded In making the detour 70 provided
with light artillery only and this will not enable them
TO effect their object Of threatening our water communt
cations with New Madrid. To accomplish this they mus,
erect and mount heavy siege guns But these
thew cannot bring down to Point Pleasant without great
labor nor within any short time as they possess means
small force now below US can at any time bs driven
away and the risk Of being totally cut on and cap
tured.
care from falling into the hands Of the enemy In the VI
cnty Of New Madrid Colonel Jordan being on tour Of
inspection visited the place and In company with Gene.
raj stewart and few Others rode out 70 survey the
ound in vicinity and to examine the roads by which
the enemy were said be approaching At tho ntsrseo
ton Of the syksstown road-the road by which the
enemy might advancethey met some scouts VINO report
ed that about 200 federal cavalry were close At hand
Our friends were rather ncreduous and requested the
scouts 10 favor them with ocular demonstration o
the proximity the enemy Advancing short distance
cavalry auddsnly full Wow, not two miles from
tho river bank at New Madrid They were AZ the scouts
had reported about twelve hundred In number Al this
time thew were only about hundred yards distant.
large forco nlcd of 10 the left apparently to cut on
the Of officers; but these, knowing from sne
Character OF the country that the manGuvro could moi
he eecsd took IL into their heads to be amused At the
proceeding and quietly on their horses watching the
sd veil nph proved fatal While The Conroderas ON
GERS were thus ssreney gazing the party referred 70
the main body had impercepuby na,rowsc TN ,ne m,en
In order 10 capture them. Our nquistvo and qucecsn
gentlemen at lost their curiosity and recovered ths
| Animation They put spurs TO their horses and made
remarksbiy good time from the spot, congratulstnl
yes that the enemy though within short range
aid not re The federal cavalry followed our fugtived
n 70 the verge Of the town Of New Madrid within -four
hpndred wards OF the river. They wore quickly dis
persed and put flight by she'll just ~ our infantry
| was getting In the roar OF them Unfortunately tns
shel was fred Had II not boen for this acct
dent the whole party might, and probably would, have
been captured.
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