Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-03-25
THE SIEGE OF NEW MADRID.
EVEN DAYS OPERATIONS.
eneral pOps's Anxiety to save Life
GaUdnl Conduct of our Yloq.
FLIGHT OF THE REBELS IN TIM Nlomr.

coire poudeuev II the Cincinnati Commercial.
NEW MApRip Mo, March ii, 1862.
did not intend to write you again until
success crowned our efforts To day can say
our victory is complete and overwhelming Ten
days ago We arrived here. aud opened up a little
en- ertalnment for the cbivnry, strongly ell
trench at New Madrid We had nothing but
few batteries of light artillery while they played
on us with from five to six guub1ais, aud eight
~ pouuders upon the walls of Two forts. GEN
Pope at once saw his position. aud sent back to
Cairo for four siege 2i-pouuiers. lie
kept, IN the meantime, constantly harassng the
enemy, without exposing his own men, awaiting
/ the arrival Of bis guns. lie likewise during the
darkness OF Que night, had rifle pits dug. and Il
battery OF Parrot guns planted upon the river
hank Of Point Pleasant, seven miles below New
Madrid
Gen. Plummer was in command The Hrs,
introduction to the chivary were a few r..
Founders aud shower of musket balls, well
aimed, al couple Of fine transports well laden
with Injuries aud comforts for New Madrid ana
Island No TO- They suddenly wheeled about
and LEFT for Dixie. Such an insult must be
wiped oil the bank Of the Confederate river and
forthwith gunbOat WAS dispatched to she'll
/ Fiummer out Of his holes. But The puuLonf
came IL htte too near, and forthwith portfolios
and plpt house received hundreds vi musket
bhlis from the sharpshouters aud il spec Ills
ln1yei TO the opposite side Of the river III easy
sheihg Ilstauce, aud for seven days from one
/ 60 Three Runhoats have done their best TO
llslolee the gallant Plummer, and without
success
The honor Of this patent method of whining
gnuboas should he given to Gen. Pope, rs hui
lew officers had any idea il would succeel -
This little timely thought has prevented the
enemy carrying troops or munitions of war on
transports, either up or down the river and left
ns all The rich supplies We to-day found at New
Madrid But Of the fight and the flight
On Wednesday,, March ~ cur four runs
arrived. We drove in their pickets at sunduwn,
and II thousand spades were noiselessy making
trenches and preparing hasty projections Tor the
guns They were 10 position before daylight,
aud H. the fog lifted from the marshes and the
river, four shells were gently thrown over into
the upper fort, much to the Astonishment and
indignation os the gentlemen from Dixie In
few moments nine gunboats we're in position,
some OF them throwing "a pound shells, aud
eighteen y Founders upon the two forts now
doing their hest to send us all, rs the boys saw.
'Io the happy land Canaan"
The 10th and lGlh Illinois were placed In the
trenches az sharpshoOteTs, aud the Both, 9th,
GOD, ind l3i Ohio regiments were placed on the
nauks and IN the rear to support the battery -
The lit Regular U. S. Infantry under Canaan
Mowtry, manned the guns. Fortunately they
had been well drilled as artilerists, aud behaved
admirably. Col. Bissels engineer regiment
were most valuable aids. While have no de.ire
u puff any regiments, must say tue 18th and
eth Ohio regiments deserve great credit for
their GOODNESS and bravery. On Wednesday
evehin1, two companies Of the 18th and two OF
tue 3ilh, AL under Lieut. Col. Kenneth werc
ordered to drive in the pickets of the enemy with
out nrlng gun, il possible, so that the engineers
could lay out the earthworks and prepare Tor the
guns- They came upon the Rebel pickets and
drove them in without firing gun.
The Rebel pickeis, as they reireated fred
yolley upon volley but did not wound man
These four companies took position, and remain
ed upon the field until this morning, making 30
hours The balance Of these regiments took
position at 4 o'clock on Thursday morning and
renamed at their posts until this morning They
were Just in range Of the guns from the fort aud
battery. 80 they few at the guns they supported,
anu Tor Y hours the shot and shell few about
and over them like hail. The two regiments we're
protected by low bluff of a slough, beside with
pocket knives and bayonOts they scooptd out the
dirt, so that Us small an amount Of Ohio human.
iiy as possible should be exposed. 1t is perfectly
safe to say that 100 shot Lnd shell struck within
from four to six feet Of the 39th without killing
n single man heard men, this morning. pro.
verbally profane, say, "W Well, il is no use talk
ing, but God was with the Ohio boys yesterday.
The casualties that occurred append below.
Three Of the 9th had their legs shot OF with the
same ball. Col, Fuller saw the ball, he thought,
almost spent, and remarked It might break some
poor fellows leg yet it broke through the fence,
shocked of three legs, and continued on its way
tine " H. ball struck the ground. bounded aud
ruck the knapsack Of soldier Of the 39th as
he lay fiat upon the ground, knocked the breath
out of him, aud leaped on its onward journey
The fellow recovered himself soon enought to see
his vanishing visitor. Another ball struck
bayonet, bending it double, as il hung by the
side Of soldier, and distributed his days ratons