Connecticut western news., 1883-06-06
A DESPERATE EXPLOIT.
An Attempt to Spike the Confederate Guns
 on Island No. 10.

One night about the first of April, says M. Quad, ill his War Sketches, band of fifty Federals left the fleet un- der cover of darkness, bent upon such @ desperate undertaking as is seldom planned outside the realms of fiction. Every gun upon Island No. 10, which Commodore Foote could disable before his fleet was called upon to push down, increased his chances of success, amp this little band of men started out with the intention of landing on the island and spiking as many guns as possible before being discovered.
 The Confederates had picket boat out to discover and check any such at- tempt, but on this night the darkness was intense, the rain was falling steadily, and when the lightning came it was so vivid that men were blinded for the mo- ment. The Federal launches from the fleet passed within 100 feet of the picket boat without discovery, and made a suc- cessful landing upon the island. The first guns were planted about $50 feet from the head of the island, and the ground between was covered with small bushes, rank grass and weeds, and con- siderably broken. Between the landing spot and the guns were two or three low spots full of water, and an attack from this direction did not seem probable.
 The Confederate sentinels were strung along the ditch in front of the battery, covering in the storm and hearing noth- ing but the war of the elements. Had the party of Federals halted and sent three or four men forward, the smaller number could have passed the sentinels and perhaps had plenty of time to spike every gun. But the bolder plan of marching the whole command straight up to the ditch and into it was adopted, and 8 flash of lightning betrayed them to sentinel. His musket had scarcely sounded the alarm before it was taken up all around the battery. Then in the midst of furious storm, the thunder making the island tremble and tbe light ming striking trees along the river al- most every moment, the Federals dashed into the battery itself Muskets were cracking and men shouting, and it was a situation to try the nerve of the bravest man living.
 Every fifth man in the command was provided with 8 supply of rat-tail files, to be driven into the vents of the guns and broken off. The Federals had come for certain purpose-the Confederates could not determine at once what that purpose was, and were naturally sur- prised and confused by the sudden attack. One writer says that seven guns were spiked; another says five a third says that only one large pivot gun was disabled. Confederates on duty in the battery at the time agree that four guns were so thoroughly spiked that they were rendered useless for three or four days, or until the broken files could be drilled out.
 After the first moment of surprise the Confederates rallied and began an attack which forced the little band out of the battery, leaving three or four dead and as many prisoners. Three or four others were wounded in making their way to the boats, and two who become separated from the command and did not reach the boats were made prisoners next day. It was an exploit full of nerve and daring, but the results were without real value to E'ooto