The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-03

d0Ded thelr plckeIS ana gave no }nIlmdtiol
to the forces at Island No 10. The consequence
is that one gunboat and ten large steamers
which were there are cut off from below, and
must either be destroyed or fall into our hands.
Island No 10 must necessarily be evacu; ted,
as it can neither be REINFORCED nor supplied
from below"
General McCowns reasons for the evacu-
alton were given in his official report:
" March -, the enemy planted some batteries
during the night, with rifle-pits supporting.
the batteries. They opened fire upon our
transports, hitting all that approached Fort
Thompson The enemy guns were R-pounders
and one S-inch gun. Commander Hollins,
from his gunboats. and we with our guns from
the works, returned the fire, repulsing one
heavy advance upon the fort at the mouth of
the bayou.
BIZ careful examination Of their works
became satisfied that they were making regular
approaches to cut off communication with the
lower fort Fort Thompson. was also con-
WINGED that our gunboats could not stand
against their land batteries and that unless
the feet dropped below Point Pleasant it
would be cut of. Commander Hollins and
General Stewart concurring in this opinion,
ordered the evacuation of New Madrid"
On the 18th, he wrote General Polk, from
New Madrid Bend. as follows: 4" The 1st Ala
bama regiment is here, with mumps and
measles. New Medrid was abandoned last
night. the execution of which was not salts
factory 10 me from a want Of discipline of the
troops. The guns left were rendered useless
TO the enemy. am enforcing discipline with
a strong hand. ! am sending down all the
boats ] can spare Everything was tumbled
down here in such confusion that it required
tine to find what is here. Orders not through
me to persons has increased The confusion
The Confederate troops driven across the
river at New Madrid held their position on the
peninsula, called Madrid Bend. The returns
for March 21st show an aggregate present for
duty OF 3.225, under General Walker 70
Actown, BeaDregard wrote on the odd: The
country looks 10 you Tor determined defense
Of your position. You must be aware that you
cannot al this moment be Te-enforced. Your
command forms the garrison of that key to the
Mississippi Valley. Your country expects You
10 defend that post Of honor 10 the last, until
we can relieve you By victory here, then to
attack your adversary in force Meanwhile,
Fort Pillow is being put in fighting order for
another stand, If Unnecessary"
On the 26th of March W. ". Mackali was
ordered TO relieve General McCown whose calls
Cor re-enforeenlents had grown irksonle. Mack
ali seems to have determined not to fall through
q similar cause, and closed his first letter as
follows: ask for neither re endorsements
nor aid of any other kind. ! know that each
place is thought by the local commander of
dition fully before the general. l am satisfied
he viii judge OF the value and bis capacity to
support the place best from his standpoint"
Meantime the Union lines were extending
southwark along the opposite bank of the river.
When the river was bloekaded by the capture
Of New Madrid, the only road open for supplies
- reach the garrison at Island No. 10 was by
landing them at Tiptonville thence by wagon
oYera good road along the west bank OF Reelioot
Lake 70 the islaad. The next step in the re-
duction OF the place was manifestly 10 cut off
navigation south of Tiptonviile. The road
along the river from New Madrid to Point
Pleasant followed a narrow slip of dry land
betWeen the swamp and the river, and WAS
very miry and difficult. With much labor the
heavy guns captured at New Madrid were
dragged by hand ard established in battery
as shown ia the engraving, the jeggCr battery
being placed Immediately opposite the lowest
point of dry land lsciow Tiptonvile. The line,
as thus extended, was seventeen miles long.
tse guns were placed in position in the night,
and when daylight revealed their presence
Commodore Hoilins accepted the challenge and
opened Oh the lower battery at once-fve
guuhoats against two 24- FOUNDER siege guns and
two I0-pounder Parrots, manned by detach-
ment Of United States infantry under command
OF Lieutenant Bates, supported by General
Palmers division, consisting OF the 34th 41th,
43d and 18th Indiana Infantry. encamped a
mile and half in the rear. Five hundred
sharpshooters on the fianks OF the battery, in
rifie-pits. took part IL the engagement.
A TILT BETWEEN GUsBoATs AND BATTERIES.
The gunboats ran up to within three hum
dred yards, and a furious cannonading was
kept Up for an horr and half, when they
were repnlsed with the loss OF one gunboat
sunk, several badly damaged. and many men
4 picked of at Their guns by the sharpshooters.
+ The loss sustained by the Union troops was one
man killed. This trial satisfied the commander
Of the Confederate feet, and no further at
/ tempt was made to supply the beleaguered gar
! rison or to send array men and munitions OF
war
While these operations we're In progress be-
T log the island, the gunbo2t feet above had been
firing away st long range at the Confederate
batteries on tie island and on the main land
+ opposite, without any apparent effect.
The mcnOtSny OF the bosnbardment, however
was relieved by al incident that deserves men
I tion. In the hotilla brigade, commanded by
4 Colonel \. y. Bufcrd. was the 42d Illinois in
faDtry. The commander, Colonel Roberts
having little else 10 do than 10 watch the slow
nonbardiBent, conceived the bold idea OF spik-
ing the cnemy's guns.
Flag Officer Foote relates the incident
Last night an armed boat expedition was
fitted out from the squadron aud the land
4 forces al this point, under command OF Colonel
Roberts Of the al Illinois. Tie Eve boats
carried one hundred men. st midnight the
boats reached the upper or 10. ! fort. and pull
/ ing directly IN face carried il, receiving only
1 the harmless fire. Of two sentncis who ran on
Z TIC discharge Of their muskets, while the Febel
troops IN the vicinity rapidly retreated. Where
I upon Colonel Roberts spiked the six gun:
/ mounted in the fort and retired with Tie boat
J rniaiured"