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


ilufs, however retreat directly to the west
sffom Commerce, leaving an sllnvial, swampy
bottom land, ut least thirty miles wide, along
the river below that place. A dismal and al
most impossible swamp. known as the Great
aIinae Swamp, extends all the way from Com
merce ia New Madrid At that season of the
year the banks Of the Mississippi were over
flowed, and the river spread out for miles on
bosh sides beyond its bed. The whole country
for thirty miles west of the river was under
water. At many places the wafer was eight or
ten feet deep and everywhere from one 10 five
feet deep. An old embankment, upon which a
corduroy road had been built. extended part
OF the way to New Madrid. but the road had
not been repaired for years, and was in a very
bad condition, and in many places entirely i'm
rassahie The weather was cold and wet 4
drilling snow and rain was falling upon us.
and adding 10 our almost insupegable difficult
ties from the time we marched from Commerce
until NC reached New Madrid can only ac-
cs0at for the fact that tie enemy attempted no
opposition to our march by thoir belief that the
country at that season ofoyerfow was entirely
iailractioahie.
~ landed at Commerce on the night of the
2lsi 81 February. 1852, with the small escort /
have mentioned Regiments were sent ne
rapidly lrcm s.. Louis. from Cincinnati, and
from Cairo. most Of them entirely raw, haring
l.id thfir arms first placed in their hands when
iiley embarked on the steamer to JOIN me. Few
OF them had ever served ~ ali, and as they had
never served together or been even bIigGded, /
WAS forced 10 make a complete organization Of
Il T..r At
was Sc ably assisted by Generals Schuyler Ham,
iiton. Stanley. Palmer, and Granger that within
one week al tic day i landed almost alene at
Commerce lre began our march TO New Madrid.
TINS organization was lhe nucleus of the corps
afterwards 6 ignated as the Army of the Mis-
sissi7ni, widely known and greatly distin-
guishea Sd ihe West For its discipline, its gal
lantrv, and its effectiveness and for the SOL
dierly and cordial good feeling Which charac-
tsrizad both officers and men.
On Monday, the Sd OF March. Pope's army
arrived before the town OF New Madrid. IL
consisted ct stanleys- hamltoH's, Palmer's,
Ranes. and piEmmer's divisions of infantry of
1ear ceifacats each. Gordon Changers cav
airy division and Major Lgthrops artillery
division. bas;des which, of unassigned troops,
ne had the 81 iowa. f3ar companies Of the I'd
Illinois, and two companies Of the 9Th United
States cavalry a battalion Of United States IN
fantrv aud Bissels Engineer regiment of the
West: also. f0tilla brigade consisting Of
1@Foe regiments Of infantry and tyYo batteries
q artillery. The total effective strength Of his
command was Sos officers snd l7.g09 enlisted
men.
TIE NAVAL EXPEDITION.
IN addition 10 the land force and designed
10 cooperate with i, formidable maya expe-
ditisn was Cited cat At Cairo Gu the lsth Of
February
The expedition consisted Of eight gunboats
UuGer command Of Acting Flag Officer Leu
tenant Phelps and ten mortar boats, each with
4 mortar Ct tAiTtcen-i-ch CALDER discharging
q shell weighing 2l5 pounds without its con-
tents, commanded by Captain II. L. MayBa-
t-Iar. IosTca by steamers, the mortar boats
followed file gEnboats, then came two steamers
loaded with ordnance stores, q coal barge in
Tow. and two transports with the 9th Illinois
aud the I5th Wisconsin infantry. the latter g
Norwegian regiment, and an Illinois battery
al light artillery. TIE lea.tess..85a brought up
Flie rear. Ilsc feet passed Columbus at p. m,
I'D arr ~ II Hickman at SIX ia the evening.
Ilcxt morning Il proceeded or It's way 20 a
ffsiut On the n .ss3uri shore, above Island 10.
10. which by Gl air line was two and q half
miles distant, while owing TO a bend in the
river II was nearly double as far From this
F-0iist tws Of the mortar boats sileneed a bat
terry Oh the Kentucky shore. The island is ia
the Southern angle Of bend in what would be
TIC toe Of horse shoe. The river again bends
Fsier leaving the island and flows northwasi
1iast New Madrid IN such a course as TO form
hi =, bringing a point on its bank distant by
river tgeIty miles only a little oger nile b.
and. This poiat across the border IN Tenaes
see IS named Jbiongisle. and is connected with
Hickman, Ky. by a turnpike read. The forrl-
Gc4tieas on the island anG main land adjacent
consisted Of eleven earthworks with seventy
heavy cannon. varying il eaiiher from thirty
go. J q :.
began Oh tbe 18Th Of March and continued witt
more or less yiscr until the 7th OF April.
CAPTURE OF KEW sfADRID.
Tie country aloat Ncgy Madrid is perfect,
Ievt3. aud General Pope found. On his arrival
that the place WIS WEI defended against a.
gltEek from TIE rear. One Fashioned earth
tzo-E. mounting fourteen heavy guns, about
iiaf a mile beioE the town. and another irree
Eiar sFcrE. ~ tie upper end Of the town
uaoQnting seven pieces Of h1avy artillery, 10
gessef Eilh Lines OF intrenchsnents between
tEela, constituted the defensive works: bu
tisc muzz-es Of twenty-five 10 thirty hcaF,
R1ns Ga tic decks Of Hellins feet were plainly
r.ssse, tne river being so Aiga IS 10 coast.sef,
the feet z floating batgerv, defending All ap
Fsoafllcs across tha level pain ia rear Of tht
teHn
i was plainly necessary to oppose heag,
EEns % tlis array Of artillery. and they wer'
l-hllz l-tciy sent ier. le3a2Bg their arrival
fpionEl Pinmler. lIth Missouri. With threi
regiments of infantry, three companies Of cay
ElEs, aIiE q fed battery OF l9pound Parrot
KS seat 80 Point Pleasant. twelve miles below
h. asase iodgraeut Tor his men and artillery
Fsgsen lg as snsll mark as possible 10 lh
gali5s nf the ganbeats where he elIeet aalll
5iasalsd the river against tic use Of trans
rlE7 % se-caforeing lac garrison from point
below
ltia si.ge-glius arrived cia tho 18th Of Marcl
Sid oIrgea Gre a daylight ca The 18th, jas
t.t5ftg-lsaF hours aiter they left Cure. Nor
E.s4's brie De, c0asis.ing q t.la l9th ard I3ti
Illinois. ras detailed 10 cover the construction
81 the baltcFg and 10 work in the trenches
they were supported by SANKEY'S division
consisting 81 the 9th and 18th Ohio, unde
lslgaf3 Gr3ssbecl- ard the sd ard cd On.c
Eaaer Caioael Smith
Caf'taiB Joe Mower, 1st L. :. infantry, wit
eosspanies s and IL oi his regiment, was place
81 charge q tine sieee-guns.
The gRen-ng Of Tie siege-gung WAS az one
responded 20. CT both lailks by the whole {
tae Confederate artillery 81 land and vasei
Oae oi tha enenlys shots struck 3 siege-eai
square IA the inuzZie, disabling il. baE, fal
tleE tiaa tsis. no impression was made Epo
Eowezs battery.
Jhat nielat orders were eiven By Gcnefs
hcCoan u egacuate New Madrid, and mogI
iag daVHoa open q scene Of iadescr3abi COZ
fusion
tiene.al Pope says: A few minutes alte
daslsiit lae # trace approached cur ba
ferca a-st.l isfafrss-if that tbe e,ielpv a.