The National tribune., 1904-06-23
A WESTERN GIBRALTAR.
Capture of Island No. 10 and New Madrid
With their Garrisons and Armaments.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your is
sue of May 10, Comrade John Sven. un-
der some mysterious idea of empty glory,
puts forward in cold type a claim that
his brigade. composed of the 9th, Both,
43d and 63d Ohio. were the fellows who
put down the rebellion, or that part of it
known as the stronghold. Island No. 10,
and the Gibraltar of New Madrid. l have
no desire to pluck leaf from the laurels
of any; but facts are bad things to bob up
against.
Prior to Mar. IL, '62, the 10th ILL., was
deeply interested in seeking an acquaint-
ance with Jeff Thompson and his hordes,
who were skipping about in a war circus
around Reeifoct Lake, Niger Wool Swamp
and SikestOn: and having made it too hot
for those graybacks who fled to the prOtec-
tion of New Madrid we were ordered to
join the forces of Gen. Pope. investing that
stronghold. We took position directly in
front of New Madrid on the night of March
IL. were joined by the 10Th Ill. the next
day and were known as the First Brigade
sippi. On the night of March II the 10th
and 18th ILL.,, in utmost silence, were sent
forward. and during the night. we built
heavy line of earthworks. On the morn
ing of March 13, the rebels, with native
hospitality. sent us their cards over the
air line, through the rebel shot route. We
showed our recognition of their courtesy,
| the I'd L. s. Art. sending a shrieking. hiss
ing 32-pOunder in response. An Irish boy
of that battery. Mike Morrissey, fired the
first gun about 10 o'clock a. IN. Gen. ID.
s. Stanley rode up to where our company
was in the trenches. and. dismounting, had
the honor of holding his horse while he
was talking with Col. Smith. of the 10Th
| ILL.,. which was on our left. Gen. Stanley
had scarcely touched the ground when a
solid shot graZed the pommel of his saddle.
He just smiled, but l shivered and wished
/ I hat Ao, ~, ,1.nI.
were very discOurteous and did things that
we rebuked. More than 100 rebel guns
belched their thunder until about dark.
| when the fiery elements, with increased
vehemence, silenced that terrible din AMI
roar of cannon. The rain filled our deep
| intrenchments. and in the morning t14th)
we found out that Gems. Mackall and
| Thompson and their commands had silently
stolen away. leaving a million dollars worth
of munitions of war of all kinds. from a
musket to cannon. New Madrid had
| fallen.
Comrade Sven says that. "three boats,
loaded with Paine's Division, proceeded
down the river The 10th Ill. was aboard
the first boat. and in the wake of the iron
clad gunboat Carondelet. and as soon as
the rebel batteries were Silenced we landed,
but not on Kentucky soil. Oh, no, comrade,
but on Tennessee soil As soon as we ooh
and 10TH had formed, we moved rapidly
in pursuit. When about FIVE miles from our
landing the rebels made a short stop. We
We're there formed in line of battle, with
the 10th Ill. in close column of divisions
on our left. heard our Colonel (Morgan)
tell Gen. Paine that he would give them
one volley; then the cold steel" The reb-
els, thinking that ''live dog was better
than dead lion.' kept on the run until
they reached Tiptonville. small town in
the bend of the river. We had them in a
corner. Their only alternatives were to
| fight or jump into the river. Again pru-
dence prevailed, and at 8 o'clock p. m,