1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: May 28, 1862

Near Farmington, Miss., May 28, 1862

We moved up here this morning under the hottest sun and over the dustiest roads, and I then helped the major lay off the camp, and pitched our tents ourselves. Gracious, how hot it was! I worked and sweated and blessed General Pope for ordering us forward on such a day. I'll wager we are the only field and staff that pitch and strike our head quarter's tents without the aid of the men. But I can't bear the idea of making men who are our equals at home do our work here. Soldiering in the ranks spoils a man for acting officer “a-la-regular.” We're ordered to have our horses saddled by 3 a. m. to-morrow. There has been the liveliest kind of cannonading along the whole lines to-day. Our whole army advanced about a mile. I think that at almost any point on the line we can throw shot into their works. Distances vary from one and one-half miles to two and a quarter or two and one-half. Many of the generals think that to-morrow there will be a general fight. They talk a great deal more since the news correspondents have been sent off; and of course anything of that kind, that a brigadier says, goes the rounds of the whole camp in real telegraph style. Have heard of a number of killings to-day, and haven't heard a tithe of the whole. The enemy are beginning to dispute our further advance right strongly. Many think that Halleck has commenced a regular siege. He has left a line of splendid defences to-day, and if he forms new works on the position taken up to-day, we will know that we are in for a long fight, a-la-Yorktown. Two regiments of cavalry went out this morning to destroy the Ohio & Mobile R. R., 30 miles south of Corinth. I wish them luck. Many of the Rebel shot and shell struck within a half mile of the front of our camp to-day. It looks somewhat like the times at Madrid and Point Pleasant, but will probably be a little more interesting before we finally finish it.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 94-5

First Day’s Fight at Island No. 10

CAIRO, March 17, on board the Benton, Island No. 10, March 16. – Got under way at daylight this a.m. and dropped down to within range of the upper battery and commenced to arouse them with the rifles of the Benton, while the mortar boats were trying to wade into position.  Only a couple of shots were fired, when a white flag was seen to wave from the works and to continue waving until answered by a white flag from the flagship.

Of course firing ceased, as did also all operations, even the moving of the mortars, while a tug carried Lieut. Bishop down to see what was wanted.  On arriving at the work he was answered that they were signaling their works down the river and did not wish to communicate with us; a mere subterfuge to gain time, which was followed up by the Grampus, with a white flag, steaming towards the tug from the Island.  Lieut. Bishop was of the opinion that time enough was lost and did not wait for the Grampus, but steamed off for the Benton and the Grampus hauled down the white flag and ran back under cover again.

Up to this time no rebel colors had been shown from the battery, but now it went up and the preparations to get it down regularly in the approved method went on with renewed vigor.- Eight mortar boats were soon in position and engaged in throwing 13-inch shell.

Lieut. Bishop disgusted at the bad taste of the rebels who did not wish to communicate with so gallant and good-looking officer, by permission of the flag-officer and Capt. Phelps, he opened directions by guns of the [Benton’s] rifled 74; with such style that the rebels ran from the work and their flag was covered with dirt and mud.

The firing was kept up steadily though slow until 5 P. M.  The mortars exploding 210 shells and the Benton 41.  The heart of every man in the flagship was saddened by sympathy with the grief of our beloved flag officer Foote, who received by the dispatch boat at noon intelligence of the death of his second son, a lad of 13 years, of exceeding promise, of whose illness the Commodore had no previous intelligence. – To-morrow will see the reduction of one or more of the enemy’s works and the close investment of the whole.

The place is very strong – four our point of view we could see forty-four guns in position and negroes were busily at work on the battery out of our reach, on which to-morrow we shall probably find heavy guns mounted.  With all these notes of preparation and all these premonitions of a hard fight, some incredulous people will suspect that the troops marching across the woods from Island No. 10, to Maryweather’s landing on the Mississippi below Point Pleasant, a distance of only 5 miles from the Island over a practicable road, and that when they are embarked on the fleet of boats, the smoke of which has plainly been seen all day at Maryweather’s, we shall find the next empty and the river clear of rebels to Randolph of Fort Pillow.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 4

Official Announcement

ST. LOUIS, March 14. – The following is a copy of the official dispatch sent to the Secretary of War:

After several days’ skirmishing and a number of attempts by the enemy’s gun boats to dislodge Gen. Pope’s batteries at Point Pleasant the enemy has evacuated his entrenchments at New Madrid, leaving his artillery, field batteries, tents wagons, mules, &c., and an immense quantity of military stores.  Gen. Hamilton has occupied the place.  This was the last stronghold of the enemy in the state.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 4

The Evacuation of Island No. 10

Nine Steamers Fall into Our Hands, &c., &c.

ST. LOUIS, March 18. – The news of the evacuation of Island No. 10 was sent to the headquarters in this city by General Pope, from New Madrid.  The latest intelligence to the press, by way of Cairo, was to Sunday evening whist General Pope’s dispatch was dated the next day.  The fact that the newspapers here have no particulars by telegraph of the occupation of the island by the Union troops has given rise to a doubt in the minds of some, and particularly the secessionist, as to whether Gen. Halleck’s announcement in his speech at the Planter’s House last evening was not premature.  But now there is no question in relation to the matter.  Gen. Pope has telegraphed that in addition to the evacuation of the Island, the rebels abandoned, without destroying, nine large transport steamers, which must eventually fall (if they have not already) into our hands.  The batteries at New Madrid and Point Pleasant completely blockaded the river, so that it was impossible for the rebel boats to pass.

The Union loss at the fight at Salem Ark., is five killed and twenty-five wounded.  The rebel loss is 100.  Among their killed is Col. Woodside.

The following are portions of a letter from a member of the Fourteenth Illinois Regiment, on board the steamer January, in the Tennessee river, 12 miles from the Alabama line, dated March 12th:

Yesterday, about 2 o’clock, as we were steering up the river, crowds of Union men and women gathered on the banks of the river, and with the wildest enthusiasm and demonstrations of joy, hailed and welcomed us.  One old lady held up both arms outstretch for fifteen or twenty minutes.

The rebels have begun the work of drafting in Carroll county, Tenn., and many of the Union citizens of that county have come to this place to join the Union army.

A secesher fired into one of the boats yesterday, and then skedaddled into the bushes. – The ball wounded one man slightly in the shoulder.

The boys on [board] yelled at a furious rate at the novel sight; twenty six-sturdy, intelligent and well dressed Tennesseans hailed us, and the boat put in and took them on board, and they enlisted in our regiment.

It is reported that there are many rebels not far from here.  A company of cavalry went out yesterday.  It has not yet returned.  We shall leave here as soon as the expedition gets ready – perhaps to-morrow.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 3

Second-Hand Chicago News

CHICAGO, March 12. – A special dispatch from Cairo, March 11th, to the Tribune says:  A brigade of our troops went around New Madrid on Saturday last and arrived Sunday at a small settlement on the Mississippi, called Point Pleasant, about ten miles below that place, and took possession of it.  The occupation of this place by our troops cuts off communication of the rebels at New Madrid.

The bridge upon the Cairo and Fulton Railroad has been repaired and trains run regular from Bird’s Point to Scoville.

A large number of scouts from the 51st Illinois regiment arrived last night.  The regiment is now with Gen. Pope.

Waterhouse’s Chicago Battery is now encamp[ed] just north of the city.  Twenty-eight are on the sick list.

Brig.-Gen Cullom, Chief of Gen. Halleck’s Staff and Chief Engineer of the Department of Missouri, returns to St. Louis immediately, impaired health rendering a change necessary. – Gen. Strong relieves him.

Authentic news received says the rebels have strongly fortified Island No. 10.  Our gunboats are thoroughly prepared for the emergency. – Steamers are also in readiness.

The Transport Hiawatha arrived this morning with supplies destined up the Tennessee.

The Times Special Cairo dispatch says it is learned that the rebels intend making a desperate stand at Fort Pillow.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

From St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, March 16.

A special to the Democrat, dated on board the transport Alps, Hickman, Ky., 18^th, contains the following from Southern papers:

The Memphis Appeal says that two rebel transports ran Gen. Pope’s battery at Point Pleasant on Wednesday last.

A letter from New Madrid of the 11^th, pronounces the fort at that point impregnable; that it would be made the American Thermopylae.  This, however, did not prevent the rebels from evacuating the place as soon as Pope contracted his lines around it.

The Florence Gazette says that the Federals have landed a large force at Savannah, on the Tennessee river.

The Appeal also contains a dispatch dated Clarksville, Ark., 12^th, which says that Van Dorn and Price’s armies, with their baggage train, are save in Boston Mountains.

ST. LOUIS, March 14.

A dispatch from Savannah, Tenn., to the Democrat, says the expedition up the Tennessee river have nearly all arrived here, and the fleet is now on the point of proceeding further up the river.

The expedition is commanded by Gen. C. F. Smith, with Gens. Sherman, McClernand, Hurlbut and Wallace as division commanders.  The force is large and fully able to conquer any army the rebels can bring against it.

Gen. Grant remains in command at Fort Henry.

The enemy’s force in this section is variously estimated at from 30,000 to 100,000 men.

Gen. Wallace’s division went to Purdy, McMary county, yesterday, burned the bridge and took up the tracks leading from Humboldt to Corinth, Miss., cutting off a train heavily laden with troops, which arrived just as the bridge was burning.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 2

Gallant Exploit of Col. Roberts

He spikes a Rebel Battery During the late Gale --- Heavy firing at Point Pleasant.

{Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.}

ON BOARD STEAMER V. F. WILSON,
ISLAND No. 10, April 2, 1862
(Via Cairo 3d inst.)

A most daring exploit was performed last night by Col. Roberts and fifty picked men from his regiment, the 42d Illinois. The night was intensely dark, and the previously reported gale of wind and thunderstorm prevailed. During the height of the storm, Col. Roberts and his men, in five yawls managed by crews from the gunboats, left the steamer Benton, and with muffled oars and under cover of darkness crowded down the stream in the direction of the upper battery. When within a few rods of it a blinding flash of lightning glared upon the water, revealing the boats to the sentries. They fired upon our men five or six shots, the balls whistling overhead and doing no damage. The sentinels then incontinently fled back to the camp, which is located some distance to the rear of the battery. Our men made no reply, but pulled up to the fortification, sprang over the parapet, and in three minutes time spiked all the guns, six in number. Col. Roberts himself spiking a huge eighty pound pivot gun. The boats then returned without a man receiving a scratch. The guns, which have all been newly mounted within the past two or three days, (having been previously dismounted by our cannonading,) were sixty-fours and eighties. The rebel steamer Grampus was lying near the battery, but mad no demonstration, fearing to come out in the stream.

The mortars kept up a very heavy bombardment this morning and the rebels replied with spirit from their floating battery. Their shots were well aimed but occasioned no damage. Very heavy and rapid firing was heard last night and this morning at Point Pleasant, or in that vicinity. We have no intelligence from there as yet.

The river has commenced falling – a fact in our favor.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862