From Island No 10

Special to the Chicago Times.

CAIRO, April 6.

The most exciting event of the siege occurred on Friday night.  At ten o’clock P. M. the gunboat Carondelet, under command of Capt. Walker ran the blockade, and escaped safely the fire of the enemy’s batteries, arriving at New Madrid at daybreak.  She was prepared for the event by mooring alongside on the side towards the batteries, a barge loaded with bales of hay, which were so arranged as to protect her from shot.  The night was excessively dark and stormy.  The sky became overcast at about 10 o’clock, and a storm of wind and rain arose, accompanied with vivid and incessant lightning.  The wind was not very strong but the darkness and the lightning were intense.

The Carondelet passed the first battery before she was discovered.  The second opened upon her as soon as its guns could be brought to bear, but owing to the darkness, and the speed with which she moved, the fire was totally harmless.

The 3d battery concentrated its fire upon her, but not a shot struck the boat. – The effect of the vivid lightning was blinding to the gunners, and the speed of her movements rendered an aim extremely difficult.  She continued her course unchecked, and ran by the fourth and fifth batteries with the same fortunate result.  Fifty-three shots were fired at her, but not one struck her.

The battery on the head of the Island was the most formidable, but none of its guns took effect.

About three miles below the Island the rebel floating battery opened on her and delivered its fire as long as she continued within range, but not a single shot took effect.  However, a continuous fire of musketry was kept up from the shore, and many bullets struck the boat, but all hands were below, and nobody was hit. – This fire is described as very hot.  All the troops on the line of the shore poured in their fire as fast as they could load and discharge.

The Carondelet did not discharge a gun during the entire passage.  She pursued her way in silence, and with ports closed.  She passed the last battery about an hour after she left the fleet.  The cannonading was distinctly audible, and all awaited with intense anxiety for her signal of safety and success.  It came finally in the form of three guns, fired at intervals of five minutes, followed by a repetition of the same after a lapse of ten minutes.  The sound of the signal was received with wild enthusiasm throughout the fleet, and shouts went up which waked the echoes of the night.  The success of the attempt was thus established, and the details were looked for with the greatest interest.

Yesterday Col. Phelps returned and communicated the cheering fact that the Carondelet was uninjured, and is now safely moored at New Madrid.  She laid by after running by the batteries, and waited for daylight for fear of our batteries at New Madrid, which, not knowing what she was, would have fired into her.  She was received at New Madrid with the greatest rejoicing, and congratulations were tendered to her brave officers for their successful achievement.

Gen. Pope and Mr. Scott, assistant secretary of war, visited Capt. Walker on board his boat, and escorted him ashore where he was received at headquarters with many cheers.  The sailors were welcomed with extravagant demonstrations.

Exciting news may be expected soon.  The enemy seem to be very much irritated at the various successes that have attended our cause within the past week.  The spiking of the guns of the upper battery has not been removed.  The battery seems to be effectually silenced, though they were engaged in mounting a new gun at that place yesterday.  A sharp firing was kept up all day yesterday, to which the rebels replied vigorously, showing their irritation.  The Benton succeeded in lodging a shell in the rebel steamer Izel, causing her to run hastily under cover of the island.

Their wharf boat was also dislodged, and sent down stream.

Four or five shells from one of the mortar boats exploded in the midst of their upper encampment.

Heavy cannonading has been heard all day in the direction of New Madrid, indicating that the Carondelet has not failed to find plenty of work.

Of Gen. Pope’s movements we have no news.

Our mortar boats are firing occasionally to-day, but get no response from the enemy.

6 P. M. – very heavy firing continues to be heard in the direction of New Madrid.  It is thought that the Carondelet is engaged with some rebel gunboats.  From one to eight heavy reports are heard per minute.  Whatever the occasion, the engagement at this writing is a desperate one.

Official dispatches have been received by the flag officer, announcing that the Carondelet escaped the rebel batteries uninjured.

A single musket ball struck the rail, but otherwise she was untouched.  Her escape is attributable to the fact that she hugged the shore of the island closely.

It was impossible for the rebels to depress their guns sufficiently to hit her.

There is a great rejoicing throughout the fleet at her signal escape.

Special to Tribune.

NEW MADRID, April 4.

A severe storm passed over camp this A. M., and during its continuance, we heard nothing of artillery practice at Island No. 10.

This afternoon the roar of the mortars is heard continually.  A furious bombardment is progressing.

The entire army will be paid off this week.  The paymaster escorted by two companies of cavalry arrived to-day from Sikeston with the necessary funds.

A teamster who has just returned from Commerce, reports that S. G. Kitchen of the rebel Thompson’s band of thieves is in the swamps back of that post, with a squadron of rebel cavalry, estimated at 200, and that fears are entertained that Union men in the vicinity will be subjected to fresh persecutions.

Another report is current this evening that Jeff. Thompson has assembled a force of considerable strength at Holcomb’s Island at the terminus of the blank road extending westward form Point Pleasant, about twelve miles from this camp.  His position is represented by scouts as exceedingly strong, and his defenses are so arranged that with insignificant force he can withstand almost any army we can bring against him.

The entire country hereabouts is strongly secession.  The women are particularly violent, and denounce the army and Government in unmeasured terms.  The men from motives of prudence keep quiet tongues in their heads.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 8, 1862, p. 2